The promise of another mild, sunny day sent me off to Golden Gate Canyon State Park, in the foothills northwest of Golden, Colorado. Known for its scenic granite outcrops, abundant wildlife and fabulous trail network, the Park is a popular destination for Front Range naturalists and hikers. Among its resident wildlife are black bear, mountain lions, mule deer and wintering elk.
This morning, I elected to take the Horseshoe Trail, for a gradual, 1.8 mile climb to Frazier Meadow. Rock outcrops just short of the meadow offer scenic panoramas of the Park and are a great spot for a picnic lunch; Mt. Tremont, the centerpiece of Golden Gate, looms to the northwest. On today's hike, I saw the usual mix of foothill birds (mountain chickadees, Townsend's solitaires, Steller's jays, pygmy nuthatches and pine siskins), noisy red squirrels and a few mule deer; no bears or mountain lions today! From the meadow, I was also treated to the flight of a golden eagle as it soared above the Ralston Creek Valley.
From Colorado 93, just north of Golden, turn west on Golden Gate Canyon Road; 13 miles of winding pavement will take you to the Park's Visitor Center. A day-use fee is charged (currently $6 per vehicle).
