We completed our first out-of-state hike of the year! Last weekend, we visited our parents in Arkansas and explored the beautiful rolling hills and lakes central to the state. I was so impressed with how many state parks the region has– all of which are free! Our hike was located in Petit Jean State Park, near Morrilton and the Arkansas River. The weather was milder than Colorado, so we enjoyed hiking free of snow and layers.
This hike, Cedar Falls Trail, is considered pretty strenuous by Arkansas standards. Compared to the altitude gain of most Colorado hikes, I would consider it easy to moderate when compared to our typical weekends. The trail starts at an overlook by the lodge, then immediately descends 350+ elevation within .3 miles to the forest floor. The descent was narrow and rocky, fitted next to a stream, causing the rocks to be slick. Once you complete the descent, the trail crosses a bridge (2 person maximum) and continues to the base of a waterfall. There is so much water this time of year!
We love Boulder. This trailhead is close to where Travis lived when we first started dating, so we have hiked out of it several times. It’s a great starting point, with several connecting trails where you can hike to Chitauqua (north) or Eldorado Canyon (south). We haven’t hiked this area since the summer, so we went for a quick Sunday morning hike.
We started the loop clockwise, with Bluestem Trail. This trail descends into the mesa, before slowly climbing up the foothills. From there, we made a right to stay on Upper Bluestem, following it to Mesa Trail. We followed Mesa trail for about a half mile, before making a right for Shanahan South Fork. The trail had a few patches of ice, but they were avoidable. No traction needed.
I love exploring a new trail in Rocky Mountain. Black Canyon Trail is located off the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead, east of town. This area is less popular and more accessible during the winter. While we have done Gem Lake trail several times out of the same trailhead, we have never gone west towards the main park via Black Canyon Trail.
The trail starts with a moderate elevation gain, followed by a descent into the canyon. The trail had several sections of ice, requiring traction to pass, especially on the down hill. After about a half mile, the trail opens to a meadow and has several junctions with climbing areas. Around the first mile mark, the trail enters through private property which has cattle. The trail was completely covered in poop a few different places. Once past the private property, the trail gains elevation quickly through the forest.
We did not finish; my new shoes were giving me blisters and it was starting to lightly snow. Definitely want to come back!
First hike of 2020! Check out the new blog name and post format— since my goal is 500 miles, I’m going to title the hike my running total.
Rabbit Mountain Open Space is about a 45 minute drive from Denver, in between Lyons and Longmont. The park is closed Monday – Wednesday until end of January, but if multi use and pet friendly on the weekends. The trails are short and braid together, making it easy to customize your hike. We hiked to the top of Little Thompson Overlook, then backtrack to the other aide of the park and completed the Eagle Wind Loop.
Trail was completely dry; it’s mostly exposed to the sun, with only a few patches of shade. The terrain was pretty rocky, and most of the trail was narrow. It features beautiful views of the flatirons and Longs Peak on the horizon without the crowds of nearby trails.
Out and back Trail to the left, loop to the right. We started with the left trail, followed by the loop.
This year was definitely a chart topper. I’m so proud of how many miles I fit into 365 days. The places I explored inspired and challenged me in different ways. Here are my finals stats for the year, in relation to my original goal:
Hikes: 77 / 70
Miles: 371.2 / 300
Elevation Gain: 72,869 / 60,000
Average MPH: 2.42 / 2.5
I exceeded all my goals this past year, except average miles per hour. Even though I did not hit that goal, I definitely noticed how much faster I got throughout the year. I started needing fewer and fewer breaks, achieving a faster recovery time.
Here are my top ten favorite hiking adventures of 2020:
#10: Mount Sanitas, Boulder Open Space
I hiked Sanitas a TON this year— from all three routes. I ended the year with a total of five summits. My favorite route is definitely the western approach, Lions Lair Trail.
#9: South Boulder & Bear Peaks, Boulder Open Space
I’ve seen these Peaks on the Boulder horizon for years. It feels really good to now be able to say I’ve hiked both tallest peaks. I hiked this with my brother who moved to Colorado this summer— here we are at the base of Bear Peak.
#8: Finch Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park
Finch Lake was another trail I frequented this year, completing it three times from two different routes. This lake was so good to me in March when Travis proposed! He took this picture right before going down on one knee. I should have known something was up because he never asks to take a selfie.
#7: High Dune, Great Sand Dunes National Park
Honestly, I think that the best time to hike the dunes is during the winter. The mix of cold, snow and ice makes the sand harder, making it a lot easier to trek uphill. The Sangre de Cristo mountains are so mesmerizing to me— I could have sat on the top of this dune and stared for hours.
#6: Ypsilon Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park
Everything about this backpacking trip felt like your idealistic summer camping trip. Easy hike in, two nights at our site, fun meals— hours spent laughing with friends and laying lakeside in hammocks. Fourth of July weekend could have been awful for crowds in the park; we came in the day before around sunrise and picked a trip in a more secluded area.
#5: Wheeler and Lost Lakes, Eagles Nest Wilderness
I’m not going to lie, it felt sketchy to ditch my car at a random Conoco and walk across the interstate with a backpack to get to a trailhead. But, I’m so glad I did it! Due to the late snowfall, our August trip fell during peak wildflower season. This was my brothers favorite backpacking / camping trip that we completed.
#4: Medicine Bow Peak, Medicine Bow National Forest
Wyoming is so much closer than I realized— it’s also my next frontier to explore. Even popular trails such as this peak were absent of crowds in the summer. This hike had views the entire time.
#3: Syncline Loop, Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park
In March for spring break, we backpacked the Syncline Loop in my second favorite national park, Canyonlands. Our camp site (see above) was straight out of an REI catalog. Somehow we found the one site in the desert with a running stream next to it, so we enjoyed ample amounts of filtered water. Since we did not have to ration our water, after setting up camp we wandered through Upheaval Canyon.
#2: American Lakes Trail, State Forest State Park
State Forest State Park is one of the best hidden gems in Colorado. Nestled northwest of Rocky Mountain, it was void of crowds and congestion. This trail absolutely took my breath away, especially the month we went- September. The alpine had hit peak fall covering the tundra in shades of gold and orange.
#1: Tombstone Ridge, Rocky Mountain National Park
Located off Trail Ridge Road, this was where Travis and I said our vows at sunrise. It was during the elk rut, so as the sky turned pink and the first rays of light hit the alpine, we stepped out of our car to a chorus of bugling. It was so beautiful. I’m so grateful for my forever adventure partner and my new family. (📸: photo credit Cassandra Michelle Cassandra Michelle Photography )
Looking ahead to 2020, I am going to focus on one quantitive goal: 500 miles. I have also been thinking about changing up my blog format; focusing on favorite monthly hikes, tips and gear reviews. Stay tuned ❤️
Annie Hikes 500 Miles 