Category: Colorado

Hiking the Niobrara Ridge

Posted on by Joy

I’ve been wondering, why travel when there are beautiful places to hike here at home? OK, totally kidding! Here in Colorado Springs we have amazing parks and open spaces, not least of which is Garden of the Gods, a geologist’s dream come true on the Rocky Mountain Front.

Niobrara Ridge is just over a half mile walk, but the views are amazing. Hey, beauty is beauty regardless of trail length! We parked at High Point, Lot 9, at the southeast edge of the Park and are heading to the base of the trail. What a beautiful view north at 7:30am.

Gorgeous morning, so let’s go!

Great Sand Dunes National Park: Peaks of Sand and Granite

Posted on by Joy

The high, rugged Sangre de Christo Mountains are the backdrop for Great Sand Dune National Park, 30-square miles of sand dunes reaching over 740 feet. They are the tallest dunes in North American with an amazingly diverse habitat. It is an ongoing story of wind, water, and sand. There are no designated trails on the dunes, you can walk anywhere you want–I dare you! Come along to visit the grand peaks of sand and granite!

Beauty at sunrise
What a landscape! Click and go . . .

Ride~About: The Best Autumn Color in 30 Years!

Posted on by Joy

When local folks say they haven’t seen such gorgeous autumn colors in 30 years, you know you picked a good day to take an autumn road trip into the mountains! Come along on this glorious trip to see Nature’s annual end-of-summer spectacle.

Come on, it gets even better!

SNAP*Shot: Zapata Falls and My Poor Planning

Posted on by Joy

I was told about it so planned a visit during my trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park area: Zapata Falls. An easy half-mile walk to a waterfalls! Have been missing waterfalls this year with travel limited, but here we are. Ready for this adventure? Hmmm . . . this is easy?

Let’s Go, It’s a Waterfall!