Great Fun in Historic Castlewood Canyon

Forecast, hi-36, partly cloudy.  That forecast might have kept fair weather hikers home.  Not the case for ten members of the High Country Hikers (HCH) group from Aurora.  This bunch of hardy, over age 50, outdoors men and women truly love being outside together.  Two first-timers joined in the fun, making it a bonus day.

The ride south on highway 83 past Parker and Franktown brought us to one gem of a State Park.  Castlewood Canyon is a medium size park, (about 2,600 acres - seven of the twenty-six state parks have more), and is part of the Black Forest region of Colorado.  Inside park boundaries a microcosm of rock formations, floral species, tree variations, can be found.  Plus it is a favorite spot for technical rock climbers.

Hike leader, Ed, describes various types of rock, lichen, and flora.

First time hiker with HCH, Lissa Ebersole is captivated by the view.

The park includes various ecological communities including tall stands of timber, verdant (green) riparian (living on the bank of a natural river) areas, and fragile prairie grasses.

We arrived at Canyon Point, cinched our packs, and were on trail a few minutes after 9.  The Lake Gulch Trail is a .8 mi. trek to the canyon floor.  On our descent, we met a small group of hikers from the Colorado Mountain Club.  After a brief exchange of hiker jargon, both groups were on about their plan to hike the canyon.

Linda Saiz, enjoys the view.  

We crossed the slow-moving water of Cherry Creek.  If  you stood motionless anywhere in the canyon, you could hear a mini water fall, or a small trough of water slicing through monstrous boulders strewn across the canyon floor.

One of many vistas

So many names of flora in the canyon to remember.  Not to worry, we have our own personal Naturalist to fill in all the blanks.  There was Larkspur, Lanceleaf Chiming Bells, Lupine, Poison Ivy, Wild Raspberry, Yucca, Snowberry, Chokecherry, Gambel's Oak, Wooly Mullein, Poison Hemlock, Sand Lily, Milkvetch, Purplevetch, Spring Beauty, Current, Common Juniper, and Rocky Mountain Juniper.  As for species of trees, there was Douglas Fir, Ponderosa Pine, Narrowleaf Cottonwood, Aspen, and Willow.  

Penny moves up trail after admiring a plant of Subalpine Larkspur  

At the next junction, we took the Inner Canyon Trail to one of the coolest historical sites in the area. If you have not seen the ruins of Castlewood Dam (circa 1890), up close, it is a must see. The dam was trouble from the start as engineers and politicians somehow got the faulty design approved. 

The structure leaked from the beginning.  On the night of August 3, 1933, the dam broke, flooding Denver, and killing a number of residents.  Get the full story at the park visitor center.

View of remains, Castlewood Dam (Circa 1890) from Creek Bottom Trail.

The rock/mortar structure ruptured, flooding Denver, 30 miles away.

Standing on trail looking up at the imposing structure that once held the water supply for Denver, was an ere feeling.  One of many questions: What kind of machinery was used to position all the rock? 

Hike Leader, Ed Blum, told the story of the night the dam became the source of terror for the residents of Denver.  Blum is a Naturalist with The Wildlife Experience, in Parker.  The group is fortunate to have this experienced man as a hike leader and driver.

Now on the 1.7 mi. Creek Bottom Trail, our route connects with Rimrock Trail.  Views in this area are spectacular.  Standing on the edge of this canyon, looking across miles of a valley once covered with water gave one pause.  What would I be seeing from this spot millions of years ago?

Looking over the North rim.

It was late morning when some hikers began asking, when do we stop for lunch.  Between us and the rim, a stretch of natural stone and man-made steps, plus a few short switchbacks and open trail.

Ed and the Gargoyle.

The early morning chill was gone, replaced with a comfortable amount of sun.  A number of hikers shed a layer or two during the ascent.

Lunch on the Rimrock Trail is one of those experiences where if you force yourself to look closely, you find you are close to civilization.  A pair of turkey vultures gliding overhead, a solo dead tree that seems to be 'growing' out of a slab of solid rock, and a natural rock formation that looks like over sized butt-cheeks, make the list of special memories one takes from this day.  

A lone cottonwood clings to life.

A number of traditional PB&J sandwiches were consumed before Gary #2 offered a mini serving of real backcountry style dessert.  The taste of warm re-hydrated raspberries in sauce, topped with chocolate cookie crumb sprinkles, was better than some expected.    

On trail again, we approach a spot where we are directly across the canyon from the Dam ruins we walked beneath hours earlier. The structure is a bit less imposing from above compared to the view from below this morning.

Near the end of a challenging 7+ mile day, smiles still come easy.

We continue along the canyons east rim to a spot where trail turns back on itself and makes a steep descent once again to the canyon floor.  This is where the weekly group photo is taken. Everyone appears to be in great spirits, considering the size of the smiles.

One of many unique images.

    
The descent into the canyon brings us to the Inner Canyon Trail.  This 1.2 mi. path scoots among the boulders on the north side of the canyon wall.  Every short up here is rewarded with a similar size descent.

Although trail conditions overall today were good, there were brief sections of wet to muddy ground.  A few low spots had standing water, causing hikers to make quick changes in their stride.

This is why sturdy, comfortable boots are necessary.

 
As we reach the junction of Rimrock and Inner Canyon trails, we follow the latter about 1.2 mi. along the canyons north wall to a junction with Canyon View Nature Trail.  That will take us across the canyon on a wooden foot bridge.  Considering what we have seen and experienced in this small yet vibrant canyon, may place it on a short list of places to revisit with friends and family.   

One more crossing and one more up.

The final climb out of Castlewood Canyon is comforting due to the 100% canopy provided by some old Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine trees.  On the ascent, Ed recognizes a Ranger named Lisa.  Tasked with checking trail and backcountry conditions, Lisa told us she most enjoys meeting people and providing them information on the park.

Once again, a hike with memories to savor, and photos to rekindle those memories.  Those who hiked trails of Castlewood Canyon today, experienced what may be the most eclectic hike of the 2012 season. 

Castlewood Canyon State Park - A Gem!

A total of 198 images captured today, 149 were keepers...a good day.  If you were part of the group to hike Castlewood Canyon,  your images will be emailed to you soon.  It took more time to write and edit this piece than normal.  So be patient.