HISTORIC CARIBOU RANCH OPEN SPACE & MUD LAKE LOOP IN NEDERLAND, CO!

**CARIBOU RANCH OPENS FOR THE SEASON ON JULY 1ST**

This moderate hike is approximately 7.5 miles in length; 740 Ft. elevation gain.
**DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN CARIBOU RANCH OPEN SPACE**

We'll hike the Bluebird Loop and DeLonde Trail, also hiking to the beautiful cascading waters at two different vantage points. As we complete this hike, we'll hike across the road from the parking lot, to the Mud Lake Open Space, and hike the beautiful Tungsten & Kinnickinnick trails flanking scenic, peaceful Mud Lake, with great views of Mt. Audubon. Caribou Ranch is Boulder's highest open space, well above 8,000 feet, and features a wide variety of wildlife not commonly seen in the other Boulder open spaces, including Moose, Elk, the Short-tailed Weasel, and Beaver. It is home to the Delonde Homestead, set in a meadow that includes Beaver ponds. The trails of Caribou Ranch Open Space also take you on a HISTORIC JOURNEY into the mining era of the 1870s, including a silver mine, bunk house, and out buildings. We'll hike through the former DeLonde family ranch, and along a scenic railroad route of the early 1900s. The well- known movie, 'Stagecoach', starring Bing Crosby, was largely filmed at Caribou Ranch in the late '60's. We'll explore a few of the buildings and sites captured on film in this movie!

LInk to Caribou Ranch trail route/Directions:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/colorado/caribou-ranch-trail?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map
Link to Mud Lake area/trail route:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/tungsten-and-kinnickinnick-loop-at-mud-lake-open-space-park

Directions to the CARIBOU TRAILHEAD:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/caribou-ranch-trail

Address: 144 Co Rd 126 #86, Nederland, CO 80466

From Denver, take US-36 into the city of Boulder or 93 from Golden. Take CO-119/Canyon Blvd west for 17.1 miles, to the town of Nederland. You will see Barker Meadow Reservoir on your left. In the center of town; you’ll drive through the round-about onto CO-72 (the Peak To Peak Hwy., towards Estes Park) and follow it for about 2 miles to MUD LAKE/CARIBOU RANCH OPEN SPACE (CR-126), where you'll TURN LEFT, and follow CR-126 about 1 mile, until you arrive at the parking lots, on your right, where we'll meet. **DO NOT TAKE THE CARIBOU RANCH ROAD, which is the first road you'll come to when you're driving out of Nederland. ***Also, AFTER YOU TURN LEFT ONTO CR-126, DO NOT TURN LEFT ONTO MUD LAKE ROAD (about 1/4 mile down CR-126), AS WE ARE NOT PARKING THERE, BUT AT CARIBOU RANCH! ***

Restrooms are available at the trailhead.