Silver Cascade Falls-Buffalo Canyon-Bruin Trail-Upper Columbine Trail Loop

This loop is a combination of trails in North Cheyenne Canyon, starting at the trailhead at Helen Hunt Falls. The loop includes a hike up to Silver Cascade Falls, then back down and connecting to the Buffalo Canyon Trail, and then the Bruin trail, which crosses North Cheyenne Canyon Road and loops back to up to the Upper Columbine Trail, ending at the Upper Gold Camp Road Parking Lot. The full loop of trails can be seen on https://trails.colorado.gov/places/na~1167429. The total distance is estimated at around 3.5 miles, with a total elevation gain of around 550 feet. These popular trails are mostly easy, with some challenges, including rapid elevation gain up to the Silver Cascade Falls, and one point on the Buffalo Canyon Trail at which poles may be needed to cross a creek, and so it is rated as easy/moderate difficulty. Boots, sunglasses, windbreakers and hats will be needed, and you should plan on bringing water and snacks in a day pack. It is advised to bring microspikes and/or hiking poles if you have them, to avoid slippage in scree or snow. We will meet at 10:00 at the trailhead at Helen Hunt Falls, and may decide to park one of the vehicles at the Upper Gold Camp Parking Lot to avoid having to walk down North Cheyenne Canyon Road back to the Helen Hunt Falls Parking Lot. The road up to Helen Hunt Falls is fully paved and there are port-a-potties at the parking lot. Directions can be found on Google Maps as Helen Hunt Falls. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed.