Caribou Ranch Open Space | A Mountain Elixir

Trail Head Coordinates:  N39°58.936’ W105°31.131’

My Dirt Life revolves around what lies beneath my feet.  My favorite terrain sounds more like an exotic drink than a cleared path through the Colorado wilderness.  A mixture of finely ground rock and reddish brown soil, a splash of mountain dew, seasoned just right with blue and green pine needles, and on the rocks of course.

Up here in the Rockies we have conditions to contend with and this time of year it’s the champagne powder Colorado is best known for.  For a mountain biker this can mean a lot of down time so this past weekend I decided on a more intimate excursion; snowshoeing and where else but Caribou country just outside Nederland Colorado.

I’m quickly falling for this little mountain community, so much so that I’m starting to look at real estate signs.  I recall on my trip to Mud Lake that the Caribou Ranch trail head was just up the road and although it’s early I figured there would be plenty of snow to give those snowshoes a workout.  Once at the parking area I quickly noticed that the snow depth was only about 2 to 6 inches, not enough for snowshoes I thought but that didn’t stop me from slipping into my Keen snow boots for an afternoon of solitude.

The whole trail consists of 2 routes; the DeLonde Trail and the Blue Bird Loop.  The whole hike is short by Colorado standards at about 3 miles but with the detours you can squeeze out about 3.25 miles.  It took me 3 hours to complete but I was taking my time as I explored new territory.  The trail itself is well groomed with minimal elevation changes and perfect for hikers of any skill level.  The trail is rich in mining history so take some time to read the plaques along the way.  The highlights are the DeLonde homestead and my favorite the Blue Bird mining complex – once the setting for vintage motion pictures.  Both features are well maintained and the older structures at Blue Bird are well preserved.

The wind was blowing mildly through the dense pine forest and in the clearings it was a bit chilly.  At times you could hear the wind swirling all around only to dissipate through the towering pine trees.  Along the way you’ll pass a beaver pond and running stream, both showing signs of winter this time of year.  The air was fresh and chill at about 40 degrees and the aromas delicately flavored the afternoon.

It was an afternoon free from the pressures of life and I didn’t want to leave.  It is early winter and West Boulder County will soon be covered in snow measuring in feet.  The snowshoes are back on the shelf but not for long.  The hike went down smooth with a fine finish...pour me another, I think I'll stay a while. 

Thanks for clicking in and I hope to see you on the trail.

Alan – Dirt Life