Category: Colorado Federal

White River National Forest
“White River National Forest is the most visited national forest in the nation encompassing 2.3 million acres. With 11 ski resorts, eight Wilderness areas, 10 mountain peaks over 14,000 feet and 2,500 miles of trails, this forest is a place where you can press play on adventure and inspiration!”  Here is the Forest website.   Phone for the Forest Supervisor’s Office in Glenwood Springs is 970-945-2521.

Tenmile Canyon National Recreation Trail at Black Lake Number One
Thanks to Bob King who provided all the following information and photographs:
The Tenmile National Recreation Trail, is paved and extends for 18 miles, connecting to other paved trails.  It passes by Black Lake, altitude about 10,500″. The lake is a beautiful spot with a fishing pier and quite a few wildflowers. We’ve also seen Bald Eagles flying above the trees.  Watch for bicyclists and stay on the right-hand side of the path   Weekdays and late summer after schools are in session are less crowded times to go.
We park in a gravel lot below the dam…. There is no handicapped parking designation and there is a little lip up from the gravel lot onto the trail.  We get to this spot from the Vail Pass exit off I 70 and then take the frontage road short distance to Black Lake.   There are two other parking areas, but this is the safest place for wheelchairs, next to the gate that restricts car traffic. There is also a picnic area here. More information.

Roosevelt National Forest
The Canyon Lakes Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest in north central Colorado includes the Pawnee National Grasslands, Pingree Park, the Red Feather Lakes area and Big Thompson and Estes Park.  The Poudre Wilderness Volunteers post an informative website describing these areas.  Phone for the Canyon Lakes Ranger District is 970-295-6700.
Pawnee National Grasslands   I have a separate post about this area.  Look for it above this post.
Pingree Park contains Colorado State University’s Mountain Campus.   Map
Comanche Lake  1.1 miles to the lake, 1.6 miles if you go around the lake.  Here is a detailed description of the trail.
Red Feather Lakes
Lady Moon Trail is 2.6 miles between the two trailheads, but you may just want to hike a mile or mile and a half from the Elkhorn Creek Trailhead.   Half a mile from the Lady Moon trailhead and about 1.5 miles from the Elkhorn Creek trailhead the trail takes an elevation gain which may be more strenuous than you want.  Here is a description.
Mt. Margaret Trail 3.8 miles downhill! to the summit  You may want to just hike the first 1.5 miles to avoid an uphill return.  Most of this trail is on an old roadbed .   Forest Service description.  Location Map  Described on AllTrails    and on HikingProject.
You can gain access to the easy-sounding Columbine Trail Complex from the Mt. Margaret trail, but that is probably a longer hike than you want to take.  These trails are also mostly old roads.
Here is a map of the Red Feather Lakes area.
Lily Mountain
Lily Mountain Trail is pretty level for the first mile before climbing over 800′ to the summit in just one more mile.  Description  Road map showing the trailhead.

Pawnee National Grassland
The Pawnee National Grassland in northeast Weld County, Colorado is part of the Roosevelt National Forest and has the accessible Trail of the Mourning Dove and a Birdwalk in the Crow Valley Recreation Area.  The grassland is a part of the short grass prairie and a fine location for spring wildflowers and for birding.  Wildlife includes pronghorn, bison, prairie dogs and many others. The Buttes, which rise about 300 feet above the plains are erosional remnants of the High Plains.   They consist of the soft clay-rich Brule formation overlain by the sandstone and conglomerates of the Pawnee Creek and the Arikaree formations.
Be sure to call ahead to learn of trail conditions and of seasonal closures.  Here is the website.   Phone 970-834-9270   Map
Crow Valley Recreation Area
Trail of the Mourning Dove Short trail from the Steward J. Adams Education Site along the usually dry Crow Creek”
Birdwalk Trail  Short walk across a dry creek bed and into a cottonwood stand.
Pawnee Buttes Trail
1.5 mile trail to the first butte and 2.1 mile to “slightly beyond the eastern base of the western Pawnee Butte.  The trail is rated  easy or “easy to intermediate” depending on which reference you find.   Here is a detailed description.   Call ahead to learn more.

Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests – Mount Goliath
Mount Goliath  is a beautiful area right at timberline on the road towards Summit Lake.  The area immediately around the Nature center is accessible and the close by trails are easy walking.  Mt. Goliath is famous for its ancient bristlecone pines and alpine garden.   Interpretation displays and an accessible restroom are available in the Dos Chappell Nature Center.  The garden is managed by the Denver Botanic Gardens in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service.  A call to the Clear Creek Ranger District 303-567-4382 will let you know if the road is open.   Here is the website.

A limited area is wheelchair accessible.  The path through the garden is easy.

Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests
These mountain Forests in north central Colorado include popular destinations such as Guanella Pass, Alpine Central Railroad Grade trail, Brainard Lake Recreation Area and the Mount Goliath Natural Area.
Supervisor’s Office 970-295-6600. The National Forests website.    Links to Maps
Brainard Lake Recreation Area  Although trails leading from Brainard Lake are not particularly easy, you can  enjoy walking around the lake’s margins.  Watch out for moose!  Here is their website.
Alpine Central Railroad Grade  As long as you want to do, but 3 miles to Pavilion Point.  The trail starts at Silver Plume and goes 13 miles to Mt. McClellan.  Here it is described by the Hiking Project.
Guanella Pass   Most of the trails from the top of Guanella Pass are too long and steep in places to be included here.  However, it is an easy drive from Georgetown to the parking lots at this above-timberline destination,  There are flowers and beautiful views and a toilet!  Here is a description of some trails that lead off of the pass.  And another website about the pass area.
Rainbow Lakes Trail c 2.6 miles round trip along a series of 9 small lakes and beaver ponds.  Said to be easy but rocky in places.  Another place to watch out for moose. It is north of Nederland.   Phone 303-541-2500.  Reviewed by AllTrails.   Here is the Forest Service’s description and directions, but they have accidentally included it in the webpages for Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico.

Look farther down this Federal section to see listings specifically for Roosevelt National Forest and the Pawnee National Grasslands.

Comanche National Grasslands – Vogel Canyon
Vogel Canyon, a tributary of the Purgatorie River Drainage, has the easy Overlook trail and three other hiking trails going to the canyon bottom or along the mesa top.  There are two permanent springs located at the bottom of the canyon, which support a variety of wildlife.  American Indians lived in the canyon 300 – 800 years ago and left rock art which is visible on the canyon walls.
Here is the Forest Service Website  and another website with lots of information.
“The Overlook Trail is a one mile round trip. This trail is handicapped accessible and consists of a gravel walkway along the top of canyon.”  the trail goes through shortgrass prairie and juniper trees and ends at the top of a small cliff with a view of the canyon.  Here is a trail description from All Trails.

Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge    
The refuge is divided into two areas, both of which have accessible trails.  The Prairie Management Area is open dawn to dusk all year.  We went in October and were disappointed to learn that the more interesting Two Ponds area is only open May through September and then only Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Dogs are not allowed on the refuge. Described on National Recreational Trails site.  Reviewed on Trip Advisor
Map   Phone 303-289-0232