Sarcasm the elf
04-30-2013, 21:29
I will be out visiting family in Golden Colorado in a couple of weeks. My awesome fiancé has agreed that we can do several good dayhikes while we're out there so long as I don't try and turn this vacation into a backpacking trip. ;)
Those of you that know the area, are there any don't miss hikes that I should look into? We are renting a 2WD car, so I can get to the trailhead as long as it doesn't require offroading.
Also, if you have any other suggestions about things to do in the area I'd be glad to hear them!
Plenty of day hikes in Golden Gate Canyon SP right near Golden. The spring wildflowers should be blooming (pasque flowers and sand lilies in particular) when you arrive.
I have spent many wonderful day hikes in this park at this time of the year as the high country is still snowy. Golden Gate is one of my spring time favorites.
http://www.parks.state.co.us/Parks/goldengatecanyon/Trails/Pages/GoldenGateCanyonTrails.aspx
Hikes to do?
Windy Peak via is a must see. Great views of the high peaks that you can't hike quite yet. :)
http://www.protrails.com/trail/boulder-denver-golden-fort-collins-lyons-burro-trail-to-windy-peak
My personal favorite though is Ole Barn Knoll, to Frazer Meadow to Bootleg Bottom and back for a nice loop.
You'll get good views, wide open meadows, wildflowers, pleasant woods, beautiful strands of aspen AND some history. Bootleggers had stills in well, Bootleg Bottom. :)
http://books.google.com/books?id=GH9Tnfx9CegC&pg=PA211&lpg=PA211&dq=bootleg+bottom+hike&source=bl&ots=Qk6me_e2-k&sig=FU5Pm0WEb4JZ1uPh4l92MfMpmYw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Qn6AUd7BGpDZyQHb-4GoBQ&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=bootleg%20bottom%20hike&f=false
A place to drive to AND do some hikes around there is Panorama Point. Other than off-trail hiking to nearby Tremont, this place offers the best views of the high peaks. Check it out.
http://www.protrails.com/gallery/colorado/golden-gate-canyon-state-park-frazer-meadows---panorama-point
Pretty good map for the park that is found at the visitors center:
http://www.parks.state.co.us/SiteCollectionImages/parks/Parks/GoldenGate/Maps/HPGG_TearOffMap_3-15-2012_FINAL.pdf
Finally, and this has nothing to do with your trip, Golden Gate Canyon SP will always be special to my wife and I. We had our wedding there and our friends and we camped there later that night. (awwwh!)
http://www.pmags.com/wedding-in-the-woods-sept-22nd
Other possibilities include nearby White Ranch open space (http://jeffco.us/openspace/openspace_T56_R57.htm) (more mtbiking than hiking, still nice) and Mt Galbraith open space. (http://jeffco.us/openspace/openspace_T56_R34.htm)
Personally I think Golden Gate Canyon SP is your better bet as it has more trails and more variety.
After any of the above places, right near the road that lets you access the parks is a new brewery (next to 7/11). Have some delicious beer post hike!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cannonball-creek-brewing-co-golden
For other things to do besides outdoors, if you want cool-in-a-kitschy way thing, go to the Buffalo Bill Museum on Lookout Mtn:
http://www.buffalobill.org/
Boulder, CO is about 30 minutes or so way. THAT is another whole set of trails in the Boulder Open Space. Many, many, many to list.
This should get you started:
http://www.protrails.com/area/boulder-denver-golden-fort-collins-lyons
If you are into climbing, Eldo Canyon is quite literally world famous. Worth it just to go and look at the climbers!
Boulder itself is a destination. Check out Pearl St of course. And if you are into beer, there are many micro brews (http://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=breweries&find_loc=Boulder%2C+CO). If any of the Boulder stuff interests you, let me know. I could write up a whole other page. :)
You could do this hike (http://www.pmags.com/day-hikes-in-colorado-mags-favorites#bear-peak-west-ridge-loop), stop by famous Neptune Mountaineering and check out the in-store climbing-skiing museum. After?Go to Southern Sun for some delicious beer and a junk burger after for a most awesome Boulder, CO day. :)
Have fun!