The third hike of theweek is here. This week we are headed over the Granby and Grand Lake way to Strawberry Lake. The lake got it’s name from mineral deposits that make the water look a bit strawberry colored.

Strawberry Lake

Length: One-Way Mileage- 1.55 Miles
Elevation: Trailhead: 8280’ Highest Point: 9189’
Rating-Moderate
Trailhead Location: From the Winter Park Visitor Center continue north on US Hwy 40 through the town of Granby. You will see an exit for US Hwy 34 towards Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park On US Hwy 34, between Granby and Grand Lake, between mile markers 5 and 6, turn east on CR 6. Follow this road for 7.6 miles. Park on the left at the pullout. The trailhead is on the right.
Trail Information: The trailhead is located across the street from the pullout. The beginning of the hike you are going to be gaining elevation crossing  Strawberry creek several times. You will notice that the creek is a reddish color from mineral deposits. Follow the creek to a fork that will have a trail marker which identifies the High Lonesome Trail, Strawberry Bench and Indian Peaks Wilderness to the left and the Caribou Trail to the Right. Strawberry Bench is the flat meadow straight ahead with Strawberry Lake barely visible in the meadow. Follow the trail to the left (east) and cross the creek, where there is a faint fork on the right. Turn right at the fork and head into the woods. The trail meanders into the meadow before you get to the lake.

Get out of the house and come have some fun in Winter Park, Colorado. Looking for some lodging to get out of the heat and crowds?  Winter Park Lodging Company summer lodging is affordable, comfortable and well appointed.  Get on up to the hills.

St. Louis Lake Trail is famous for wildflowers

The trailhead of one of the most popular hiking trails in the Winter Park area, the St. Louis Lake trail, has very restricted access. The trail is known as one of the most beautiful wildflower hikes you can find in our valley, and due to this celebrity, it draws thousands of hikers each summer (or it used to).

About four or five years ago, the Sulpher Ranger district of the Arapaho National Forest decided that because of the extremely heavy traffic on the trail, it would be best for the health of the trail and surrounding forest to keep the the gate closed except for on three days of the summer. 

The gate blocks the 3.1-mile road leading up to the St. Louis Lake trailhead. You can still hike the trail anytime of the summer, but you will have to hike up and back on the stretch of road that leads to the trailhead. You can also ride your bike on the road, as long as you leave it once you reach the trailhead that crosses into the Byer’s Peak Wilderness area.

The total round-trip distance including the road is about 14 miles. Not including the road, the distance is less than 8 miles round trip.

Announcing the dates that the St. Louis Lake Trailhead gate will be open this summer:

• Friday, June 25 at 4pm through Saturday, June 26 at 7pm (for people who want to camp).  
• Wednesday, July 14 - 7am- 7pm. 
• Monday, August 16 – 7am- 7pm.

More Winter Park hiking trails and tips to come throughout the summer. Stay tuned!

The second edition of the hike of the week is back for Winter Park, Colorado.  This week the hike takes a little drive from WP up to Rocky Mountain National Park.  This week’s hike is a relatively easy and short hike that goes to a beautiful waterfall and continues to a stunning meadow with great mountain views and small ponds teaming with fish.  There is a charge to get into Rocky Mountain National Park but this hike is a hike in and there is no fee.  If you continue to drive into the Park there is a charge

On the way back stop in Grand Lake and check out Colorado’s biggest natural lake with some of the best views in Colorado.

Adams Falls, East Inlet Trail – Winter Park Hike of the Week

(Rocky Mountain National Park)

BEGINNING ELEVATION: 8400ft.

ENDING ELEVATION: 8480ft.

Miles one way: .5 miles to Adams Falls, 1 mile to the glaciated valley

Rating: Easy

Trailhead Location: From the Winter Park Visitor’s Center drive north on US HWY 40 19 miles through Granby to US HWY 34 and turn right. Continue for about 15.3 miles to the Grand Lake Visitor Center and turn right in to the village of grand Lake. At the Mountain Food Market, the road will veer to the rights into Grand Lake (a wooden sign days “Welcome to Grand Lake”) veer left and follow the road for 2 miles to the end of the road to a parking lot, the trailhead is well marked.

Trail Information: This is an easy hike up to a beautiful waterfall. It is suitable for all ages. Be careful at the top of the waterfall as the water is fast and strong. Keep small children well away from the water’s edge at the falls and stay on the trail only. If you decide to, you can continue on another .5 miles past the falls in to an alpine meadow with gorgeous views of “Mt. Baldy” and ponds full of fish.

Special Trail regulations: This hike is in the Rocky Mountain National Park so no dogs or bikes are allowed.

Stay tuned next week for the third installation of the Winter Park Hike of the week.

Winter Park Hike of the Week No. 1

The Winter Park/Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce is doing a bike and hike trail of the week and I thought I would pass it along on our blog for any of you that have an interest in hiking and biking.

The first edition is Monarch Lake for the hike.  I have done this hike with my wife pregnant with twins so it is about perfect for kids, families and pets.  Monarch Lake is absolutely beautiful and there is lots of wildlife in the area so keep the camera close and be on the watch.  There is good fishing in Monarch Lake so take a pole and try to snag a big one.

Winter Park Hike Trail of the Week

Monarch Lake

Length:4.07 miles round trip
Elevation: Trailhead: 8,345′ Highest Point: 8,459′
Rating: Easy- A trail requiring limited skill with little challenge to travel
Trailhead Location: From the Winter Park Visitor Center continue North on US Hwy 40 for about twenty minutes into the town of Granby. Once you drive through the town of Granby you will see an exit sign for US Hwy 34 to Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park.From there take Hwy 34, and between mile marker 5 and 6 turn onto CR 6 (FDR 125).  Follow this road for 10 miles to the Monarch Lake parking area.
Trail Information: This easy loop around the lake is a popular destination year round. The trail begins at an old cabin that is staffed in the summertime. Along the way you will pass an old steam donkey engine, log chute pilings and cabin remains from when this area was logged in 1902. Keep your eyes open for the moose!
Special Trail Regulations: dogs must be on a leash not to exceed six feet at all times. Day use at this trailhead requires the purchase of an Arapaho National Recreation Area entrance pass or display of your golden passport on the dash of your vehicle. If you are camping overnight in the wilderness, then only a wilderness permit is required. Please leave the parking stub from the wilderness permit on the dashboard of the vehicle in the parking lot.

Again, Monarch Lake Trail is a great scenic hike just a short drive from Winter Park and Fraser on your way to Grand Lake.  Make a day of it and head over to Grand Lake and have a bite to eat and take in Grand Lake, Colorado’s biggest natural lake.

Summer is here so get out of the house, get a little exercise and see the beauty of Colorado.

Summer is on the way and nothing announces it’s arrival better than the opening day at Rocky Mountain National Park. May 28th, 2010 will start the summer season for the Alpine Visitor Center located on the Continental Divide on Trail Ridge Road.  Crews are hard at work clearing the pass to have it open in time.  Be sure to make the drive over the divide this summer, the views are incredible. You might even see some wildlife too.

78941 U.S. Hwy. 40
Winter Park, CO 80482

Phone
970.726.7157

Hike a Trail - it doesn't cost a dime!

With us all hearing (and thinking) about the recession these days, we thought we’d spell out how inexpensive a summer vacation can be in one of the best places to BE in the summer – Winter Park, Colorado.   How’s this for frugal but also very fun?

Lodging for 3 nights at the brand new Trailhead Lodges in downtown Winter Park- one bedroom that sleeps 4 = $472.82

Day 1: 

Rent bikes ($40) and cruise the Fraser River Trail.  Have a picnic along the trail ($10) and check out a moose by the river. Concert in the Park on Tuesday night (just across the road from your condo): FREE, Bring dinner to the concert ($27.18 for some good sandwiches and chips from Safeway)

Day 2: Hang out at Winter Park Resort and ride the alpine slide, play mini-golf, try the maze, and eat at Cheeky Monk in the new Village at Winter Park (get a free beer by mentioning our name!). Total: $75.  Eat in at night so the worn out little ones can rest.  Pop in a DVD (free!) from the condo to entertain.  ($20)

Day 3: Drive to Grand Lake and walk around the town and shops (free unless you buy something you fancy!).  Have a yummy shake in town ($10 for all 4 of you) or ice cream.  Lunch is cheap there too.  Rent paddle boats and enjoy ($20).  Find a trail and go for a hike (free!). If you’re there for 4th of July, enjoy the parade!

Drive back to WP and walk to dinner at the Mirasol with our 15% off coupon: $45 (food for all, salsa bar & drinks for the ‘rents)

Day 4: Sad to go, but you had a great time and made memories for life, not to mention some holiday card contenders!

TOTAL TALLY:  $720 ($30 to spare so you can go out to breakfast one morning)

The easiest starting point is from Hideaway Park, which is on the corner of the Hwy 40 and Rendezvous Way. It’s caddy corner from McDonalds and next to the Visitor Center. Start on the sidewalk set right next to the skate park and keep going for about 1/4 mile in the direction away from the park. The paved trail passes behind some new townhomes called Riverwalk.  Just past the townhomes, you’ll see a bridge that crosses over Vasquez Creek. Take a left over the bridge and you’re there. Check out this map for it’s exact location.

While Winter Park is bustling when the snow is falling, the Summer season is perfect for all of us searching for a quiet mountain getaway. Whatever outdoor activity it is that suits your fancy, we’ve got it here. No crowds, unbeatable sunsets, and good old fashioned wide open space…. did I mention it’s free too? Ok, well maybe not all of it, but it sure is a good deal.

One of these killer bargains (free) is the hike to the top of Byer’s Peak. If you’re in the mood to get your heart rate up, have decent hiking shoes and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the Rockies, this one’s for you!

So last week my boyfriend (Dace) and I set out to conquer the 5 mile route up to the peak. We opted to bike 1.8 miles from the new trailhead to the original trailhead from the Forest Service gate. This steady climb was immediately followed by a lengthy “water break” when we reached the end of the road and the start of the original trail. The first 1.8 mile stretch has been recently closed by the forest service to motor vehicles due to the impact on the wilderness area. They do allow bikes on it up to the original trailhead, and have even placed a bike rack to which you can lock your bikes, if you so desire. From here on to the top is a hiking only trail. So, after our break and with no other people in sight, we headed up.

About 30 minutes up we stopped in a clearing to take in the view and try out our aim. We then spent a good 15 minutes hurling small rocks over an 80 foot gap in attempt to hit 2 rusty oil drums in the brush below. I got soooo close but it was Dace’s rock that eventually gave that satisfactory “dinng!!!”. Victory!

A steadily ascending, root filled path eventually gave way to tree line, with the summit in sight. The wind was whipping around us and I noticed the ground was moving. At first I think I’m seeing things, but then we get closer and realize the movement is a bunch of Ptarmigans pecking at the ground, like chickens in a barnyard. 10, 12, 0r 14 of the greyish-brown birds were covering the side of the trail, blending in and out of the mountainside. I’m really feeling the increase in elevation now and simultaneously realize how hungry I am. A cheeseburger is in order after climbing to nearly 13,000 ft, yes indeed.

On the verge of the last push up a particularly rocky section, we spot a family of mountain goats hanging out on a rocky precipice. One of them actually passes us quite close, pauses, and with an unconcerned look walks back towards the others.

They look really warm (which thankfully I am too because I remembered my windbreaker). So we push ahead and I think about the hot chocolate I may have before my burger. Shortly after, we reached the summit and took in the amazing 360 degree view of the Rockies. The sun was shining and we were feeling pretty lucky to be in our own backyard.

The descent cruised by and we made a beeline for the barbeque grill. For those of you who have yet to go, we highly recommend it because it’s worth the work and will make the burger that much better!