Eldorado Canyon Trail: Hike from Eldorado Canyon SP to Walker Ranch & Back

FEE: ELDORADO CANYON STATE PARK HAS A $10 DAY PASS FEE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN ANNUAL STATE PARKS PASS.

We hike as a group at a moving pace of about 2.5 mph. Although the group may split up due to different hiking paces, everyone is expected to wait at all intersections, creek crossings & periodically otherwise so that we can regroup and so no one is left behind or hiking on their own for safety purposes.

Difficulty: about 7 to 7.5 miles with about 2,000 feet elevation gain.

**HIKE DESCRIPTION: Eldorado Canyon State Park preserves a truly golden section of the Rocky Mountain Foothills near Boulder, Colorado. Its pointed cliffs framing South Boulder Creek are a playground for climbers. The Eldorado Canyon Trail is an out and back hike which goes from Eldorado Canyon State Park to South Boulder Creek at Walker Ranch. Bring a snack...we will take a break by the Creek before heading back. We will do the following hike in alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/eldorado-canyon-state-park**

DOGS ALLOWED IF FOLLOW PARK RULES: Allowed on a leash. Please be sure your dog is well behaved and can handle length of the walk. Dog owners must clean up pet excrement.

ADDRESS/DIRECTIONS: We will meet at the Eldorado Canyon State Park Visitors Center AT THE END OF THE PARK ROAD. So after you go past the Entrance Station, keep going up the road until you get to the visitors center at the end of the park road. To get there, you can click on the alltrails link above and click directions. If you use Google maps, you can type in “Eldorado Canyon State Park Visitor Center” for directions.

We wait 5 minutes for late arrivals…but no longer as that is inconsiderate to those arriving timely. So please allow extra time to get to the trailhead and pay at the self service station.

IMPORTANT: This is a participate at your own risk event! Life is risky. I am not a professional guide and am simply hosting this event. By signing up for this hike you acknowledge that you are capable of performing this hike and that you are solely responsible for your own safety.

NO SHOWS: If you are a no-show to 2 hikes, you will be booted from this meetup group. So please change your RSVP to “not going” if you are unable to make it.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING: Water, snacks, layers of clothing, good hiking shoes/boots, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, gloves, hiking poles (if you find them helpful), and anything else you deem essential.

**WEATHER: Here is the NOAA forecast for the hike location. For hourly temps, wind, precipitation, etc., click “Hourly Weather Forecast” in the upper right. https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=39.9592&lon=-105.3428**

REQUIRED WAIVER: If you have not already done so, you must sign the updated waiver with our new meetup name prior to this hike. I will have copies at the trailhead that you can sign or you may print, sign, and bring it with you from the following website: https://www.dropbox.com/s/p728z28jjuwdzws/Waiver%20Corona.pdf?dl=0 If you choose to sign at the trailhead, please arrive early so that we can depart for the hike timely.