Sapphire Point

Distance: 0.7 mile loop
Elevation: 9,512-9,503 ft
Elevation Gain: 98 ft
Dogs: Off leash
Date Hiked: 14 July 2014

View of the Ten Mile Range from Sapphire Point

Sapphire Point is a short loop trail to an overlook gazing down on scenic Lake Dillion in Summit County Colorado. There are also picnic tables, but you need to be prepared to haul your load quite a ways to get to them.

The northern start of the loop is on the Swan Mountain bike path

The path is smooth

I decided to check out this trail as a potential place to take my parents. The route is both smooth enough and short enough to qualify as suitable for older folks. I was quite pleased with the views and might take people there just to get them oriented to the area.

Views of Grays (14,270 ft) and Torreys 14,267ft)

Picnic Area overlooking Buffalo Mountain

The overlook

Lake Dorothy and Caribou Pass

Distance: 7.4 miles round trip to the Lake Dorothy, 9 miles round trip to Caribou Pass
Elevation: 10, 160 ft - 12,065 ft (Lake Dorothy), 11,800 ft (Caribou Pass)
Elevation Gain: 1,905 ft (net to Lake Dorothy), 2,513 ft (cumulative)
Bathroom at Trailhead: Yes
Dogs: On leash (Indian Peaks Wilderness)
Date Hiked: 18 August, 2014
Tags: #hiking, #coloradooutdoors, #indianpeaks, #gearguide
Nearby Hikes: Glacier Rim, Meadow Mountain, Pawnee Pass, Mt. Audubon

Caribou Lake viewed from the Caribou Pass Trail near Lake Dorothy in the Indian Peaks Wilderness

I have been trying to hike to Lake Dorothy for years, but fire spitting thunderstorms have always turned me away. The Valkyries must have been getting mani-pedies because I finally made it. As an extra bonus, I continued on to the rarely visited Caribou Pass over an occasionally-eroded, heart-palpitating trail.

The views begin right away on the trail to Lake Dorothy.

Passing the 4th of July Mine (11,280 ft)

The trail to Lake Dorothy begins at the 4th of July Trailhead near Nederland CO. This trailhead is so popular, that on weekends you now need to take a bus from the local high school. After driving this road in a 4x4, I can't imagine how a school bus could make it up the rocky, pitted road without its passenger's internal organs being churned into mayonnaise.

Leaving the trees for a near lifeless skree slope. That is Arapaho Pass in the distance. 

Looking south from the skree slope. The area is so attractive, I wish there were trails down into it. 

The route starts up the Arapaho Pass Trail, which switchbacks ever higher up a wildflower encrusted hillside. At 1.2 miles is the turn off to Diamond Lake, another worthy destination. The higher the trail goes the better the views of the ridge and peaks on the other side of the valley. You don't have to wait very long for the scenery to dazzle on this trail.

Arapaho Pass

Lake Dorothy

A 1.7 miles, the trail levels out on a broad shelf you could drag race on and passes the 4th of July Mine and the junction with the Arapaho Glacier Trail before heading out on a mile long traverse on a skree covered hillside devoid of any living thing. No matter, the valley below is filled with stunted Sub-alpine fir, small tarns, and lush greens.

Starting out on the Caribou Pass Trail

Another view of Caribou Lake

The route hits Arapaho Pass (11,906 ft) at 3.2 miles with tantalizing view of Caribou Lake far below. I had no idea as I hastily threw on hat, gloves, and wind shell that I would be examining Caribou Lake from a more airy perch in just a bit. While the Arapaho Pass Trail switchbacks steeply down to the lake, I turned left and headed up another embankment to Lake Dorothy.

A narrow, built-up portion of the trail

A wide section of the trail

Lake Dorothy, like all mountain tarns, in nestled at the base of several peaks. The area around it is strewn with jagged rocks interspersed with grasses, which by late August had already switched their polish to a rusty brown. I know of at least two groups of "boys" who like to hike to the lake carrying their ruby slippers. What they do with them once they get there I don't want to know about!

A view of  Caribou Pass from half-way across

Coming to a nail-biting segment

Our group did not linger long at the lake however, however but returned to the main trail, which climbed upwards briefly and then began a slow decent to Caribou Pass. This trail is an eroded cut edged into a sheer cliff face. At times it was wide enough for a horse and buggy and at other times was nothing but a luge run of sand, rocks, eye popping drop offs. Fortunately, there were only a few bad segments and I never passed out from holding my breath. I would not recommend this trail to small children or anyone sensitive to exposure. If you want to partake of the oxygen stealing views below, you can always head out and turn around when things get too narley. I am sure conditions on the shelf vary from year to year.

Approaching Caribou Pass

Caribou Pass overlooks Lake Granby and the Continental Divide and was wide and welcoming and scoured nearly flat by continuous gale-force winds. One of us lost a hat over the 2000 foot drop and the rest received a free micro-abrasion treatment. Why should the Valkyries get all the pampering?

Golden Gate Canyon State Park: Raccoon Trail

Distance: 2.7 miles round trip
Elevation: 9,313 ft - 8,889 ft (starts high)
Elevation Gain: 475 ft (cumulative)
Bathroom at Trailhead: Yes
Dogs: On Leash (State Park)
Date Hiked: 17 August 2014
Tags: #coloradostatepark, #goldengatecanyon

View from Panorama Point, the start of the Raccoon Trail in Golden Gate Canyon State Park

I took my parents on a road trip to Golden Gate Canyon State Park near Golden CO on sunny summer day in the hopes of taking them on a short walk before picnicking. While the Raccoon Trail is one of the "easiest" trails in the park, it turned out to be too rocky and steep for the parental units.

Heading down from the deck

The trail begins to smooth out

For the able bodied however, the Raccoon Trail is a pleasant, if rough, jaunt through varied terrain that is mostly trafficked by families or campers in one of the nearby campgrounds. If you hustle, you can complete it in an hour and still have time to break open the chips and dip.

Junction with the Mule Deer Trail

Emerging from the trees

The Raccoon Trail starts near the wooden deck at Panorama Point, a popular place for weddings, picnics, or fall color leaf-peeping. From this deck visitors can gaze at the Continental Divide all the way from Longs Peak in the north to Pikes Peak in the south.

Grasses and open skies take over

Taking a right turn to head back up the hill

From the deck, the trail descends sharply through a tall coniferous forest and over a series of eroded rocks. At 0.68 miles is the junction with the Mule Deer Trail, which is one of the longest trails in the park. The junctions in the park are well marked with clear names, animal track icons, and laminated maps indicating your location. By this point the trail had smoothed out significantly and I could  have driven a golf cart up the path.

The uphill climb is very eroded in parts

Junction at the top with the Mule Deer Trail. Route goes to the right.

A short distance beyond this point the trail changes microclimates as it begins to parallel a drainage. The trees disappear and thick grasses intrude while the humidity soared. At 1.4 miles is a spur heading off the Reverend's Ridge Campground. The area was so overgrown I almost missed it. The Raccoon Trail continues straight before making a sharp right turn and and heading steeply uphill on another rocky, eroded segment. This area was particularly bad and looked like it might have been damaged in the September 2013 floods.

The best part of the trail, is the last segment along a shelf with stellar views.

This Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (learn more about these colorful denizens of the forest) wanted to join the party but we said no to feeding the animals.  Besides, I don't share that well!

The hectic ascent moderates slightly until another junction with the Mule Deer Trail (at 2.2 miles). From this point on the route follows a shelf with large rocks and occasional views of the Continental Divide. It comes out in the parking lot near the bathrooms, but technically crosses the pavement back to the deck.

While my parents could not do the trail, I managed to scurry along without them. By the time I returned to the parking area, they had already set up lunch on one of the many picnic tables scattered in the trees. The pine needles were sun-kissed, giving off that vanilla aroma that so reminds me of my childhood in the Sierra Nevadas. While short, the Raccoon Trail is a pleasant diversion. Bring along a lunch, linger, and lounge. There are few worse ways to spend a sunny, summer afternoon.

Mallory Cave

Distance: 3.2 miles round trip
Elevation: 6,109 ft - 6,817 ft
Elevation Gain: 934 ft (cumulative)
Bathroom at Trailhead: Inside NCAR
Dogs: On leash until after the water tank then off leash with Boulder green tag
Date Hiked: 2 August 2014
Tags: #Boulder, #hiking, #NCAR

Looking down on Boulder from the Mallory Cave Trail

The short but steep trail to Mallory Cave behind NCAR in Boulder is a great way to burn a few calories and still get home in time to binge watch Games of Thrones with a bucket of chicken wings.

NCAR's parking lot. These cars are for Saturday hikers. 

Walking up the NCAR mesa

The trail starts at NCAR, the big pink castle on the hill up Table Mesa Drive in south Boulder. Park anywhere in the large lot and head around the back side of the building from the north side.

The first 0.6 miles takes you across the mesa upon which NCAR resides, down a steep embankment and up a hogback to a large water tank. The hogback segment includes 239 ft of elevation gain in less than 100 yards. I used to torture new arrivals by having them tell me their life story on this pitch while I rushed us uphill like we were being chased by IRS auditors.

The steep trail down off the mesa

How green the hills! 2014 has been so rainy that the foothills have stayed green well into September!

After the water tank, the route then walks out onto another ridge with stunning views of the Flatirons. At 0.7 miles is a trail junction. Take a left here and travel down to the Mesa Trail and the junction with the Mallory Cave Trail (at 0.8 miles). A large kiosk marks the spot. To get to the trail, you might have to dodge all the trail runners whizzing past on the Mesa trail, which parallels the Flatirons for 3 miles in either direction.

Past the water tower and heading towards the Mesa Trail

Either route at the junction ahead will take you to the Mesa Trail. I usually go left when going to Mallory Cave.

From this point on, the trail gets progressively rockier as it climbs an additional 280 ft to the base of a 2-story wall of angled rock (at 1.3 miles). Poison Ivy grows in profusion along this segment, so refrain from the urge to "roll in the hay" or you may come home with a itch you can't scratch.

Looking back at the junction of the Mesa Trail and the Mallory Cave Trail. A large sign marks the spot. 

Heading up the Mallory Cave Trail. We will get up close and personal to the flatiron in the distance. 

The trail turns sharply here and heads straight up in a long series of steps that weave in and out of Boulders. Several climbing areas are marked by signs and corresponding splinter social trails, which can easily lead the breathless hiker astray. This is particularly true coming down.

The Mallory Cave trail is one of the wettist ones in Boulder as indicated by these ferns along the route. 

There are trail signs for Mallory Cave AND local climbing spots. Be sure to read them or you'll get off route. 

Just before the top is a large boulder field with stunning views of the surrounding area. A little further on, the trail deadends at a rock wall (at 1.6 miles and 769 ft of elevation gain). A small interpretive sign describes the bats that live in the cave, which is 200 ft rock climb. The cave is now totally closed to protect the bats, so you might as well turn around and either linger at the boulder field or and race back down to the DVR.

Open area near the top of the trail

Up this wall is the entrance to the cave. It is closed off now. I have never had the nerve to climb up there. 

If you hike to Mallory Cave midweek like I used to do, you will probably be alone on the trail. On weekends, there will be hordes of climbers gleefully hanging off of the porous rock until their fingers bleed. On this trip, which was after Colorado legalized marijuana, there was at least one climber who obviously believed that nirvana could be chemically induced. I guess for rock climbers, "stoned" has many definitions.

Arapaho Glacier Trail (Rainbow Lakes side)

Distance: 9 miles round trip
Elevation: 9,958 ft - 12,346 ft
Elevation Gain: 2,170 ft (cumulative)
Bathroom at Trailhead: Yes
Dogs: On leash (Indian Peaks Wilderness)
Date Hiked: 10 August 2014

Looking into the City of Boulder Watershed from the Arapaho Glacier Trail

The Arapaho Glacier Trail in the Indian Peak Wilderness is a tundra superhighway that stretches from the 4th of July Trailhead in the south to the Rainbow Lakes Trailhead in the north.  Since the one way distance is 7.8 miles just from the 4th of July mine (two miles up), most people hike from one end or the other and double back.

Parking area and bathroom

Trails are well marked. I measured the trail split at 0.3 miles.

On this trip, we started from the Rainbow Lakes side, which is less crowded and affords eye-popping views of the City of Boulder Watershed, a private area of peaks and lakes that are postcard perfect. Don't be tempted to head that way, however. Set one foot across the well-marked boundary and a screaming horde of guard Marmots will gnaw your feet off at the ankles and turn you over to winter's inevitable embrace.

The first two miles are in the trees on a pleasant trail. Some parts are rockier than others.

Indian Paintbrush

The road to Rainbow Lakes starts from Highway 72 just north of Nederland. Seven miles northward is a sign for the University of Colorado Mountain Research Station on the right. Turn left here onto Forest Service Road 298. It is 5 miles down a road dirt road to the large parking area. I would recommend a high-clearance 2WD at a minimum and a 4x4 if you have one. The road is pitted, eroded, and very rocky in places. It takes much longer to reach the trailhead than you would think.

Treeline at 2.5 miles. Mt. Albion is just visible.

Harebell

The first two and a half miles of the route are in the trees.  Ironically, I was pleased with the dryness of the area and the subtle scent of pine needles baking in the sun after slogging through wet and humid Heart Lake a few days prior. I say ironic because we got caught in one of the wettest storms I have been in in years. Hail, torrential rains, and enough water on the trail to totally saturate my "water proof" boots.  Normally, this segment is quite pleasant.

Tundra and watershed view

After two miles, the trail leaves the trees and heads steadily upwards across a bare tundra hillside. At the first switchback at 2.8 miles, the trail overlooks the City of Boulder Watershed. This area is clearly marked on the National Geographic Map as a no-go zone so it has always been terra incognita. At least looking down into it has removed some of the mystery.

The clouds should have been our first clue

Harebell was covering the tundra in great swaths

From this vantage, the trail winds around the hillside to the east before turning sharply west again. At 4.4 miles is a saddle. Our turn around point was a spot just off the trail where views of the southern Indian Peaks dominate. Unfortunately, on this trip we only stayed 10 minutes before a distant rumble had us packing up and heading down.

On the saddle

Ptarmigan showing off its superb camouflage. This mother had several chicks with it. I could hardly see any of them and just pointed my camera in the general direction of where I thought they were.

Half way to treeline, the sky began to spit hail from a storm that had built early in the day over the Watershed. Thunder began to vibrate the air and we quickened our step to get down as quickly as possible. Despite all the gear, we were quite wet by the time we reached the trees and then had the pleasure of walking two miles on a trail slick with pea-sized hail and streaming water. Ankle-deep puddles were forming on any flat segment and the dirt was eroding around rocks as the torrent rushed downwards. The temperature dropped to below 40 degrees and a heavy mist descended. Even though I had both a stocking cap and gloves with me, they did little to keep out the cold after becoming saturated from the rain and mist. Had anyone one of us had an accident that prevented us from generating heat through movement, we would have had a serious case of hypothermia on our hands. This is just one more example of how the wilderness can torment those who are unprepared. For the most part, we are fat and dumb primates oblivious to nature's killing power as we hide behind our heated walls and espresso machines.

Off the trail now at our lunch spot. We are looking south, deeper into the Indian Peaks Wilderness.

I really would like to return to this trail on a nicer day. While the clouds and mist added to the photographic appeal of the area, it was a warning to stay in bed. 2014 has been such a short season that many of us have pushed the limits to enjoy the high country before winter grips it again.