2012-07-11 Short hike around Long Lake, Brainard Lakes Rec Area

The campground at Brainard Lakes has been closed for a couple years, being completely redone. Would be a fantastic place to stay, because of the many lakes and great trails. But it is a very busy, crowded place....if you get here past 10am, expect to park outside the gates and add a couple miles to your hike. Although we noticed folks hike early and leave around noon, so parking spots open up sometimes. It's like a busy day in December at the mall, folks parked in the aisles waiting for a parking spot. info on Brainard Lakes Rec Area  Trails are well marked and maintained, still people ignore the signs and trapse all over areas blocked off for re-vegetation.

We did just a short walk around Long Lake on our first visit.Long Lake

Pics from Long Lake at Brainard Lakes Rec Area

2012-07-07 A brief visit to Golden Gate Canyon State Park

The fabulous state park we visited for just two days in 2010, now it is just 6 miles south of us on the Peak to Peak Hwy. link to Golden Gate Canyon SP  We decided to head there for laundry one week, as they have an excellent laundry / shower facility in Reverend's Ridge Campground.

Had to pay the $7 state park fee, so we went ahead and did a little exploring too. Gary fished Dude's Fishing Hole while I hiked the Snowshoe Hare Trail. Trails are fantastic here. Golden Gate trails

Pics from Golden Gate Canyon State Park, CO

An early July trip up to Lefthand Reservoir, CO

Gary tried some fishing while I hiked around this lovely reservoir just up from Brainard Lakes Recreation Area north of Nederland, near Ward, CO. The road is very rough going, 4WD high clearance only, but we didn't regret it. It was a lovely trail around the lake, lots of moose marbles but not a single sighting this day. Absolutely beautiful scenery though, lots of folks come up and take canoes across the lake to a dispersed camping area, this is really getting away from it all.

We did get hit by a huge downpour and lightning storm, you gotta really watch the skies in high elevation Colorado. :)

Pics from Lefthand Reservoir near Ward, CO

2012-06 June wanderings

We took a trip up to Estes Park (45 miles each way, approx) and Gary fished while I did laundry. This didn't quite seem fair! No luck on fishing but the $5 launch fee was much more reasonable than Boulder Reservoir's required $300 permit!!! And Dad's Laundry is an excellent clean facility. We won't drive here just for laundry though....

Pics from Estes Park and more around Kelly Dahl...

2012-06 A Mid-June hike to Lost Lake near Nederland CO

Lost Lake trail starts just outside of Nederland, up past the little town of Eldora. The trail is only a couple miles long each way, but you gotta add on the distance to the trailhead from where you park.  Suggestion: Arrive Early.  This was our first real "hike" since arriving in Colorado and the shortest one around. We were luck to see the moose, though the lake alone was reward enough.

Pics from Lost Lake Trail / Hessie Trailhead / Eldora, CO

2012-06-20 Our First Moose for the Season!

We finally broke away Wednesday morning for a quick hike, up to Lost Lake just outside Nederland, come around the bend, and there he is....a young bull moose. Much smaller than the magnificent fellow we saw two years ago (just the other side of the mountain, same Indian Peaks Wilderness but on the west side of the Continental Divide). This young bull spent the whole hour + while we were there, happily munching away on the edge of the lake.  What a special treat for us!

MOOSE PICS!

2012-06 Around the Peak to Peak Hwy

We've taken a couple drives into Boulder (for a big market trip) and Denver (to return our Dish Network equipment - Hurrah!!! Good Riddence!!!) Along the way, the scenery is pretty spectacular. We also checked out some of the other local campgrounds so we could be somewhat knowledgeable when folks ask, and Gary also took some morning trips to check out other fishing possibilities. Lots of beautiful places...here are some of our pics from the surrounding area, doesn't even scratch the surface as we have been so busy, but what a fantastic area:

Around the Peak to Peak Hwy