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 Reporter |
Summary: This is a long hike around the valley between the hogback and the first major foothills. It has very little shade and can be very hot during the middle of the day. It is best to do in the early morning. Start at the Matthew Winters Park parking lot and follow the instructions for the Red Rocks/Morrison Slide hike. After descending the other side of the Morrison Slide, go to the south on the Red Rocks trail and follow the trail down toward the highway. When the trail ends at a road, follow the road a few hundred feet to the main highway. You will see the trail continuing on the other side of the highway. It climbs to the saddle in the hogback, where you must cross a road and catch the trail along the ridge of the hogback. At the saddle, you can read signs about geological features or even go down the hill to see the dinosaur tracks. (See the Dakota Ridge hike description for more information.) Continue along the ridge until you descend to the parking lot. Trailhead: Take exit 259 from I-70. Head south and park on the east side of road in the Stegosauros park-n-ride lot or park in the Matthew Winters Open Space Park parking lot on the west side of the road. (Lat:39.69 Lon:-105.205) Trail Guides for Red Rocks Morrison Slide Dakota Ridge Loop: Matthew Winters Park by Jefferson County Open Space (Jefferson County) Best Seasons: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Bikes, Horses, Ranger Contact: Jefferson County Open Space Parks- 303-271-5925 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Keith Robinson, who has posted 5 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Submit your own review 
Reviewed by irasnyd on 4/28/2007 Great hike. I went out today, and started at about 1pm. It was about 80F out. It was a little warm out, but no problem with a hat. A very nice trail, well maintained. There was some mud from the melting snow, but it also wasn't a problem. It is not a hard hike, I'd say "moderate difficulty" describes it well. There are some shorter loops in the area, about 1 mile and 3 miles, if you need a shorter hike. The trail is very well marked.
Reviewed by SB on 6/22/2006 Lots of mountain bikers. Good for trail running.
Reviewed by Brandie on 3/14/2006 Great for a spring day hike. Would NOT recommend for the middle of July. Muddy in spring, yet still pleasant. Technical bike riding...more fun hiking with a dog. Recommended...nice 6 miles.
Reviewed by goldlyn on 8/16/2005 Hiked at dusk on summer day. Wouldn't want to do this hike during the day -- it'd be VERY hot, I think. Not much traffic going or returning, but enough other trail-useers that I felt safe. Passed thru a herd of deer on the way back -- lovely. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Colorado Hiking, Colorado Trails, Colorado Hikes, Jefferson County Hiking, Jefferson County Trails, Jefferson County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
