I can't event describe how much I like the access to beautiful nature here in Denver. While it is not as close as in Colorado Springs where in 20 minutes you could be in the mountains, it it close enough that I was able to hike after work several times in the past few weeks.
I've done a variety of hikes, easy ones and tougher with more elevation gain.
1) Green Mountain via Bear Creek - a challenging 12-mile hike with about 2,600 ft elevation gain advertised on Meetup as "beginner-friendly" (hint: it is not). The weather was cool and cloudy which made this hike much more doable, but the views on top were covered in fog.
2) Panorama Point via Bear Creek and Panorama Point Trail - an after-work hike, just over 4 miles round trip and just under 1,000 ft elevation gain. It was a perfect way to break up a work week and get some insane views. The clouds added a level of mystery to the beautiful landscape.
3) Bergen Peak Trail - 10 miles, 2,300 ft elevation gain. The group I went with was apparently fitness fanatics. As they ran uphill, I took my time stopping to take pictures and attempted to run (not literally) to catch up with them. The trail is pretty gradual and moderately challenging (yeah, after I have acclimated to this Colorado elevation...). Most of the hike is in the forest, so there is plenty of shade. The views on top are beautiful (although one of the Meetup members said that he's seen better. Ugh...).
On the way down, the weather rapidly changed, and it started to rain, then hail. I have never hiked in hail, but luckily it was small enough to be mostly an annoyance. With that said, I was soaked by the time I reached the trailhead.
The view from the top
Those white things on the ground is hail
I wanted to capture the lighting, but just could not get it on camera
4) Red Rocks/Morrison Slide Loop trail in Matthews Winters Park - there is no official trail on Alltrails, but the park is stunning. It was an after-work hike with 4.5 miles and 725 ft elevation gain. I liked how green everything was!
5) Mason Creek to Bear Paw Trail - one of the most beautiful hikes I've done in Denver. Located in Staunton State Park, the trail has 3 fantastic overlook areas. It is also not a difficult trail, 9.3 miles (ok, I admit this was with a pee-break detour) with 1,600 ft elevation gain. Catamount Overlook and Pike's Peak Overlook offer similar views and Eagle's Cliff Overlook is just the most stunning and peaceful place (until there are more people that just yourself) I've seen so far. There are a few places (peaks/viewpoints) that I go to in my head when I need a break, and Eagle's Cliff going to be one of them.
You start out in the meadow...
...then hike along a creek...
6) South Boulder Peak via Homestead Trail - this was a very challenging hike for me. There was a ton of elevation gain in a short distance. 9 miles with just over 3,000 ft elevation gain was very tiring. The first part of the hike was completely exposed to the sun. The group sadly started at 9.45 AM when the parking lots were filled and the ground well-heated to bake you from the bottom while the sun roasted you from the top. Luckily, most of the challenging elevation gain is in the forest with the last mile or so exposed again. The views did not disappoint, and the physical challenge really made me feel good albeit after the hike was over.
The drive to Boulder was incredibly beautiful
The head was palpable as the trail was completely exposed to the sun in the beginning
The last mile to the top is also exposed, mostly due to previous fires
View from the top
Panoramic view from the top
7) Mount Falcon Castle Trail Loop - this is a trail closer to Denver, just 25 minutes from my rental. 7.5 miles with 1,800 ft elevation gain. It featured a couple of historical buildings. One was the unfinished "Summer Home for the Presidents of the United States". In 1911, John Brisben Walker, the owner of Mount Falcon Park, proposed the idea of a Summer White House, inspired by European castles, to provide a retreat for US Presidents in Colorado. He hired architect J.B. Benedict to design a 22-room castle on Mount Falcon and sought funding through public contributions, including a campaign targeting school children. However, Walker's plans for the Summer White House were abandoned when he became involved in other projects.
The other was the Walker Mansion Ruins. The house was built for his wife and kids and was destroyed by the fire caused by a lightning strike.
Besides the historical aspect of the hike, I really enjoyed the views and the overall atmosphere of the park. Cicadas everywhere created constant hum almost too loud for this landscape. It reminded me of the East coast, but was the first such experience in Colorado.
9) Walker Ranch Loop - my last hike in Colorado was spectacular. The hike was moderately difficult - almost 8 miles with 1,600 ft elevation gain. I took the counter-clockwise direction as recommended by many reviewers. There were two main sections with elevation gain, but the first mile was downhill. Located in Eldorado Canyon State Park, the trail really shows off Colorado landscapes.
The first mile was already spectacular
The second mile was next to the river
With so much rain in the past several weeks the river was really flowing
Part of the trail was through the meadow
Wildflowers were everywhere!
Peculiar cactus
As the trail circled back, the river reappeared, even more raging
The last mile again offered fantastic views.
Overall, hiking was my favorite part about Denver. The variety of landscapes reminded me of California, and I finally was adjusted to the altitude to handle more challenging hikes.
My Denver rental was only an hour away from Colorado Springs. I requested an early check in and had to wait about 40 minutes since the previous guests checked out late. The weather was not cooperating, and it rained pretty much the whole time since I left the Springs. I parked on the street as there was no other parking available with this rental, but street parking was reasonable. Kitty was a bit anxious, but waited patiently.
I met with the host and unloaded the car. The place was much smaller than the house, but had all I needed for my stay. It was a studio apartment above a garage with full kitchen and a convertible bed/couch. It also had a washer and dryer and an updated bathroom.
Kitchen
Couch that slides out to become a queen size bed
The bed rolls out, and you can lie against the wall watching TV
...and because there is no real fireplace there, I have a pretend video of a fireplace
After I unpacked a bit, I took a walk in the neighborhood to Trader Joe's which was only 25 minutes away. It was really nice to live in a walkable city, although every house in the area seemed to be crammed with tenants in very little space.
I also was very close to downtown, only 45 minutes away walking distance.
Rooftop (somewhat) lounge in downtown Denver
Of course, I visited a local Honda dealership to address my brake booster issue, and they diagnosed another problem that according to their quote would cost me $900. This was getting out of control. I get it that my car is old (2006), but come on! I decided to think about it and see if I could get a better quote elsewhere. I loved the transparency of the dealership and specifically the detailed inspection with photos and a video from the technician!
Inner drive shaft boots were recommended to be replaced
I visited a local coffee/bookstore that seemed unique - just 15 minutes walking distance from my rental. I was starting to like this "walkability" concept.
One night I went to see a play in Vintage Theatre called Driving Miss Daisy. I have never seen the movie, so I was excited to see the play. I was not disappointed. It was spectacular. Low key, 3 actors, community theater - exactly how I like it.
Since I could easily walk downtown, I decided to explore even further and stop by City Park. I walked around there a bit a stopped by the farmer's market (total ripoff, by the way! Why on earth would I want to pay $8 for a bunch of kale if I can get a smaller bunch for $2 in a grocery store!).
I didn't realize how happy I was living without a roommate. I no longer felt confined to the upstairs and could clean the kitchen and keep it clean. If I felt like wearing no pants, not pants it was! The freedom of living solo.
I continued going out to Meetups, hiking and occasional dates, but my home-base remained stable. I visited Castle Rock and Denver, and hiked Spruce Mountain Trail on the way from a Denver Meetup event. "Green Colorado" is what the locals call the state this year with all the rain. Indeed, it reminded me of spring in California after a good rain season.
I revisited The Garden of the Gods, a very popular park with spectacular views that I visited back in 2016, by hiking the 6 and a half mile outer loop that was not as crowded as the rest of the park yet just as impressive.
Another trail that I found to be challenging yet rewarding in the end was Catamount Falls Trail. The 2,000 ft elevation gain was the challenging part, but the flowing water, the views along the way and the view of Pikes Peak at the end were worth it.
No new destination happens without a car trouble. As I was backing out of the driveway, my brake pedal felt stiff allowing the car to roll further than I felt comfortable with. After taking the car to Brakes Plus (big mistake!) and two replaced brake boosters, the car braking system still does not feel the same. Sadly, it is another negative experience with a mechanic that I can live without. Living "on the road" is pretty challenging from that perspective, you always have to find a new one who may or may not be reliable.
I also explored a few restaurants with some company. One of my favorites was Vine & Wheel, a wine bar with an enormous variety of wines, great food and, most importantly, chill yet classy atmosphere. Jazz was playing until almost closing time, but was not too loud allowing for conversation to happen in a light and easy way. Another place specializing in tea, Yellow Mountain Tea House, had an almost authentic Asian-style atmosphere where the server made tea right at the table while trying to convince us that it cures cancer. These billions of dollars spent on research is a total waste of resources...
Manitou Springs was the last stop on my Colorado Springs adventures. I finally explored the crowded downtown and had a wonderful dinner at a Mexican place followed by a karaoke night back in the Springs. It was time to move on to my next destination. Denver.
