We started off with snowshoes but, it wasn't necessary. We ended up switching to microspikes. About…read morea 1 mile in we encountered a moose on the trail. We tried waiting her out but, she was determined to eat from the trees right next to the trail. Therefore, we cut our hike short and went back. It is a beautiful area, there were no cars in the parking lot when we arrive around 8:15am on a Saturday morning.

I love this trail, and one of the reasons why is the end-as you finish up a great hike or ride, you…read morearrive near the parking area and there are some nice warm boulders by the river-take off your shoes, sit and feel the warmth of the sun radiating from the rock, soak your feet in the icy water...life is good. The trail starts at 8300 ft. From the parking area the trail travels a cushioned gentle slightly downhill roll through woods along the banks above the St. Vrain. Most of the first mile+ is cool and shady even in the summer and the smell of the pines fills your senses. For bikers, there are a few bumpy sections, not a lot. Further on you will get to more technical stuff when you reach a 4x4 road-plenty of steep and rocky. From 36 follow Left Hand Canyon to the fork, take right fork to Jamestown, go through Jamestown, follow to end of pavement, keep going about 1.5 miles

Nice local hike if you are in the longmont area…read more There are trash cans and a recycling can at the trailhead. However, there are no dog poop bags. if you are bringing your furry friend, be sure to pack some bags along with you. There are 3 different trails at the open space none of them overly long. The overlook trail is more rocky though not bad. There are also no trees. The loop trail has some trees but its not really shaded. The loop trail does have some lovely views. In september to at some point in January, the trail does close to hikers monday through weds. for "elk management" so be sure to check cotrex to see if trail is open or closed. Winter is really a great time to hike this area. The temps are cooler and the snow makes the trees and area look magical.

For an easy hike, this is the spot. The views are unbelievable…read more The terrain and surroundings change from barren rocky trails to meadows to forest lands. The prickly pears had just bloomed and we saw lots of birds and two different groups of mule deer. It's a great hike to take with kids. The elevation changes are gradual. You do share the trail with horseback riders and mountain bikers so be aware.

What a gem of a trail! The perfect balance of shade and sun meant nobody got too hot, and the water…read morestayed close the entire time. We loved discovering little slow-moving pockets and coves for the kids to splash around in!

This is a 3.4 mile hike with 450 feet of elevation gain in Boulder. The hike is rated as easy…read more Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash. There are no bikes or horses allowed. There is a small parking lot available along with a small amount of road side parking in specific areas. There are port-a-pottys available at trail head and also some trash cans. There are no dog poop bags so if you are bringing your furry friends be sure to bring some! The trail is lovely. There are a lot of water crossings. Where you will need to step on rocks. They are stable but if you are not comfortable walking on rocks this may not be for you. The trail is shaded with lots of forest and trees.

Maxwell natural area is a great hike that is in fort collins…read more To simply go up to A and back to parking lot is roughly around 4 miles round trip. The first 2/3 of a mile or so is relatively flat and then it starts inclining. However it still only has around 600 feet or so of elevation gain so really is not very strenuous. You can see people hiking, trail jogging or mountain biking. The trail is somewhat narrow once you get rolling and get into the switchbacks, so be prepared for that. This is a great go-to trail if you dont have a lot of time but want to get out. In spring/,summer be careful this area frequently does have a lot of rattlesnakes.

We visited the accessible Homestead trail at Lory state park and it was lovely! There are a couple…read moreof accessible parking spots with access lanes right in front, and an accessible outhouse near the parking lot. The trail is wide enough for a wheelchair and is packed gravel/pea sized pebbles. My travel power chair did great on it, a manual chair might have trouble getting traction. It's about a half mile loop, there are informational signs throughout and benches scattered along the way if you need a place to sit. There are audio description devices available at the visitor center. There are also grills and picnic areas that are available when there is not a fire ban. Beautiful views!

I visited Lory State Park for the first time today. Daily admission fee is $10.00…read more If you have the annual parks pass from registration renewal, there is no need to get a paper pass or placard from the Visitors Center to put in your car or hang on the rear view mirror. Your car license plates are sufficient. Park Rangers will check your plates to ensure you have the annual pass. The gentleman (volunteer) at the Visitors Center shared this information with me. I loved that he had a good sense of humor and was personable. We shared some good laughs together. I recommend going inside the Visitors Center to check out their wildlife display and to get helpful information for your visit to the park. There is also a small gift shop area to purchase books, maps and souvenirs. Staff will give you a free map of the park. There is also public restrooms at the Visitors Center. There is also a nice telescope inside the Visitors Center and a nice viewing deck with historical signage. I always enjoy reading this information for its historical value. I always learn something new. The roads in the park are all dirt so plan ahead for washing your car later. There are various parking lots to park your car before wandering off on trails. There are a lot of lovely views around. Have your camera or phone ready to take those landscape or perhaps wildlife photos. I didn't see any wildlife in the park today. I would've hiked various trails but I've been recovering from some injuries. Next time! I would love to return here. I very much enjoyed my visit to Lory Park. If you haven't been here, visit before the next snowfall! The weather was nice today so I felt fortunate. So glad I stopped here.

Only one review? Well let's keep the five star momentum going because this place deserves it! I met…read moreup with some friends here for paddleboarding and was surprised that on a sunny, warmish October day that: A) It was empty. We were the only people on the water for awhile. B) Free parking. Hollllla! McIntosh is nestled in the middle of a residential area and I kind of love that (residents may say other wise). You have a spectacular view of Longs Peak right in front of you and even though you're near an airport, it's pretty quiet. North side has a playground with restroom and there are multiple places to launch from on your sup or kayak. This will be going into my regular rotation for sup next year!

McIntosh is a decent sized lake with walking/jogging paths, and a playground. It is in the middle…read moreof a residential area. McIntosh is my favorite place to have an impromptu SUP drop-in the water and a frequented stop to take my dogs walking over the years. Parking is free and almost always easy to find. McIntosh does not test their water, so keep that in consideration, especially if you are taking dogs into the water as they can easily get sick or worse from any contaminated/algae bloom lake water. Learn what blue algae is and look for signs before entering.

A nice spot close to the heart of Boulder to have a picnic, go on a hike, or enjoy the warer. I…read morealso saw a few people fly fishing. The bathrooms were not operational during our visit (early July 2024) which was pretty inconvenient when you want to eat/drink by the water. The parking lot will fill up but there is some additional parking across the road. This spot could benefit from 1-2 more picnic tables.

Beautiful public access spot in Left Hand Creek Watershed! A great place for a picnic and walk…read morealong the creek!

I actually didn't have enough time to complete this trail but nonetheless - my short hike in…read moreNovember down this snow covered path was very dreamy. Be aware that when it's been snowing, you need proper hiking boots and even spikes because the snow is SLIPPERY! But even despite this we had a nice 20 minute walk down the path before having to turn back as it was getting too dark. This path was one of the only ones short/clear enough to go with a car that didn't have all wheel drive or chains after a pretty heavy snowstorm - so plan ahead! It's easy enough to find though, you can even type it into your GPS and get directions. The view at the base is stunning - I'm sure that is also the case at the end of the trail! I absolutely plan to go back next fall a little earlier, ideally before the snow gets heavy to catch some changing colors. Would absolutely rec a trip to anyone :)

Beautiful trail to watch the sunset. So peaceful and if you are lucky you may see deer along your…read morehike. Nice way to end the day in Rocky Mountain National Park.