Looking up at a really cool entwined tree |
It didn't take me long to decide what trail to hike yesterday morning, I knew I had to hike somewhere south of the metro area because I needed to stop by a friends house in the area. I jumped on the Jefferson County website to check out their park map and noticed this new park between Deer Creek and South Valley; it stood out to me because I didn't recall it being there last year. After asking my friend Laura who lives in the area, I found out that the trailhead was new, and she had noticed the parking lot being built recently.
Getting there: The park is located south of C-470 and west of Wadsworth on Deer Creek Canyon Road. I got to the trail by exiting Wadsworth south from C-470, then I took the first right turn on Deer Creek Canyon Road and drove just over 1 mile to the obvious trailhead on the left. (past the Botanic Gardens) You could also reach the trail if you exit Kipling and follow the signs toward Deer Creek Canyon Open Space, but make a left turn on Deer Creek Canyon Road when it intersects with Ute/S. Owens; the trail is just a few hundred yards past the intersection over the hill.
Golden fields and bright blue skies |
The Hike: I arrived at the park at 10:30am on Wednesday morning and there was just 1 other car in the parking lot and the sun had just burned off the last of the snow clouds from the night before, and the sky was a bright blue. There was a light dusting of snow that quickly melted away as I stepped onto the trail after giving a quick glimpse to the trail map, which has one big loop in the park, the Two Brands Loop. I decided I'd do the whole loop and started walking west without taking a trail map, big mistake! But I thought, how hard can a loop be? There are no other trails at the park, just the loop and some short unmarked social trails.
The trail west starts going up a small bluff, and you can see views to the Tech Center, and Denver from the trail. After about 3/4 of a mile, the hard packed, well maintained trail, continues through a Prairie Dog habitat, with large holes all over the fields and side of the bluff. My dogs were going crazy as the Prairie dogs chirped at us and ran around, Rock, in her youth, would have taken off to chase them, but in her old age, she listened to me and stayed put, attempting to stalk the holes next to the trail. Belle, on the other hand, was on the leash the entire time; as a terrier she likes to dig and burrow so she would have been down the holes in a heartbeat, it was also her first time seeing prairie dogs.
Prairie Dog, there are 3 habitats along loop |
Eventually, the trail starts to turn back east and loop around, it continues on the sides of the smaller bluffs, which provide great views looking south, and another prairie dog habitat. Then the trail turns north, and you continue your way back. However, the trail does pass through the large neighborhood which was far below you when hiking on the side of the Hogback Bluff. It was at this point that I wished I had a trail map, once entering the neighborhood there are several paved paths to take and none of them are marked as the Two Brands trail loop.
I continued into the neighborhood, hiked to the left of the pond and playground; when I reached the road at the playground, I turned left and walked down the sidewalk toward an open field in hopes to pick up the trail there. The trail did continue through the field, past homes and eventually intersected again, choice: left or right (not straight or north, the way I needed to go). It was at this point, after looking at the map in hindsight, where I chose incorrectly. I picked left or west, back toward the mountains and Hogback Bluff; the trail ended at a road shortly after and here I should have turned around and gone back, but instead I walked up the sidewalk of the road in hopes to find the trail again.
Trail goes left or right; I came down the two trail tracks from the neighborhood in middle |
The two track trail took me right to the Two Brands Loop where I had started; and I probably cut out about 3/4-1 mile, which was through the Denver Botanic Gardens, but I was ready to be done with the hike after the suburban mess I had walked into. (see photo to rt)
This is a great trail and I look forward to coming back sometime and trying my hand at mountain biking here, the bluffs would make for a simple ride for those who are a little less daring on the mountain bike, like myself.
This is a great trail and I look forward to coming back sometime and trying my hand at mountain biking here, the bluffs would make for a simple ride for those who are a little less daring on the mountain bike, like myself.
Map Below; click it to input your personal directions. The trailhead is just 100 yards to the right or east of pin.
Check out some of these other hikes nearby too; Deer Creek Canyon, Roxborough State Park, and Waterton Canyon.
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Hat can be found on my site
Have you been back to the trail yet? I ran it a few times and, just like you, got lost in the housing development and ended up hopping the fence and following the two track trail back to the parking lot. The proper route is to go east through the little park, like you said, but the trail I took eventually led north to a street (Holland) that took me back to the open space and on to the two brands trail again. Dis you eventually go through the Botanic Gardens?
ReplyDeleteThaks for your write up about this park!!
mark
Thanks for the info Mark! I did not go through the Botanic Gardens and haven't been back to the pak since the first hike. Knowing the correct way to go will definitely help out my readers!
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