Doudy Draw to Community Ditch

Distance: 5 miles round trip
Elevation: 5,670 ft - ~5,770 ft
Elevation Gain: 100 ft
Bathroom at Trailhead: No but there is one 0.5 miles up the trail
Dogs: Off leash with Boulder green tag
Date Hiked: 29 March 2013
Parking fee for non-Boulder county residents
Tags: #Boulder, #osmp, #hiking

Looking west at the Flatirons on the expansive Community Ditch Trail

The Doudy Draw to Community Ditch Trail near Eldorado Springs is a flat route that traverses a wide-open expanse of prairie between Boulder and Highway 128. There are two ways to take this out and back route.  This post describes starting at the Doudy Draw Trailhead on Eldorado Springs Road. This option has the advantage of providing a parking lot and bathroom (half a mile up the trail).  The downside is a parking fee that Boulder charges for non-residents. It is possible to start this route from Hwy 93 if you are willing to scrunch your car onto the shoulder of this busy highway. There is room for one to two cars where the ditch itself crosses over to the Marshall Mesa Trail System. This option would not be suitable if you have children or dogs that might bolt into the perpetual traffic racing up the road. 

Starting out on the smooth Doudy Draw Trail

The bathroom/picnic area at 0.5 miles

Starting at the parking lot, the first 0.5 miles up the route is on the Doudy Draw Trail nestled between two low, grass-covered hills. This trail is a wide, smooth,  gravel path that is wheelchair accessible. It ends at a small picnic area and bathroom.  50 yards beyond this is the junction with the Community Ditch Trail which heads westward and gradually climbs between more rolling hills. 

Heading towards the junction with the Community Ditch Trail

The ditch

The Community Ditch Trail weaves back and forth for 1.9 miles as it follows the ditch across the praire landscape.  0.5 miles past the original junction is a cattle gate. From this point on the views behind you of the Flatirons grow along with serene views of the grasslands to the north.  Only a few houses dot the landscape to mare the serenity of the route. This portion of the route is more rutted and rocky, but is still an easy jaunt.

The initial part of the Community Ditch Trail is wide with easy access to the water for the four-legged ones.

Looking down into a draw

The turn around point is Highway 93, or for a longer outing, one can attempt to cross the highway to Marshall Mesa and its 3 mile trail loop. The Colorado Department of Transportation is planning on building an underpass at this location as part of its widening of Highway 93.  That will be a welcome addition indeed for the plethora of mountain bikers who routinely risk their lives riding across the road.

A typical segment of the route.  Note the ever present ditch (not always wet) and rutted road (from mountain bikers)

Looking west as the trail winds across an open hillside

Spring and fall are a great time to hike the Community Ditch Trail.  It is warmer when the more exposed trails are wind swept, and it is less popular than other nearby trails. It is great for a trail run or stroll with the dogs.

Another S-curve in the trail

The further west you go, the more dramatic the views to the north.  All we need are a few Buffalo!

Oregon: Riverview Nature Trail

Distance: 2 miles round trip
Bathroom at Trailhead: Yes
Date Hiked: 22 May 2012

The Chetco River can be occasionally glimpsed along the Riverview Trail in Loeb State Park Oregon

The Riverview Nature Trail in Loeb State Park Oregon, is a short scenic jaunt through a damp, moss covered world. I took my parents there on vacation last year and it was just one of the hikes we did that day. While a one way trip was sufficient for them, we continued on to the Redwood Nature Trail, which starts just where this trail ends. While the Redwood Nature Trail journeys through towering...can you guess...Redwoods, the Riverview trail follows along the Chetco River. With the lush foliage, you don't see the river that often, but the the trip is pleasant none-the-less.

The start of the trail is broad and flat

This Wood Rose is normally pink but has turned white just before its petals drop off. 

The route is damp earth and gravel with a few bridges, some twists and turns that required the parental units to take care, and the occasional encroaching root. On this trip it was early May and the weather was drizzling and slightly cold. In the dry season, this trail will take on a totally different aspect and a dip in the river may become an enticing prospect.

Eventually the trail narrows and the ferns close in. 

Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra formosa), provide splash of color in a world of overwhelming green

This is a nature trail with markers every so often. Pick up a brochure at the entrance if you wish to learn more about the plants that live in the area. We learned that Salmon spawn in the river and its tributaries, that poison oak is not just a myth, and how to identify the Western Hemlock, Red Alder, and Oregon Myrtle. To a Coloradan, these were all exotics!

A steeper hill that was problematic for my parents 

Ascending to the road. The Redwood Nature Trail is just  ahead. 

You get to Loeb State Park and the Redwood Nature Trail just beyond by driving 10 miles up County Road 784 out of Brookings Oregon. There are picnic tables and a campground in the area.

The local Sasquatchs have joined the "this section of road sponsored by" club.  I was tempted dump out my pockets next to this sign hoping to get a picture of the guardian.  I would be rich beyond the dreams of avarice!

Meyer Ranch Winter Hike

Distance: 4.3 miles round trip
Elevation: 7,940 ft - 8,770 ft
Elevation Gain: 830 ft (net), 899 ft (cumulative)
Date Hiked: 3 Feb 2013
Bathroom at Trailhead: Yes, but up the trail, not in the parking lot
Dogs: On leash (Jefferson County Open Space)

Meyer Ranch

Meyer Ranch is a small open space on Hwy 285 near Conifer CO that is very popular with the locals. We did this trail on a cool Superbowl Sunday and expected to have it all to ourselves. Instead, the parking lot was packed and the trail was far from empty. I can't image what it would be like on a nice, dry sunny day.

This open space blankets a pine-shaded, north-facing hillside, which means that while the areas to the north of Hwy 285 were bone dry, this trail was covered in snow. Microspikes came in very handy, and we did not see anyone with out them. 

We decided to try Meyer Ranch because we really needed some close-to-Denver elevation gain. While 800 ft is not a lot, it is better than a lot of other trails we have already tried. The area consists of two loops stacked on top of each other followed by a longer lollypop loop that shoots straight up the hillside. 

The downside of Meyer Ranch is that it is always in the trees. The Jefferson County brochure talked about great views to the northwest from the uppermost trail, but that is really not true. There is one spot with a log bench with some views but this is lower than the highest point and the views were not that great. In summer, the shade is probably a blessing, but in winter, it made for a colder experience than we were expecting.

Parking lot

The trails in Meyer Ranch head up across this meadow and up the pine covered hill

Since we were interested in maximum elevation gain, we took the Owl Perch Trail (0.7 miles) to the eastern side of the Lodgepole Loop (0.2 miles), then the uppermost side of the Sunny Aspen Trail (0.5 miles) to the Old Ski Run (0.7 miles plus a 0.6 mile loop). Note that total distance, which comes from the brochure, is 4.8 miles. My GPS registered 4.3.

Typical snowy segment

The one view point

At 2.25 miles, which was near the end of the upper most loop taken counter clockwise, is a small spur trail to a large pile of boulders. This area was open, sunny and dry. While it would make a nice lunch spot for a large group, some unfortunately placed trees blocked the views from the top of the pile itself.

A trail segment on the upper trail

The boulder pile

I have driven by Meyer Ranch countless times and now my curiosity is satisfied. With the dog leash restrictions and forested aspect of the trail it won't become a favorite, but it doesn't mean it can't be yours. It would make for a fun and easy trail run.

Oregon: Redwood Nature Trail

Distance: 1.1 mile loop
Elevation Gain: 290 ft
Date Hiked: 22 May 2012
Bathroom at Trailhead: Yes

Coastal Redwoods are the star of the Redwood Nature Trail

No journey to the southern Oregon coast is complete without a stroll through a swampy Redwood Forest. The Redwood Nature Trail, in the Siskayo National Forest near Brookings Oregon, loops through the northernmost Coastal Redwood grove in the U.S. and is a great day trip for those touring the area.

Map of the loop

No surface is without its cover of greenery

Coastal Redwoods are the tallest living thing on earth. Heights over 300 ft ... can you say 27 stories... and 20 ft in diameter are not uncommon. This grove is old growth which means that some of the trees are over 2,000 years old. Fie to you Europeans who say the U.S. has no ancient monuments!

The lower riparian environment is overflowing with shrubs

Entering the zone of Redwoods. Note the Sword Ferns along the trail.

The temperate rain forest that is a haven for these trees also promotes the growth of other plants.  Moss drips from every branch like a drag queens gone wild with green feathered boas. Tanoaks, Douglas Firs, and Bigleaf  Maples compete with the Redwoods for sunlight. Meanwhile Ferns, Rhododendrons, and Huckleberry's fight and unseen battle for the choices spots in the undercarriage.

The grove gets thicker

And taller...

A journey on the Redwood Nature Trail is like walking in a giant terrarium. I kept expecting giant lizards to come slithering through on their way to their food bowl. The route starts out in a mixed hardwood forest, crosses a stream and then steadily heads upwards. It is the upper part of the loop, in a more drained environments that the king of trees reigns. You won't have any trouble identifying these titans, the ache in your neck will give them away.

It was hard not to linger and wonder at these trees.

Leaving the grove and heading back to the car.  Lady Ferns dominated this trail segment.

We took our time and lingered in the upper reaches of the loop before heading back downhill to the parking lot. There are markers every so often that match the brochure we picked up at the trailhead so you can learn about the teeming diversity all around you if so inclined.

Crossing the creek again just before the trailhead

We did this trail after hiking the Riverview Trail in Loeb State Park. The two connect for a 3 mile round trip excursion. You get to Loeb State Park and the Redwood Nature Trail just beyond by driving 10 miles up County Road 784 out of Brookings Oregon. There is a parking lot and bathroom on the left.