On my way to Buck Gulch Trail, number 772 in Pike National Forest of Colorado’s foothills, I came across a sign “Shooters: Be Considerate. We Live Here. & Been Shot”. Hmmm I thought, I’m going on a hike just two miles away!?! My drive continued past a homemade shooting range in a burn area from the High Meadow Fire that raged out of control in 2000.
The Buck Gulch Trail weaves through the pines and through an open burn area down to Pine Valley, 2.25 miles away. It connects with a park and a multi-use trail system for hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders. The park, which the Platte River cuts through, also includes picnic areas, a lake, and an observatory. I followed Buck Gulch Trail to a few paths which overlooked the park and river which was roaring after 12 hours of relentless rain.
While burn areas are not my favorite, I returned to an old hobby, geocaching, which I hadn’t done since my roadtrip across the USA. I found two caches hidden slightly off the trail while I took in the view of distant mountains.
My planned 4.5 mile, roundtrip trek turned longer after curiosity got the best of me. I spent at least another hour checking out the sights and sounds of the beautiful Rocky Mountains.
Other Nearby Hikes
- Eight Hikes on Guanella Pass Scenic Byway
- Meridian Trail, Kenosha Pass, Ben Tyler Trail
- The Colorado Trail: Segment 3
- The Colorado Trail: Segment 4
- Roadtrip to the Rockies: Shelf Lake and Rolling Creek
Great mental picture and real pictures