Tag: national parks

419.1 miles: No Thoroughfare Canyon Trail (to first waterfall), Colorado National Monument, Grand Junction, CO

On By AnnieLeave a comment

Date: October 9, 2020

Miles: 3.9 miles

Elevation Gain: 430 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 1 hr 30 min total

Trail Head:

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/no-thoroughfare-canyon

Notes:

We visited my parents on the western slope this past weekend while the drive is still snow free. We decided to hike at the Colorado National Monument late afternoon, choosing this easy hike to explore a new part of the park. We parked at Devils Kitchen trailhead, which had limited parking, and started the hike from the eastern lot. The trail starts off wide and gently slopes down to the first junction, where we veared right to No Thoroughfare Canyon Trail.

The trail more or less follows the wash towards the first pool and waterfall. There are a few different paths that braid through the wash and higher banks. A few times we lost the path we were on, but we easily found cairns leading back to a trail. Once you get to the first pool, the trails begins to gain some altitude, starting with a section of stairs leading above the first pool. As we approached the first water fall, we startled some big horn sheep that were grazing in the shade of the canyon. No water at either the first pool or the first waterfall, but it was cool in the shade of the canyon.

First waterfall
Big horn sheep

395.5 miles: Booth Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, White River National Forest, Vail, CO

On By Annie2 Comments

Date: September 25, 2020

Miles: 9.6 miles

Elevation Gain: 3041 feet

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

Time: 5 hr 30 min total

Trail Head:

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/booth-lake–2

Notes:

We peep’d some leaves this weekend! I love when the aspens change gold in the mountains. This year, the window is supposed to be pretty short, so we spent the weekend hiking around fall colors. Our first trek was to Booth Lake, in Vail. Most people just hike the ~4.5 mile trail to Booth Falls, but we were feeling ambitious and wanted to cross off this alpine lake. It was definitely way more scenic than the falls— plus, a great gradual climb.

The trailhead parking lot is extremely limited, but it’s close to a free bus stop with a shuttle that stops throughout the Vail area. The beginning of the trail was pretty wide from frequent use and immediately begins to climb elevation. Here we hiked through golden aspens and willows, passing over a small creek a few times before reaching the “falls”. I’m sure in the spring time the falls are more exciting, but this time of year it was a little underwhelming. Once at the falls, the trail climbs from the base of the creek with a few steep eroded switchbacks. The trail then gains elevation more gradually, following the creek.

Around 3.5 miles we reached the subalpine tundra, with beautiful views behind us of Vail, Holy Cross and the canyon below. The last stretch to the lake was a little rocky, but the view of the Gore Range was worth it. Booth Lake was beautiful! It was really big for an alpine lake. We had the lake to ourselves for a stretch of time. No wildlife, but lots of goat fur. Despite the elevation gain being over 3K, the trail felt great since it was so spread out!

Booth “falls”
Booth Lake
Booth Lake

382.9 miles: Fern Creek Falls, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado

On By AnnieLeave a comment

Date: September 20, 2020

Miles: 5.4 miles

Elevation Gain: 794 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Time: 2 hr 30 min total

Trail Head:

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/fern-lake-trail

Notes:

For Sunday, we also decided to stick to a quieter trailhead, and started at Fern Lake summer trailhead. We followed the trail along the river (1.7 miles) to Big Pool, where we went right at the trail junction towards Fern Falls and Fern Lake. From the trail junction, Fern Falls is another mile. This next section contains the altitude gain, although it is spread out moderately. The trail winds through the pines, without too many look outs. We barely saw anyone on the hike to the falls. At the falls, we sat and had a quick snack before heading back to the car. Despite the recent snow in the mountains, this trail was dry. If you want to avoid the crowds at RMNP, I would definitely recommend this hike!

377.6 miles: Cub Lake Loop, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado

On By AnnieLeave a comment

Date: September 19, 2020

Miles: 6 miles

Elevation Gain: 738 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Time: 2 hr 30 min total

Trail Head:

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/fern-lake-trail-and-cub-lake-trail-loop

Notes:

Travis and I got timed entry to Rocky Mountain National Park for our first wedding anniversary this past weekend! We got the tickets end of August and it already had limited times available for fall weekends— the mountains are super popular this time of year with the aspens changing gold. Our entrance time was 12 PM, so we opt for a less popular trailhead, Fern Lake. On the drive through Moraine Park, we past a few crowds of cars stopped to take photos of the elk rut— this time of year the meadows are closed.

We parked at the summer trailhead for Fern Lake and hiked along Fern Lake trail for 1.7 miles until we reached the Big Pool junction. This section of the trail is mostly flat and follows the river, with many points of river entry. Once at Big Pool, we followed the trail left towards cub lake— about 1.2 miles from the junction. This section of the trail contains all the uphill, through the burned part of the canyon. Once to the top, you pass a trail junction that leads to Mill Basin (and Lake Bierstadt). Continue left to Cub Lake. We paused at Cub Lake for some photos, then continued in the trail 2.3 miles downhill back to the Cub Lake Trailhead. From there, we followed the dirt roadway back to the Fern Lake summer trailhead (about 1 mile). Great fall hike!

Big Pool. (1.7 miles)
Left for Cub Lake
Uphill section through fire damage
Left for cub lake
Cub Lake
Cub Lake
Cub Lake

369.1 miles: Notch Trail, Badlands National Park (North Unit), Interior, SD

On By AnnieLeave a comment

Date: Sunday, August 29, 2020

Miles: 1.3 miles

Elevation Gain: 128 feet

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (due to terrain)

Time: 45 min total

Trail Head:

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/south-dakota/notch-trail

Notes:

Notch Trail is off the main major trailhead, along with the Door and the Window trails. This trail head was the most crowded area of the park we visited, due to the short distance of each trail. Parking is limited and sure to fill up, with the Notch Trail beginning at the very right corner of the parking lot. The terrain is really not suitable for children (despite many parents trying)— steep cliff drop offs, a ladder climb, lots of loose rocks, etc.

The first quarter mile of the trail is flat and winds through rock formations to the base of the ladder. The rope ladder gains about 100 feet, but does require careful footing. This caused a little bit of a back up on the trail. There were also several parents who tried to take their kid on it, only for the kid to freak out half way up the ladder. Once we climbed the ladder, the trail narrows against the rock face and has steep drop offs with no chains or rails. The trail requires a few short sections of scrambling, before it opens up to a plateau where you can walk to the look out. Great view of the valley below!