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View Full Version : Roxborough State Park alternate start



Mags
11-15-2010, 02:33
With the closure of Waterton Canyon, Roxborough State Park is an alternate start that may be appealing to many CTers.

You can check out a trip report I just wrote for this area here...
(http://www.pmags.com/november-foothills-hiking)
The overall summary is that I think it is a cool little start for the CT. It is certainly more scenic (IMO) than the Waterton Canyon approach which is along a very busy multi-use 6 mile 'trail' that is really an wide, dirt road for dam access.

See for yourself..

WATERTON CANYON VIEWS

http://pmags2.jzapin.com/gallery2/d/5808-1/aai.jpg?g2_GALLERYSID=04ad414fd0501b353bd47e97cdf6 2d45

VIEW FROM THE ALT START IN ROXBOROUGH

http://pmags2.jzapin.com/gallery2/d/23703-1/image001.jpg?g2_GALLERYSID=04ad414fd0501b353bd47e9 7cdf62d45

There are some views of a housing development from Carpenter Peak and an entrance fee, but overall, I think this alt start is not the worse alternative for the the start of a thru-hike....and may be even better than official start that is temporarily closed down.

Powder River
11-23-2010, 00:29
I did this on my thru last summer, and I was thrilled. I haven't seen Waterton but from the pictures of it I was very glad it was closed down. Roxborough beats Amicalola hands down too.

Tilly
11-23-2010, 09:47
I'm (tentatively) planning a CT hike in 2012.

I live in Indiana and am planning on driving out to a few places to do some LD hiking.

Does Roxborough have long term parking if I buy a state park pass? This would be easier than leaving my car in a storage unit in Denver or something.

Mags
11-23-2010, 12:43
I'm (tentatively) planning a CT hike in 2012.

I live in Indiana and am planning on driving out to a few places to do some LD hiking.

Does Roxborough have long term parking if I buy a state park pass? This would be easier than leaving my car in a storage unit in Denver or something.


At this time they do not. You may be better off with the other alternate listed on the CTF site. Can't vouch for how safe the car would nor would not be, though. UPDATE: Looking over the trailforums, Trailguy stated there is no longer term parking at this trailhead either.

There is a shopping plaza just down the road with a Safeway, county library, etc. If you called ahead, it *may* be a possibility to leave a car. Don't know for sure, though.

StubbleJumper
11-23-2010, 19:51
Mags,

Just looking at Google Maps, it seems like it could be an option to take the bus to Lockheed Martin, and then walk to Roxborough? From your experience, does this idea make any sense? Or is it likely to be an excessively long and miserable road-walk?

Mags
11-23-2010, 19:57
Mags,

Just looking at Google Maps, it seems like it could be an option to take the bus to Lockheed Martin, and then walk to Roxborough? From your experience, does this idea make any sense? Or is it likely to be an excessively long and miserable road-walk?

Fairly busy road..but not too bad. Hitching may be possible, too. On Trailforums.com, Trailguy offers shuttles every year. He will (I believe) shuttle to Roxborough. Looks for his postings come April or so. You may even be able to contact him ahead of time.
http://trailforums.com/index2.cfm?action=detail&PostNum=59334&Thread=2&roomID=13&entryID=134074

He knows the immediate area of the trailhead start probably better than anyone else who frequents Colorado Trail forums. He could tell you a definite place to stash a vehicle and safely.

StubbleJumper
11-25-2010, 22:37
Thanks Mags. It'll probably be 7.5 months before I hike the CT, but I find myself yearning for the trail already. Whenever I'm having a bad day, I reflect upon the hikes I did last summer and the long walk next summer. Can't wait!