Editor’s Note: This is a regular monthly column from Colorado Parks and Wildlife about recreation opportunities at Mueller State Park.

By Anna Urban

A bright side to the warmer, dryer weather this winter and spring is nicer trail conditions. There still may be patches of snow and ice, but overall the trails are much drier than usual. We’re making the most of it by offering a plethora of guided hikes in April for all interests and experience levels.

Bring kids to the park for one of the Junior Ranger programs this month. Learn the basics of safe and fun hiking with Junior Rangers on the Trail on April 4. Or discover the wild plants and animals that live in the park on Junior Rangers in the Forest on April 18. Both programs were created for ages 6 to 12, but everyone is welcome.

Have you ever hugged a tree? Come to Basic Survival for Kids on April 10 where kids will befriend a tree as they dive deeper into the best safety tips and tricks to use when spending time outside. This program is a mix of indoors and outdoors in case of cold weather.

There are even more hikes this month that may appeal to older kids and adults.

Living in Teller County many of us experience the breathtaking view of Pikes Peak on a daily basis. The Elk Meadow Trail has one of the best views of the mountain in the park. Join a guided hike for those who want to take in the beauty and learn about the story of Pikes Peak.

This two mile journey will uncover how the mountain was created, who has been brave enough to summit and how it’s become America’s beloved mountain. This hike will be offered on April 9 and 18.

People new to hiking or who prefer to go slow and enjoy the journey, the sensory hike on April 11 is a great option. Use your sense of sight, hearing, smell and touch to deepen your connection to nature. Share observations and stories with your fellow hikers along the way.

On April 26 if you’re ready to go farther join the guided hike from Peak View Trailhead to Cahill Cabin led by volunteer naturalist, Rose. This 6.5 mile hike will explore multiple landscapes within the park, remnants of a homesteading cabin and a bootlegging whiskey still used in the early 1900s.

If you’re hiking on your own, turkey hunting season opens on April 11 and you may run across hunters on trails 5, 11 and 13. It’s recommended to wear bright colors when hiking in hunting areas.

Last month we had a couple mid month changes to our event schedule. While this is unusual, If you plan to attend an event listed in the paper it’s suggested you double check the CPW event website a few days before to confirm the details. Any cancellations due to weather are posted on the Mueller Facebook page.

More programs are scheduled this month, be sure to check out our full event calendar online at https://cpw.state.co.us/events. Use the ‘filter by park’ box to find Mueller events.

The Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For current conditions call the Visitor Center at 719-687-2366.