Waterproof Jackets Denver CO

Activities: Hiking, Snowshoeing

Info:
State: Colorado
Location: Pike & San Isabel National Forests
Length: One-Way: 6.6 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 8960 feet
Maximum Elevation: 11830 feet
Best Season: Summer, Fall
Difficulty: Difficult
Usage: Heavy

Description: The Three Mile Creek Trail is a popular Hiking trail that provides access into the heart of the southern half of the Mt. Evans Wilderness. The first part of the Three Mile Creek Trail follows Three Mile Creek in a northeasterly direction. The stream and trail are in a narrow canyon with numerous of stream crossings. As the trail turns toward the east, it gradually opens up into a meadow. East of Spearhead Mountain, the trail begins to rise steeply away from the creek in a series of switchbacks. As you ascend these switchbacks, look behind you from time to time for dramatic views to the southwest of Kenosha Pass, South Park and the mountains west and south of Fairplay. At the top of the switchbacks the trail begins heading north. You will still be in trees and gaining elevation, but at a much lower rate than the steep switchbacks. Shortly, you will emerge from the trees into open tundra. Kataka Mountain will be on your left (west) and Mt Evans and Mt Bierstadt will be ahead of you and slightly to the left (north/northwest). Continuing north, the trail descends to meet the Rosalie Trail. The Three Mile Creek Trail is not shown on the Mt. Evans USGS quad. The hike is rated as moderately difficult due to its Length and elevation gain. It offers spectacular high mountain scenery and vistas. You should be alert to the possible development of summer afternoon storms with their accompanying lightening, particularly above treeline. Because the trail is almost entirely in designated wilderness, wilderness regulations apply.

Activities: Hiking, Road Cycling

Info:
State: Colorado
Location: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Length: One-Way: 7.2 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 8900 feet
Maximum Elevation: 12162 feet
Best Season: June to October
Difficulty: Difficult
Usage: Heavy

Description: From the St. Vrain Mountain Trailhead, the St. Vrain Mountain Trail starts off on an old road, but soon leaves it to the right. It cuts over to the creek which it reaches about a mile from the trailhead, a third of a mile beyond the Indian Peaks Wilderness boundary. It follows along the creek for another half mile, then takes quite a long switchback to the right (north). It is easy to lose the trail here if there is snow. The St. Vrain Mountain Trail cuts back to the left, crosses the valley and continues a ways across the south side of the valley before switching back and returning to the drainage. After a few more smaller switchbacks, the St. Vrain Mountain Trail comes out above treeline and passes to the south of Meadow Mountain. It pops briefly into Rocky Mountain National Park as it circles the west side of a small unnamed peak, then gains the east ridge of St. Vrain Mountain. At 3.9 miles, the St. Vrain Mountain Trail intersects the unsigned Rock Creek Trail near the St. Vrain Mountain Trail’s highest point, a good place to break from the trail if you want to summit St. Vrain Mountain by an easy bushwhack up the ridge. This junction is marked by a cairn and is south of the head of the Rock Creek drainage. The trail continues down the south side of St. Vrain Mountain to the Buchanan Pass Trail. When the snow falls, the St. Vrain Mountain Trail becomes the domain of snowshoers and backcountry skiers.

Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking

Info:
State: Colorado
Location: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Length: One-Way: 4.5 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 9800 feet
Maximum Elevation: 10600 feet
Elevation Change: 800 feet
Best Season: Spring to Fall
Usage: Moderate

Description: The Bakerville / Loveland Trail runs parallel to Interstate 70 yet you never even notice the highway traffic. The sound of Clear Creek flowing along the trail drowns out the zooming of vehicles and the trees along the creek bank obstruct the view of civilization. The Bakerville/Loveland Trail is excellent for Hiking, bicycling and cross-country skiing. The Bakerville / Loveland Trail is a spectacular snowshoeing and backcountry skiing adventure in winter.

Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking

Info:
State: Colorado
Location: Denver
Length: Round Trip: 9.5 miles
Trail type: Loop
Best Season: Spring to Fall
Difficulty: Easy
Usage: Heavy

Description: Deer Creek Canyon Park had its beginnings as a campground for wandering bands of Ute and Arapahoe. The 1,881 acre park was first homesteaded in 1872 by John Williamson. At that time, Deer Creek’s rolling hills and fertile fields attracted both farmers and miners. John Williamson’s famed Glen Plym Ranch, as well as the Couch and Clark Homesteads, all sat within the current park boundaries. Like the other Jefferson Country Open Space Parks, Deer Creek Canyon Park has many well maintained trail options to choose from. All trails in the park have excellent signage. And there are park maps available at the trailhead. There are some hiker only trails, so please watch out for pedestrians. Here are some of the trails in this area. You can make several different loops are out and backs out of the trails in the Deer Creek Canyon Park. Plymouth Creek Trail: The trail starts at the trailhead parking area. It is 2.4 miles long with 1343 feet of climbing and 431 feet of descending. This is a multi-user trail, lush sections, rocky in spots and a steep climb west of Meadowlark junction Plymouth Mountain Trail: The trail starts at a junction with the Plymouth Creek Trail. The trail is 2.2 miles with 884 feet of climbing and 733 feet of descending. This is a multi-user trail with scenic views to east. There is a steep side slope on north end. Scenic View Trail: The trail starts at a junction with the Plymouth Mountain Trail. This short trail is only 0.4 miles with 165 of climbing and 24 feet of descending. This multi-user trail has a very steep section but offers beautiful 360 degree summit views. Red Mesa Loop Trail: The starts at junction with the Plymouth Creek Trail. This trail is 2.5 miles with 851 of climbing and 841 feet of descending. This is a multi-user trail with open views of the canyon. There are some smooth fast singletrack sections that will keep you grinning all week long, but you have to climb up to them, making the ride all the more enjoyable.

Activities: Hiking

Info:
State: Colorado
Location: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Length: One-Way: 7.1 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 9000 feet
Maximum Elevation: 11775 feet
Best Season: June to October
Difficulty: Difficult
Usage: Heavy

Description: Devil’s Thumb Trail crosses gently sloping terrain interspersed with steep stretches of trail. Along the way, it passes through forest, riparian woodland and sunny, rocky slopes. If you choose to skip driving through the water and park on the Fourth of July Road, take the quarter mile long Columbine Trail which starts at the bottom of the first hill, just before the water. It is a recently constructed trail that bypasses the flooded part of the road and comes in at the Hessie Townsite. From the Townsite, the road continues rough and with large mud puddles another quarter mile to the Hessie Trailhead. There is very little parking at the trailhead itself. From the trailhead, cross the footbridge and take the Devil’s Thumb Trail, which climbs steeply for about a half-mile on an old road. The Devil’s Thumb Bypass turns right in 0.8 miles, just before the bridge. Either the Devil’s Thumb Trail or the Devil’s Thumb Bypass will get you to the same destination – the distance is about the same either way. The bypass trail crosses open meadows to the north of the creek. The main trail follows an old road along the south side of the creek, staying right past the junctions with the Lost Lake Trail, King Lake Trail and Woodland Lake Trail. It is 1.1 miles from the trailhead to the Lost Lake Trail junction, which is right at the top of a hill. From there it is a flat 1/4 mile to the King Lake Trail junction. The Devil’s Thumb Trail enters the Indian Peaks Wilderness just beyond the King Lake Trail junction. It continues fairly level another 1.0 miles to the Woodland Lake Trail junction. In places, the creek has taken over the trail, so hikers have to follow social paths along the bank. The Devil’s Thumb Bypass rejoins 200 yards beyond the Woodland Lake Trail. After the trails rejoin, the old road begins to climb again. This stretch can be very wet, especially early in the summer, so some bypass social trails have developed. In 1.5 miles, the Diamond Lake Trail forks right (north). It leads 3.7 miles up over the ridge past Diamond Lake to connect to the Arapaho Pass Trail 1.2 miles from the trailhead. From the Diamond Lake Trail junction it is another 0.6 miles to Jasper Lake. Jasper Lake is surrounded on three sides with trees and a steep ridgeline to the north. It is a very popular camping area with limited, designated sites. There is no bridge across the spillway, but there is often a plank across a hundred yards downstream. The trail continues another mile over a small ridge, north of a pond and up a slope to Devil’s Thumb Lake. It lies directly below the vertically-walled Devil’s Thumb. Past Devil’s Thumb Lake, Devil’s Thumb Trail wanders across open meadows near treeline, then makes several switchbacks up the steep side of a ridge to reach the Continental Divide. This steep portion of the trail holds snow and ice well into the summer and can be treacherous – crampons may be useful. The Devil’s Thumb Trail does not actually intersect the High Lonesome Trail (part of the Continental Divide Trail) which is a couple hundred yards down the far side of the ridge and not heavily traveled. From the top of the ridge it is another 0.6 miles downhill to the right (north) to Devil’s Thumb Pass or 3 miles to the left (south) to the King Lake Trail. It is not difficult to eventually pick up the High Lonesome Trail from the Devil’s Thumb Trail by just following the ridge, but finding the Devil’s Thumb Trail from the High Lonesome Trail is more difficult. Note that the Devil’s Thumb Trail does not climb to Devil’s Thumb Pass (which has a snowfield most of the year), but ascends the ridge to the south. There is a large cairn where it tops out, just south of the high point at the ridge intersection. To access Devil’s Thumb from 4th of July Trailhead, follow the Arapaho Pass Trail for 1.2 miles, take the Diamond Lake Trail 3.7 miles more past Diamond Lake and over the ridge to hit the Devil’s Thumb Trail 0.6 miles east of Jasper Lake. Turn right (west)