Some of our friends are working from home, so they spent a month in Colorado. They rented a large house around CO Springs for 2 weeks, then around SW Colorado for the last 2 weeks. Since we are not working from home full time, we only joined for a long weekend around the CO Springs area.
North Cheyenne park: 7 bridges trail. 7 bridges, followed creek. After last one, go another mile to Jones park (stay right when fork), which is a beautiful grove of yellow aspens in fall.
On way back, can see nice view below. Spotted: chipmunks and blue jays.
At side of the road: Helen Hunt waterfall (poet, novelist, indian advocate).
Silver cascades 1/3 mile from Helen Hunt falls: a lot of steps and not much water!
One day, we hiked Red Rock canyon:
Mesa trail
Lyons Sandstone
Billions of years ago, at one point there was a sea here then rocks lifted up from Laramide revolution when rockies formed. Alluvial deposits formed the mesa, and water formed the canyon. So there are dinosaur track and sharks teeth here.
Spotted: mule deer.
Sandstone quarry (rectangular shape in sandstone)
One afternoon, we visited Garden of the Gods Park. There were neat rock formations there, but it was very busy.
One day, we woke up very early to hike Pike's Peak (Crags trail). It's a 1 hour drive from CO Springs. 3 miles are on an easy dirt road to trail head. There was plenty of parking. We started the hike at 6:22am. There is a bathroom at the trailhead. Up hill, down to stream and cross to right to go to devil's playground, don't miss turn!
Unfortunately, the day we did this hike was especially windy. So it was quite uncomfortable and cold past tree line! Also, the altitude makes the climb very challenging. We did have elevation sickness medicine, thankfully.
