60 Hikes within 60 miles: denver and boulder” by Kim Lipker

Once part of the Blodgett Ranch, the Blodgett Peak Open Space area offers 167 acres of open space, trails, and wildlife habitat.  The Water Tank Trail takes hikers along an old utility road and past unique geological rock features.  Most of the land and rock formations are visible from numerous points around Colorado Springs.

Length: 2.00 miles

Configuration: Out and Back

Exposure: No shade

Difficulty: Easy

Hiking Time: 50 minutes

7100-7500 feet

My Stats

Total Distance: 1.93 miles round trip

Time: 35:52 Minutes

Elevation: 6,696 to 7,004 ft

Elevation Gain: 328 ft

This was a huge waste of time.  The park was actually closed but there was no way I was driving that far not to see the trail. I don’t believe that this is within 60 miles of Denver and it is quite boring.  Even Cholo was disappointed. This would be a nice area for people of the Springs, but there must be thousands of better hikes closer to Denver.

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60 Hikes within 60 miles: denver and boulder” by Kim Lipker

Heil Valley Ranch has three trails and is part of Boulder’s newest open space: North Foothills Open Space. The longest trail-and the trail featured here-is the Wapiti Trail combined with the Ponderosa Loop.  You’ll travel through stands of ponderosa pines and open meadows full of prairie grasses and seasonal wildflowers.

Length: 7.12 miles

Configuration: Balloon

Exposure: Little shade

Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking Time: 4 hours

5900-6800 feet

My Stats

Total Distance: 7.90 miles round trip

Time: 2.75 Hours

Elevation: 5,911 to 6,764 ft

Elevation Gain: 1,342 ft

This was an relatively easy hike on a perfect day.  Very beautiful and little traffic on  a weekday except the mountain bikers. I also found out that I hike faster than a horse walks.

View from the top of the trail

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Walkin’ the Dog in Denver

General Location: Waterton Canyon in southwest metro area

Total Distance: 4 miles round trip

Estimated Time: 1.5 – 2 Hours

If you’re looking for solitude, great views, bird life, and a glimpse of what this area looked like in the beginning of the twentieth century, you’ll find them here.

My Stats

Total Distance: 5.17 miles round trip

Time: < 2 Hours

Elevation Gain: 72 ft

This was a very easy and pretty trail.  I don’t know when this book was written, but the trailhead is now a housing development and the second trailhead passed by so fast, I didn’t see it.  My starting point added a mile to the hike, but is was easy to find and had ample parking.

Here are the pics:

Trail view

We walked through some grazing land and were stalked by a couple of bulls

This is supposed to be the trailhead

This is supposed to be the trailhead

This is supposed to be the trailhead

Here is the map:

View Platte Canyon Reservoir in a larger map