Sandstone Ranch Open Space: Juniper Valley Loop Trail

Thirty miles north of home is a new 2,038 acre open space–Sandstone Ranch. Douglas County, the county north of my home county of El Paso, opened Sandstone Ranch to the public in September 2020. They are proud to have secured this acreage for the public to enjoy for generations. This open space has a 3.5-mile common border with Pike National Forest, historic ranch buildings from the original owners in the 1870s, and great plans to make both available to visitors in the future.

Currently, though, Sandstone Ranch has 12 miles of trails with overlooks of the old Ranch and various red rock formations. Today we will explore 3.6 miles of the Juniper Valley Loop Trail. With all the rain we’ve had this year–and are still getting–the flowers and plants should be amazing. This is my first visit here, so join me on this new adventure in beautiful Sandstone Ranch Open Space!

We are setting off at 6:20am in the cool morning temps. It will be in the upper 80s today so we are beating the heat. Oh my, so many flowers.

Let’s get some closer looks. Wild Bergamot, also called Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa). Hummingbirds love these flowers. One hummer did dive bomb me a few minutes ago, but otherwise have seen none. What does that mean? Well, I’m wearing a red shirt and hummers tend to check out that huge walking “flower” as a possible dream come true. It has happened before and one nearly landed on me as we stared eye to eye. OK, OK, so I wear red shirts for a reason–it is so cool!

Tailcup Lupine (Lupinus caudatus)

All those small white flowers along the trail so far are Hoary Alyssum (Berteroa incana). Here they are close up surrounding a Skyrocket, also called Scarlet Gilia (Impomopsis aggregata).

We are walking switchbacks now taking us up to the left. Oh my the Musk thistles. These, as well as Bull and Canada thistles, are invasive and can now be found in all 50 states. Colorado, as many states, consider them noxious weeds that need to be eradicated, but why?

Turns out thistles not only demand a lot of water creating dry land and erosion issues but are notorious for draining nutrients from the soil damaging growth of all other plants. The Canada thistle was found to secrete chemicals from their roots toxic to surrounding plants giving the thistle an advantage to grow and spread with little competition. One thing for sure, watch your step around those very large thorns!

They may be terribly invasive, but they can be very pretty. Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans).

Ah, walking in the shade again. These are Narrow-leaved Penstemon or Beardtongue (Penstemon angustifolius). The flowers are actually only about 3/4 inch long, but couldn’t help getting a close up.

Lovely Blue Fax (Linum lewisii).

These lovelies are easy to miss. Scarlet Gaura (Gaura coccinea). The plant only reaches about a foot high, but I’ve never seen one that tall, and the flowers are about 1/2 inch across. Bees love them.

We are starting the loop down into the valley. Still loving the shade!

Another Skyrocket.

Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is found all over the west. The flowers can be from white to all shades of pink, are about 1/4 inch across, and always form these umbrella-shaped clusters. They may be common, but their fern-like leaves and delicate flowers make it a beautiful wildflower addition to our hike.

Red rock formations as we begin the trail up.

Here’s a surprise and he even posed for us. A Common Whitetail Dragonfly (Plathemis lydia). This is a male with the white tail. The female’s entire body is brown except for the white spots down each side of the tail.

Looks like we’ll be in the sun for a bit as we start back uphill.

What a surprise, I have not seen a Monument Plant since Yellowstone. Also called Green Gentian and Elkweed, these amazing plants can live to 80 years, but only flower the last year of their life. That flower stalk can grow to seven feet tall! What a show for their last year . . .

Indian rice grass (Achnatherum hymenoides) is also found all over the west, mostly in drier environments. Here are some interesting facts about this grass from the U.S. Forest Service.

There are so many Gunnison’s Mariposa Lilies (Calochortus gunnisonii) this year and they are so beautiful. The flowers are about 4 inches across.

The Crested Prickly Poppies (Argemone Polyanthemos) are summer flowers and beautiful every year.

We are back at the top of the loop. That is one small part of the Front Range of the Rockies my friends.

What a surprise! We have seen no butterflies so far today and I’ve not seen many around home this year either. Here is a Two-tailed Swallowtail. They can have a wing span of 6 inches and I think this one reached the limit.

Here we are at the highest point on the trail looking at Juniper Valley.

A Spotted Towhee is leading the way for us. Yes, he does have bright red eyes. The females are creamy brown where the male’s feathers are black.

Let’s stop and take a look around. This is looking north toward Denver, about 45 miles away.

Here we look east and turning this corner we’ll be heading back to our start.

We haven’t seen many of these, Miner’s Candle (Cryptantha Virgata), which can stand up to three feet tall.

Such a beautiful view just had to share one more look before we head down.

Can you tell I love these flowers? 😉

It is about half a mile back to my blue Highlander mid pic, so I’ll leave you now. It is sunny, it is 80 degrees, and sadly time to retire to air conditioning. Not sure I shared, but I had severe heat stroke in my 20s. I have to be very careful out in the heat and with age, tolerance is getting worse. Well, slow and steady with plenty of water, my hat, and good to go!

Until next time my friend . . . take a look at the beautiful plants growing by you, not to mention your special views.