From Woodland Park, CO go north 4 miles on Hwy 67. Take the left into a small parking area. This left is directly across the road from another parking area, and just before the picnic pull-off area a few yards ahead. You can park in the lot at the entrance and look for the trail about 100 yards or more in the field in front of you or, better yet, drive .4 mile (approx) to the next parking area on your left, further down the road. This is the lot in the picture.
Less than five minutes on the trail and you'll be at a beautiful little meadow next to a creek. Barney takes avantage of this spot to cool off, play or drink.
This is a great trail that winds along an beautiful and ever-changing creek. Your pet will have all the water he or she needs.
For the first miles you will be enveloped in the trail by the huge rock walla and steep hills on either side of the trail and creek.
Colorado is awesome. As one who spent 6 years in central Alaska and enjoyed numerous back country experiences, I feel I can offer such an opinion. I miss Alaska, but Colorado is my favorite place in the lower 48. And, unlike Alaska, it is easy to get to the trails and into the mountains.
Here is a great picnic area for a hot summer day. You'll actually run into it after 15 minutes on the trail so it may be a good spot to have a snack near the end of the hike; on the way back.
Here is a spot you'll remember after an hour or so into the hike. The trail skirts this awesome rock formation that hugs the trail. At one point you will come to the crossroads of several trails. Continue straight at this point and the trail you are on becomes Forest Service Trail 717F. Stay on 717F.
After an hour and a half, the trail will open up into several nice meadows.
At this point you will have been hiking about 1.5 -2 hours. On this hike we stoppend and turned around for the hike back. On another trek, we will go all the way to Divide, CO and make a giant all day loop back to Woodland Park.
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