Colorful Morning Hike–Mueller State Park, CO

Mueller State Park is about 28 miles into the mountains from Colorado Springs. Covering 5,121 acres with ponds, rock outcropping, mountain views in every direction, and amazing aspen groves, a walk this time of year will be spectacular! Grab your water and get ready because we start our hike at about 9,650 feet and it will be a down and up huffer puffer as we drop 500 feet to Preacher’s Hollow and Never-Never Pond. We’ll take it slow because the thin air at this elevation will take its toll on us both!

Let’s Go, Trails #4 and #5

Ride~About: Colorado’s Absolutely Gorgeous Autumn Passes

It is autumn my friend, and the talk of Colorado being THE place to visit this time of year is absolutely true. I’ve always thought, oh sure, but it can’t be that good, after all, Montana has Tamaracks. I was wrong! The color across the rocks; the ground cover everywhere including the tundra; the huge, dense aspen groves in every shade of yellow/gold/orange/red. WOW–let’s go!

View from Kenosha Pass–Red Cone, part of the Central Front Range of the Rocky Mountains
You are going to love this!

Colorado’s Autumn Gold

Moving to a new home means lots to do. For me finding a chiropractor is top priority–it is a life-long issue. Moving to a new state means visiting DMV–for hours. Registering for upcoming elections, unpacking and stowing boxes, organizing everything everywhere, getting insurance squared away, finding fave food stores, cafes, and good local coffee, well, you get the idea. I’ve lived here just over two weeks, still busy settling in, but the mountains are calling! It is autumn in Colorado, world-famous for glorious golden quaking aspens. Only 40 minutes to Mueller State Park, just the other side of Pikes Peak. Let’s take a break from the mundane and revel in nature’s glorious fall show!

Deep breath, relax, enjoy . . .

SNAP*Shot: Vibrant, Unique Western Larch

When autumn arrives, it is time to head north to savor the unique and beautiful Western larch, called tamaracks in western Montana. Our first stop in Swan Valley is a marvelous view of Swan Peak, the second highest peak in the 99-mile Swan Range. Swan Peak stands at 9,289 feet, with the highest peak only 67 feet taller.  Swan Valley ranges from 2,000 to about 2,500 feet giving us a spectacular 6,000+ foot rise to mountain tops. This time of year the mountains gleam with the tamaracks’ autumn gold. Let’s explore the grandeur of these glowing yellow trees of the North.

Western Larch, tamaracks

So much more to see . . .