Joy on the Trails is a blog series detailing all the incredible hiking trails within an hour of Denver. All the trails featured are accessible to anyone new to hiking, or just wanting to get out without driving for hours into the mountains. I hope you uncover your own joy of hiking and I hope you’re inspired to try a few of my favorite trails. And if you’re so inclined, join me sometime… I’m out there a lot!
A cool wildlife story and a very cool trail
This little known and rarely used gem is one of my favorites any time of year. The trailhead for Corwina Park is off Highway 74 just before you get to the “town” of Kittridge, CO. And the reason I put town in parentheses is because if you blink when you’re driving through, you will definitely miss it. BUT, it does have three places where you can grab a beer… so there’s that.
You’ll plug the address below into your map and it will take you to a little bridge. You’ll think you’re pulling in to someone’s driveway, but you’ll see there is a small parking area just across the bridge.
This is an out-and-back trail which means you’ll do about 1.5 miles up, enjoy the amazing view, and then scoot back down the same way. The trail follows a lovely mountain creek for most of the way, and wildlife sightseeing is fabulous!
So here’s a wildlife story that may freak you out: I was hiking this trail with a number of moms with babies on their backs or in front carriers. We got to the top and one of the moms pulled me aside to tell me that her little one had been giggling and saying “Titty! Titty!” on the way up. Yes, we all had breast feeding on our minds, but I suspected the baby was not asking for her boob, but had maybe seen a kitty. A cat. A large cat. A mountain lion.
I confirmed that indeed her kiddo knew what a cat was, so when we got to the spot on the way down, she started up again with the tiity yelling. Oh my! I stopped and scanned the area because I was sure a mountain lion was near by. But of course I couldn’t see anything. Mountain lions are incredibly shy and evasive, and are rarely spotted. In fact I once read that in the high country in Colorado, just about one in ten times you are hiking you’ve been spotted by a mountain lion.
For me, this is incredible and amazing and wonderful and part of the experience of being out on the trails. I embrace the natural world around me, and hope that my presence isn’t hard on it or invasive. I try to tread lightly and always keep my senses alert to nature’s bounty.
GPS Locator: 25338 Bear Creek Rd, Evergreen, CO 80439
Managed by: Denver Mountain Parks
Come hiking with me!
If you want more information on this or other trails in the area, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Just like the homes I sell, I can even show it to you in person! And learn more about my Realtor life here.
