Author: Joe Lafleur
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Columbine connection to the charred Rainbow | Take a Hike
The Rainbow Trail (RT) is an interesting continuous trail that spans about 100 miles. It stretches from the southern end of the Sawatch Range in the Poncha Pass Area eastward then southward along the east-facing slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains down to the Music Pass area. This route requires accessing the RT via…
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Explore BCRA nooks and crannies with Baldy-Gashouse Loop
The Buffalo Creek Recreation Area is about an hour drive from Woodland Park. The area is also about 1,000 feet lower, so in springtime it tends to be warmer and more snow-free than Teller County. The area contains parts of the giant 1996 Buffalo Creek Wildfire burn scar, so the open sunny landscape further reduces…
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Explore BCRA nooks and crannies with Baldy-Gashouse Loop
The Buffalo Creek Recreation Area is about an hour drive from Woodland Park. The area is also about 1,000 feet lower, so in springtime it tends to be warmer and more snow-free than Teller County. The area contains parts of the giant 1996 Buffalo Creek Wildfire burn scar, so the open sunny landscape further reduces…
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Killdeer an oddly yet appropriately named shorebird | Words on Birds
Killdeer seems a rather strange name for a bird, but it’s quite appropriate for this species of shorebird. When alarmed they belt out a piercing call that sounds like “kill-deer! kill-deer!,” especially if they have a nest nearby. Besides their patented “killdeer” call, they will also emit short sharp notes and twittery calls. Killdeer are…
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Vacation and spring break in Moab | Take a Hike
Growing up in Colorado, when March arrived I always felt like I was missing out on a true spring break since there was typically still a lot of snow around. Spring break hits local schools in late March, a time when the Moab area averages about 20 degrees warmer than here. Arches National Park in…
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Vacation and spring break in Moab | Take a Hike
Growing up in Colorado, when March arrived I always felt like I was missing out on a true spring break since there was typically still a lot of snow around. Spring break hits local schools in late March, a time when the Moab area averages about 20 degrees warmer than here. Arches National Park in…
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Make Sand Dunes a priority and bring the kids | Take a Hike
If you have not yet visited the Great Sand Dunes, what are you waiting for? This landmark Colorado feature is only about a 2.5 hour drive from Woodland Park, which is a bit far for a day trip so staying for an overnight (or more) is the best option to fully explore and enjoy the…
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Make Sand Dunes a priority and bring the kids | Take a Hike
If you have not yet visited the Great Sand Dunes, what are you waiting for? This landmark Colorado feature is only about a 2.75-hour drive from Monument, which is a bit far for a day trip so staying for an overnight (or more) is the best option to fully explore and enjoy the area. The…
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Cinnamon teal a showstopper among ducks | Words on Birds
Many of the male ducks have extremely attractive plumage, but the cinnamon teal steals the show. His body is encompassed with a bold rusty color that stands out among the flock. While they are most likely during spring and fall migration, cinnamon teal pass through in small numbers so they are seldom seen. Shallow ponds…
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Sandstone Ranch transformed from cow paths to hiking trails | Take a Hike
Just west of Larkspur and the I-25 corridor the Sandstone Ranch Open Space awaits exploration, where the historic ranching operation has transformed from cow paths to hiking trails. From the Palmer Lake area north of Colorado Springs, drive north on Highway 105 aka South Perry Park Road. The road travels through rolling grassland at the…