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