What we’re about
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Hello! As the name suggests, this is a group for people in Colorado who want to enjoy our great Trail network!
We are based out of Denver, and we will find and explore trails all up and down the front range!
We will put together hikes, trail runs, and other activities year-round, with various levels of difficulty. Whether you're novice or experienced, new to the area or native, if you're looking for a good group of people to enjoy hikes this is your place!
We will also do specific 'series' hikes including; Training for 14ers; Autumn Leaf Peeping; Snow Shoeing; Trails and Tacos and more!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- COLORADO'S 149TH BIRTHDAY ROAD TRIP: CHAFFEE COUNTY, COLORADONeeds location
On August 1, 1876, 28 days after the Centennial of the United States on July 4, 1876, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signed a proclamation admitting the state of Colorado to the Union as the 38th state and earning it the moniker THE CENTENNIAL STATE.
Then one summer day in 1893 Katherine Lee Bates, an English teacher for Colorado College, decided to take a ride in a prairie wagon with some other teachers to the summit of 14,107-foot fourteener Pikes Peak. Near the top they had to leave the wagon and hike the rest of the way with mules. Ms. Bates would later recall, “I was very tired but when I saw the view, I felt great joy. All the wonders of America seemed to be displayed there, with the sea-like expanse.” She hastily jotted down in her notebook what she was experiencing. Inspired by the majestic mountain’s view of the “Purple Rockies” and nearby “fruited plains,” she captured the moment in her notebook and eventually converted it into verse. In less than a few moments she had written the poem which would describe America and the beauty she absorbed within her spirit.
Two years later on July 4th, 1895 edition of ‘The Congregationalist’ featured her poem ‘America;’ in 1910 it was set to the music of Samuel A. Ward and formally published as ‘America the Beautiful.’ Its popularity incited massive petition drives to make it the national anthem of the United States. One of the most beloved patriotic songs ever written, ‘American the Beautiful’ is likely to be found in the back of every church hymnal in the United States.
As a born and raised native of Colorado I have for the past 16 years as a Meetup Organizer in some form have always put together a Colorado Birthday Road Trip. This year I’m planning to head in a different direction instead of Lake County and Park County. I'm going to shift gears into overdrive and head for Chaffee County. Buena Vista, Salida, Poncha Springs as well as Monarch Mountain.
This is not a complete event list of what I have planned but I believe those who are interested in going but who aren’t interested in dispersed camping need to make reservations for nearby campgrounds that require reservations, motels, hotels and hostels also.
I have contacted the Land of Bureau Management who have sent me information about dispersed campgrounds that do not allow RVs the size of aircraft carriers but instead to accommodate those who want to tent camp, small trailers such as pop-tops/teardrop campers and large vans. Several people have told me they need trees and not wide open spaces to accommodate large RVs…I hate to camp with no shade! This was quite apparent last year when we camped on Shrine Ridge Mountain Rd and on Guanella Pass.
This year I’ve made arrangements that we'll be camping near Poncha Springs which will be our center point between Salida and Buena Vista.
~I’m only sending this posting out because I know some of you need to make arrangements with your employer, school and other reasons to take some time off.~This is a website for those of you who feel the need for speed of a fantastic river rafting trip down Brown’s Canyon from Buena Vista to Salida: https://www.americanadventure.com/tour/browns-canyon-classic-tour/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADoKZWlVsFGMJUkReXlldKcBSrUtb&gclid=CjwKCAjwwqfABhBcEiwAZJjC3tra0Qd6tBs8feA5iVFk9G31TGBS2QKuuy6-GL-MTC83RLrESHJqlRoCEcwQAvD_BwE. The cost includes bringing you back to Buena Vista but I’ll be awaiting your arrival in Salida!!!
~Speaking of Salida, where you’re going to find me most of the time, this is a website informing what there is to do in one of my favorite places in Colorado. The breweries, concerts and other outdoor entertainment, more river rafting, kayak, paddle boating and other water sports. The town square is full of art displays and even has a water slide and hot springs. https://www.worldatlas.com/cities/this-quiet-city-in-the-rockies-is-an-underrated-gem-for-nature-lovers.html
~ Here in Chaffee County those who are into hiking the fourteeners are going to have a tough choice of which one(s) to choose from: Mt. Shavano, Antero, La Plata and of course the Collegiate Peaks nearby: Princeton and Shavano will be our back door when we camp.
I’ll be working on this road trip throughout the month of May and some of June. We have other places to go before then once I begin my seasonal camping and getaway group…I don’t even know what to call it yet!!!
Don’t forget to take some time off and make reservations for whatever you want to do.
MEMBERS FROM BOTH: https://www.meetup.com/colorado-trail/ AND https://www.meetup.com/hittinthetrails/?eventOrigin=your_groups WILL BE ATTENDING THIS HIKE!
This Release states that members attend events at their own risk, and release The Organizers, the assistant organizers and Meetup from any claims that may result in injury or deathMore to come soon
Don - ROAD TRIP: NATHROP, CO.- ST. ELMOS, HIKE CTY RD. 294 AND AGNES VAILLE FALLSNATHROP, CO, buena vista, CO
* 4/30/2025 I have made a minor tweak and added another waterfall hike which is walking distance from Agnes Vaille WaterFalls.
~HIKING AGNES VAILLE TRAIL TO AGNES VAILLE FALLS:The trail to Agnes Vaille Falls Begins from a roadside trailhead. The hike used to be a 1.2 mile out-and-back trip. Now, the upper segment is closed, so hikers are directed to take the approximately 1-mile loop hike on the Cascade Creek trail that still offers a great view of the waterfalls. We will follow the USFS regulations in this area as posted on the signage. The falls are very beautiful and photogenic but the area of the trail may still be unstable and should not be hiked. We will not be allowed to hike within the perimeter of the trail borders.
~After the Agnes Vaille Trail hike we’ll leave our vehicles where they are and walk .5 miles to the trailhead of CASCADE FALLS where we’ll see the falls from the roadside but we’ll head on down on the social trail to the creekbed for a better look and photo taking. Then we’ll walk back to our vehicles and head on to St. Elmo Ghost Town.
~St. Elmo, one of the most well preserved ghost towns in Colorado, was founded in 1880. Built around mining, the town hit its prime in 1890. With over 150 mine claims, a telegraph office, general store, five hotels, dance halls, a newspaper office and a schoolhouse, the population peaked at about 2,000 people.
Though it was first called Forest City, the small town's name was changed when the post office objected because there were too many towns with the same name. The new name was derived by Griffith Evans, one of the founders, who was reading a romantic nineteenth century novel by the same name.
The St. Elmo General Store is one of the few ghost town stores still open and in operation and will be open when we arrive. The store is a mom-and-pop shop known for its antiques and souvenirs. It operates seasonally, typically from early May through the end of September. Be sure to buy some snacks for the chipmunks!~HIKING ST. ELMO COUNTY ROAD 294: Those who would like to hike St. Elmo County Road 294 towards Tin-Cup Pass. We'll begin the hike in the town of St. Elmo. The town of Tin Cup is 12 miles away but let’s make it a 4.5 mile hike out and back with an elevation gain of only 305 ft. The scenery is fantastic with views of several fourteeners, valleys and other canyons. This hike is known for its photography.
This is a popular trail for hiking, mountain biking, and off-road driving, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. As always, we’ll make sure to be aware of our surroundings and cautious of others, especially those who take Jeeps and other 4X4 vehicles on this road.
After the hikes and St Elmo, we'll head on into Nathrop for some grub which is included within the 10AM to 4PM time slot. Then it's onto Salida or wherever you all may want to go for some night time entertainment!
I think that about does it for a day in Chaffee County, Colorado
I hope to see you in St. Elmos!
Drive Carefully,
DonMEMBERS FROM BOTH: https://www.meetup.com/colorado-trail/ AND https://www.meetup.com/hittinthetrails/?eventOrigin=your_groups WILL BE ATTENDING THIS HIKE!
This Release states that members attend events at their own risk, and release The Organizers, the assistant organizers and Meetup from any claims that may result in injury or death
Events in buena vista, CO
