Woke up in Kansas, Had Breakfast in Colorado

It's my birthday and I'll fly if I want to...I just had to.  We left on an early flight to Denver, landing at 7:30 MST, grabbed our bags and our rental car and we were off to Denver.  I wanted to stop by Snooze AM Eatery, one of my favorites places for breakfast for two reasons; I was hungry and I had to show the BF a must-stop place in Denver.  It's our first time together in one of my favorite states, so I felt obligated to introduce him to what I like to call Colorado gems.

After breakfast we headed off to Golden, mainly to walk the cute little downtown area and explore the shops.  Because we like to take the more off-the-beaten-path roads anywhere we go, we didn't see any reason not to do the same in Colorado.  We jumped on US HWY 6 through the Clear Creek Canyon on our way to Idaho Springs.  Once we arrived we stopped by the Visitors Center to get more info on camping and hiking in the area then made our way over to the Charlie Tayler Waterwheel and Bridal Veil Falls.  This cascading frozen waterfall is made by water pouring over from Soda Creek. It plummets into Clear Creek which runs right along I70 and this time of year, is completely frozen.  The Charlie Tayler Waterwheel was built by none other than the man himself in 1893.  He used the wheel for his gold mining operations in Ute Creek.  It was moved to it's current location after being restored and dedicated to Idaho Springs during their Gold Rush Days of 1988.

As we left Idaho Springs, we weren't quite ready to stop exploring so we headed into the Arapaho National Forest up to Echo Lake.  Although the roads were closed once we hit the lake, we were still able to see the beautiful views.  The lake was completely snowed over but made for a gorgeous winter scene being highlighted by the bright Rocky Mountain sunshine.  On the way down, we stopped so I could do a little "rock climbing" because how can you not want to climb higher in Colorado?

As we made our way into Georgetown we checked into our little French home for the next 3 days, The Hotel Chateau Chamonix, located right on Clear Creek. We dropped off our bags, drove through downtown and headed up Guanella Pass.  The views from the drive were breathtaking and if you want to see Georgetown from a different perspective, this is a must.  As the sun was starting to set we made our way back to our room and enjoyed a little relaxation in the hot tub before heading to dinner at Alpine; a restaurant known for their pizza and mac-n-cheese.  I highly recommend it!

By the way, did I mention I spotted a Big Horn Sheep high upon the cliff's along I70? With eyes like a hawk, I am always on the lookout!  That day was not only my 38th Birthday, but definitely one for the books.

Until Tomorrow Colorado!
Shona

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This Is Arkansas

On our third day at Devils Den State Park, we decided to take off and hike a couple of different trails.  We started mid-morning on Lee Creek Trail which began right behind where we were camping.  This trail is a 1 mile loop which shows off the beauty of Lee Creek from the flat, fossil-filled limestone to pools of aquatic life.  This trail has a nice wide pathway but also a few heavily wooded areas and if you go off the beaten path, you can find yourself wading in Lee Creek.  You can imagine which member of our party enjoyed the cool, clear water.  We got off course a bit, so we never actually did the "loop", but it gave us a chance to explore areas we weren't expecting to.

Back at camp, we cooked up a protein rich lunch; Pad Thai with Chicken.  The next trail on our list was Yellow Rock but since this trail is one of the most popular places to hike, we decided to hold off until later in the day.  Let's be real, we wanted it all to ourselves.  So to kill time, we took off in the Toyota and just started driving farther South to check out the rest of the park.  The highway was winding, the trees were vibrant, and the air was fresh.  We explored gravel roads and found a stunning blue-green lake and walls of limestone rock.  This is why we do what we do.  

It was time to begin Yellow Rock Trail; a moderate 3-mile loop where the main feature is none other than Yellow Rock and offers one of the most amazing views you will see of the Lee Creek Valley.  Yellow Rock trail is an original CCC-constructed trail from the 1930's and is designated part of the National Trails System.  This trail was filled with towering rock formations and cedar glades. Words really can not explain the views from the top, so this is where you can enjoy the photos we snapped.  Goldie, my traveling gold airplane, made an appearance too.  We found a spot to sit and relax, give Lola a water break, and had a few snacks ourselves before taking on the rest of the trail. As sunset approached we made it back to camp.  It was the perfect Sunday as we ended with open-fire steak and potatoes for dinner. 

Happy Hiking!

Shona 

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Waterfalls, Hiking Trails, and Big Boulders

Saturday morning after breakfast in our warm tent we had one mission; to explore.  We headed over to the infamous Devils Den Waterfall at the Dam.  There weren't too many people there yet, so it was the perfect time to capture the moment with a few photos and let Lola splash around in the water from Lee Creek.  The water here was the most beautiful bluish-green color and was surrounded by the vibrant Fall colored trees.

Here's some history; The park was built by the Civilian Conservation Core starting in 1933 where they used native materials, rustic style wood and stone to match the surrounding natural beauty.  This area of Lee Creek Valley one of the most preserved CCC sites in the United States.  The rock dam spans across Lee Creek forming Lake Devil which is used for boating, canoeing and fishing.  There is a variety of trails, a seasonal cafe, a general store, and many tent and cabin sites.  This park is filled with sandstone caves, bluffs, rock shelters and crevices that were once a hiding place for outlaws on the Butterfield Stage Line until the American Civil War.  At that time Confederate guerillas took over to stage raids on the Union Army's supply lines.  It's so cool that this site has been preserved for people who love the great outdoors.  Next stop, the trail.

Devils Den Trail is a moderate 1.5 mile loop that features Twin Falls, Cold Springs, the Devil's Ice Box, and Devil's Den Cave.  Currently the caves are closed because of White-nose syndrome, a disease that has killed millions of bats (insert sad face), but don't let that deter you from taking the hike. It's beautiful.  The trail does have a few challenging sections with some good inclines, but with proper guidance and good hiking shoes, it's easy to maneuver. The rock formations are incredible and its easy to imagine the history of the trail as you make your way through.

After hiking the trail we headed back to camp to check out Lee Creek which happened to be in our backyard.  We let Lola play around in the water and enjoyed the sun setting; shining perfectly on the fall foliage.  Back at camp we started the fire and began cooking dinner. Tonight was a true "cowboy" meal of tomatoes, black eyed peas, ranch style and butter beans.  A few campfire stories, a game of Domino's,  and relaxing before heading into our home away from home. It was the perfect end to the day.

See ya tomorrow Arkansas nature!

Shona 

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