Elk Meadow Park Hike

STA_3852 - STK_3862Elk Meadow Park is a gorgeous location in the middle of the city of Evergreen.

IMG_3863A little seasonal creek runs through the park.

STA_3864 - STO_3878Sometimes elk come down into these meadows but usually they hide out up higher in the upper meadows.

IMG_3879 Little flowers in the grass.

IMG_3881

Little white flowers.

IMG_3882
STA_3884 - STK_3894
IMG_3895A rocky mountain hanging above the meadows.

IMG_3896The scenery reminds me of the mountains in California.

IMG_3897
IMG_3898
IMG_3899An interesting rock formation in the middle of the woods.

IMG_3900We didn’t take the Too Long Trail… this time.

IMG_3901
IMG_3903A little flower in the woods.

STA_3904 - STH_3911
IMG_3913A small stand of lodgepole pine.

IMG_3914
IMG_3917
IMG_3919A quartz outcropping in a higher meadow.

STA_3922 - STJ_3931
One last look at the gorgeous Elk Meadow Park.

White Ranch Park Hike

STA_3730 - STG_3736

White Ranch Park is a beautiful place with expansive vistas of mountain ranges to the north, south, and west.  Denver and the plains can be seen to the east.  Here we are looking south toward Pikes Peak and Mount Evans.
IMG_3738
IMG_3741
IMG_3742

IMG_3743Planks were installed to make an easier path for mountain bikers.

IMG_3745Heather checking out the exposed south slope.

IMG_3747
STA_3748 - STJ_3757At Sawmill Flats Campground.

IMG_3758Denver and North Table Mountain in the distance.

IMG_3760Lush meadowland.

IMG_3761
STA_3762 - STH_3769_fused
IMG_3773Huge mansions down below.

IMG_3774Meadows and an old barn.

IMG_3776
IMG_3777
IMG_3779

A mining facility north of Golden.  Perhaps they are working with coal?

IMG_3780A little creek running through White Ranch Park.

IMG_3781
IMG_3783Heather crossing the little creek.

IMG_3785
STA_3786 - STI_3794Another shot of Denver and the plains.

IMG_3795A close-up view of the mega-mansions.

IMG_3796Flowers in the park.

STA_3797 - STM_3809
IMG_3810
STA_3812 - STN_3825_blended_fusedLooking to the west up on the top of the park.

IMG_3831
One last view of Denver.

STA_3834 - STI_3842
STA_3843 - STI_3851

North Table Mountain Hike

IMG_3616

Heather and I hiked up beautiful North Table Mountain to see the sights and the views.

IMG_3617Wildflowers along the road to the top of the mountain.

STA_3618 - STH_3625Looking out into North Golden.

STA_3626 - STG_3632

An old quarry site up on the top of North Table Mountain.

IMG_3634Interesting rock outcroppings.

IMG_3635
IMG_3636

STA_3639 - STN_3652Looking out toward central Golden.

IMG_3653The big M up on Lookout Mountain.

IMG_3654The Colorado School of Mines.

IMG_3655Heather found the only tree on top of this part of the mesa.

STA_3656 - STM_3668_blended_fused
STA_3671 - STM_3683
IMG_3684Wearing my Gym Unicorn shirt that Jesi and Brent gave me.

STA_3687 - STN_3700Coors and Golden with South Table Mountain in the background.

IMG_3702Denver in the distance.

STA_3703 - STN_3716On top of North Table Mountain.

IMG_3717A canyon heading down toward Clear Creek and the direction of Denver.

IMG_3718
IMG_3719
IMG_3721
IMG_3724
IMG_3725
IMG_3726
IMG_3727
IMG_3728The lower part of the Coors facility.