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| Hiking | 5.00 Miles |
19 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.00 Miles | 2 Hrs 15 Mns | | 2.22 mph |
| 19 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Most people who go hiking in Denver will go into the mountains. I didn't have the luxury of having enough time to do that. I was just passing through on my way back to the airport from Cheyenne. So I stopped at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Tucked between the airport and the city's industrial sector, this former chemical weapons base turned wildlife refuge is a hidden gem that would make a nice daytrip for the family.
I started by driving the Wildlife Loop. This scenic drive took me through the bison enclosure and offered nice views of the Front Range and downtown Denver. I couldn't gaze at the scenery too long. I had to keep my eyes on the road to avoid hitting any prairie dogs. The road ends at the trailhead for the Wetlands Trail, which offered an easy walk through prairie dog country.
After the Wetlands Trail I drove back to Ladora Lake. I walked about the lake for a bit, then went south and east on the Woodland Trail. Deer were everywhere on this trail and they're not the least bit scared of humans. Maybe they saw my arm in a sling and realized I posed no challenge. The Woodland Trail connected with the Rod & Gun Club Trail which took me to a small lake with a bird-viewing blind. Nothing was doing there so I headed back to my Fiat via the Prairie Trail. It was time to catch my flight. Hopefully, this isn't the last time I'll be in this part of the country. There's way too many hikes I want to do!  |
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"I've driven across deserts, driven by the irony, that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
- Frank Turner "The Road" |
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Route Editor
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