Pogwatigue Perambulations: Eldorado Canyon State Park

I didn't set out yesterday to exceed my single day hiking distance record. Rather, I started a pretty unambitious itinerary. I headed for Eldorado Canyon, the one metropolitan state park that I had not yet visited. Known more as a rock climbing destination, I knew of one moderate-difficultly hiking trail worth checking out. I started there, on the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail, which climbed to the ruins of a 1910s hotel and also ventured near the Denver & Rio Grande Western RR tracks high on the mountainside. While I rested on some rocks with a good view up and down the canyon, I spotted, on the opposite hillside, part of the Eldorado Canyon Trail, which connects to a the Walker Ranch loop on adjacent property owned by Boulder County. Seeing that trail got me thinking.

An hour later back on the canyon floor, I decided to give that trail a go, even knowing it would add around fourteen miles to the five that I'd already hiked. The trail climbed almost a thousand feet before giving up half of it by the time it intersected with the Walker Ranch Loop. That part took longer than expected and I began to have doubts about completing the circuit, but forged ahead. The first half-mile of the Walker Loop was wild. It crossed South Boulder Creek at a small waterfall and then quickly climbed the adjacent cliffs on a course possibly designed by mountain goat.

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I really hustled the next couple miles in order to stay on pace to complete the loop. I really didn't want to to turnaround and retrace my steps. The trail kept climbing eventually reaching the highest point overall on the hike near the Crescent Meadows trailhead. Once I passed this point, I was pretty much committed to the complete loop. I'm really glad I continued. The trail dropped back to the creek and followed it for awhile. Too bad, I didn't have time to stop and rest along side it.

On the north side of the creek, the trail started climbing again, this time to some of the best views of the day. I felt reassured as I turned east. Now, each step would be more or less in the direction of the trailhead. At 6:20 PM, about twenty minutes later than I wanted, I reached the Eldorado Trail again. At least now I knew what lay ahead. A short, but grueling climb 600 feet up the to the top of the ridge, followed by a long, knee-punishing descent back to the car. The return hike actually took me ten more minutes than the hike out, but I still finished about 8:00 PM, a little more than a half-hour after sunset.

Trip Statistics
Length: 19.2 miles (Previously, my longest single-day hike was Half Dome at 18.7 miles)

Total Time: 6 hours 6 minutes
Trailhead Elevation: 6,092 feet
Peak Elevation: 7,371 feet
Cumulative Ascent: 4,075 feet.

Elevation Profile