Horseshoe Trail

Golden Gate Canyon State Park
HorseShoe Trail                                                               Trail Length : 3.6 Miles/ Round Trip
92 Crawford Gulch Rd,                                                    Elevation Gain : 960 Ft
Golden, Co 80403.                                                           Time : 2 Hrs 30 Min



            We hiked with 3 of our friends family. Me and my hubby have already hiked in this trail. We did not know until we reached there. We went along with our friend. We all started together in two cars from one place. On Crawford Gulch Road we took a wrong route, were GPS took us nearly 6 miles off road connecting Crawford Gulch Road. We reached the visitors center to pay for the parking. It was $7/ day.                

                Horse shoe trail was nearby the visitors center, our friend drove the car to the Horseshoe trail parking lot and my hubby came running. The parking area was very small. Once all reached, we started the hike, it was almost 9.30 am. This was a well shaped trail edged by stream and full of pine trees on both the sides.

            The trail had a gradual elevation up on the mountain. It was fun with lots of people this time. Me and my hubby were pretty fast, along with our friends. We got split into two groups. My hubby started running uphill for few minutes. At a point there was two trails splitting, we could'nt see rest five people behind. We took a stick and marked on the trail path for other friends behind to follow our route. And we took trail again. It was fairly good climb up the hill.

          We four reached up where there was a wide fallen pine trees which looked like few burnt in fire. We went into the woods to rest and had snacks, waiting for the rest to reach. It was almost 15-20 minutes there was no trace of those people coming up. So we planned to return back. We met them coming up. And they joined us together going down. On way out we met a new friend, a snake.... Yeah it was a snake on the trail. This was the first time in Colorado we saw a snake on the trail.

  While returning back it was pretty easy and fun. I felt this place would definitely be a good place to hike in fall season. Should come back next year to enjoy foliage colors.
                                                           
                                                          Here's our group selfie.

Thank You,
Dhamaya

Alberta Falls Trail

Bear Lake Parking Lot                                                    Trail Length : 1.7 Miles/ Round Trip
Rocky Mountain  National Park                                        Elevation Gain : 200 ft
GPS CoOrdinates :                                                            Degree of Difficulty :Easy      
 N40 18.716 W105 38.761                                                Start Elevation : 9450 Ft

         First time we hiked searching Alberta falls in May 2013. The trail was completely covered with snow that time. We asked few people on the trail, direction to the falls but they did not know. We were scared that we might miss the trail to get back, so we returned thinking to come back some time again.

          This time we did it while camping in Moraine Park campground in Rocky Mountain National Park. We started at 3 pm from the Bear Lake parking lot. Its just a short hike. The Trail was pretty filled with good number of golden Aspen trees.

    Before reaching the falls there was a small falls. I thought that must be the Alberta falls, and i was arguing with my hubby. He said it is a pretty big one we must go further. Finally we found the main one which is the Alberta Falls. We had to climb on huge rocks to get to the top. Their were many people taking pictures. As usual my hubby was busy taking pictures.

  I sat on the rock relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the falls. I took few selfie's. My hubby wanted to hike more. There was another trail continuing up. But i did not let him. And we returned back. While nearing there was a good elevation in one part which was ankle breaking. It took almost a hour and a half to complete. We went to bear lake and sat in a lake side bench. Took few snaps. And we rushed for sunset to our camping area.

  It was a Nice pleasant short hike.

Thank You,
Dhamaya

Echo Lake Trail

Echo Lake Trail
12334-12932 Squaw Pass Rd,                                    Trail Length : 1 Miles/ Round Trip
Idaho Springs,                                                             Degree of Difficulty : Easy
Co 80452, USA                                                           Elevation : 10,617 Ft
GPS Direction : N39 39.548 W105 36.369

                   We had a sudden plan to drive to echo lake. This was our second visit here. We knew that it would be cold out there. So we packed our jackets and gloves. It took almost 2 hours to reach there. When we reached there weather was too good and not much chill.

         

             Echo Lake was amazing covered with ice. Beautiful lake at 10,617 ft elevation. White... White every where.....What a wonderful views of mountain and lake and extremely romantic. This is a place where you need to see in all seasons. 

            There were only few cars in the lot. I just wanted to have a short relaxed hike. We Started and my hubby was busy with his camera. We were here for picnic last summer, it was totally different compared. 

       We thought of going round the lake which was wooden fenced. The snow was piled up nearly 7 to 8 feet approx. We had to safely place our legs on the snow. In some places our legs were burying till our knees. There were many bench around the lake to sit and enjoy the views.

        Even the trail boards was buried in snow. We met a ranger on the way, we asked him the direction to Chicago lake and distance to get there. He said its 5 mile trip one-way. We also saw few people coming from that trail. We enjoyed the snow very much. Almost after half of trail. the trail was bad piled up with lots of snow. We did not want to risk ourselves going further. We wanted to drive till Mt.Evans but the road was closed expecting to open on Memorial day weekend. Finally took our selfie. 

This place is definitely a paradise. My Hubby's favorite plces.

Thank You,

Dhamaya

Maxwell Falls Lower Trail and Cliff Loop trail

Maxwell Falls Lower Trail                                             Trail Length : 4.5 miles/ Round Trip
S Brook Forest Road,                                                        Level of Difficulty : Easy/moderate
Shawdow Mountain,                                                         Elevation Gain : 1100 ft
CO 80433                                                                          Time : 3.5 hrs

               Me and my hubby started from home at 7.30am and reached lower maxwell falls by 8.30am. By the time the parking lot was almost full and we parked the car beside the road. Luckily we got a spot, there was space for just one more car left.

               

 When we entered there was a group of hikers preparing to start. They were coming behind us. The trail had lot of shade with plenty of pine trees. Trail route continued along with the maxwell creek running quietly with gradual elevation upto 1000 ft. This trail was much easier. While nearing the falls we had to climb the rocks to reach the falls which was a ultimate workout on that part. The falls still had frozen bergs. My hubby was taking snaps and i went and rested myself on the rocks.

 We took a break, had some snacks and Snaps. We walked along the creek side and i was forcing my hubby to take some pictures, i stood on running water for him to take pictures. He said we need a tripod to take pictures as you think. Then again we continued on the maxwell falls trail from top of the water falls, along the creek for another 0.2 miles to the cliff loop trail which made a loop connecting to the main trail. We climbed a little bit on the rocks with ups and downs, which gave a very beautiful view of the valley below. Me and husband thought of taking a selfie and i grabbed S5 from him. Unfortunately the mobile slipped and fell down on a rock. Luckily nothing happened to the mobile. It was just a week he got his new mobile.I asked him to keep the mobile in his pocket safely. We saw glittering paper tied on the trees. We thought it may be a trail sign or someone might have tied it. The signs was not much clear so we took the down loop but any how we managed to get back to the main trail.  And reached our car.

Nice shady and cool place to hike on Summer days.

ThankYou,
Dhamaya.