Saturday, we checked out of Misty Mountain and had one last breakfast at the Egg and I. Then we drove south to Boulder and into Boulder Canyon. There was construction and one lane sections but delays were not too bad. We parked at the Boulder Falls trailhead and made the short hike to the waterfall.
It was really flowing and looked beautiful in the early morning. I scrambled around on the rocks to get pictures from different angles.
A large boulder at the top split the water into two streams. A few more people showed up so we continued on.
Our next stop was Betasso Preserve, just a couple miles back down the canyon. It was a good day for a hike as bikes are prohibited on Saturday. We parked at the main trailhead and hiked the Canyon Loop in the clockwise direction. There were some dotted gayfeather blooming in the open plains.
The views from the trail were very nice with some forested sections but mostly open areas.
About half-way through the loop we took the connector to Benjamin Loop.
Along the trail was an interesting white mantis, very well camouflaged against the rocks.
This loop was more forested than the first but there were a couple spots with nice views.
Finishing up this loop, we got back on Canyon Loop to finish it up.
Near the end, a short spur led out to an overlook with views of Boulder in the distance.
It was less than a mile from here through golden plains back to the start.
We finished our hike just after noon.
It was still fairly early and we wanted to get one more waterfall. So we drove back to Boulder and up and over Flagstaff Mountain to Walker Ranch. Parking at the Ethel Harrold Trailhead, the trail led steeply down to Columbine Gulch. There were some nice views along the way.
At the footbridge, we crossed to get on Walker Ranch Loop and started heading further down. It was gradual at first, but got progressively steeper as it followed an old road. There were some fleabane and phlox blooming along the road.
After Eldorado Canyon Trail, we crossed South Boulder Creek on a footbridge.
Eldorado Falls was just upstream of the bridge.
It's not a high waterfall but very powerful. The trail continues following South Boulder Creek past the waterfall, but we stopped here.
The hike back was steep and uphill the entire way. I spotted some Pineywoods geranium for a much needed break.
Soon we made it back to the trailhead.
From here, we headed back to Denver and checked into the Hampton Inn by the airport. The 24-hour shuttle didn't start until 4 in the morning and our flight boarded at 415, so I called Enterprise and they were nice enough to allow us to return the car early in the morning. We had dinner at Moonlight Diner right next to the hotel and then went to bed early for a very early flight home.
It was really flowing and looked beautiful in the early morning. I scrambled around on the rocks to get pictures from different angles.
A large boulder at the top split the water into two streams. A few more people showed up so we continued on.
Our next stop was Betasso Preserve, just a couple miles back down the canyon. It was a good day for a hike as bikes are prohibited on Saturday. We parked at the main trailhead and hiked the Canyon Loop in the clockwise direction. There were some dotted gayfeather blooming in the open plains.
The views from the trail were very nice with some forested sections but mostly open areas.
About half-way through the loop we took the connector to Benjamin Loop.
Along the trail was an interesting white mantis, very well camouflaged against the rocks.
This loop was more forested than the first but there were a couple spots with nice views.
Finishing up this loop, we got back on Canyon Loop to finish it up.
Near the end, a short spur led out to an overlook with views of Boulder in the distance.
It was less than a mile from here through golden plains back to the start.
We finished our hike just after noon.
It was still fairly early and we wanted to get one more waterfall. So we drove back to Boulder and up and over Flagstaff Mountain to Walker Ranch. Parking at the Ethel Harrold Trailhead, the trail led steeply down to Columbine Gulch. There were some nice views along the way.
At the footbridge, we crossed to get on Walker Ranch Loop and started heading further down. It was gradual at first, but got progressively steeper as it followed an old road. There were some fleabane and phlox blooming along the road.
After Eldorado Canyon Trail, we crossed South Boulder Creek on a footbridge.
Eldorado Falls was just upstream of the bridge.
It's not a high waterfall but very powerful. The trail continues following South Boulder Creek past the waterfall, but we stopped here.
The hike back was steep and uphill the entire way. I spotted some Pineywoods geranium for a much needed break.
Soon we made it back to the trailhead.
From here, we headed back to Denver and checked into the Hampton Inn by the airport. The 24-hour shuttle didn't start until 4 in the morning and our flight boarded at 415, so I called Enterprise and they were nice enough to allow us to return the car early in the morning. We had dinner at Moonlight Diner right next to the hotel and then went to bed early for a very early flight home.
No comments:
Post a Comment