Get the Hiking Guide and our Trail Dispatch for hiking tips and new trails. Lastly, here is a photograph of the four freezing hiking buddies from left to right. Many in my group had snowshoes with round frame with no extra grip and they were having issues sliding on hills, while I had no issues at all because of the extra traction provided. More of her work can be found at down2earthscience.com. If you don’t mind, I will share this article on my social media account. Also, would you recommend this trail for kids under 10? The Raccoon Loop Trail is an easy, 2.5-mile loop hike in Golden Gate Canyon State Park. I am definitely getting the Lightning Ascent for my daughter as she is on the Gunnison Mountain Rescue team and they need great gear and never know where they will be called out to. Turn west (left) here and follow this winding road for 7 miles to its intersection with Twin Spruce Road. It really has a lot of great views with some nice spots for awesome shots. There are several sharp turns/switchbacks. The rocky/slippery descents are no joke, and as the article mentions, the last bit is a good climb, though fairly short. Grace, Rick, Caleb and Ranger below. I would try trails in the Denver, Boulder or Colorado Springs area to start with or an easier trail at higher altitudes and make sure you don’t overdue it so the kids have a great time. We were only about 1/4 mile down the trail when Ranger started limping and holding up a paw, then he tried to turn around several times and head back to the SUV. Your email address will not be published. Leki Trekking Poles | Micro Vario Carbon AS. Feel free to ask any other questions if you think of any more. Sign up for Hiking Trails & Gear Updates! I would be careful about venturing to far out with out a 4 wheel drive, all wheel drive and chains but you could have reached the Raccoon trail in a 2-wheel drive and without chains on the trip we just took. This last section had some elevation gain, but still was moderate in difficulty. Either one, however, is a good option. One of my favorites is the Raccoon Trail, a short loop that begins by the brick outhouse next to the parking area at popular Panorama Point. There was a steep segment with loose rock, where our youngest needed me to hold her hand as she navigated here way down the trail. Driving directions for both trailheads are located in the trail snapshot above. It has a breathable mask with nose ventilation and I didn’t realize how warm in kept me in 15 degree F temperatures until I took it off and about froze to death (slight exaggeration). Because the detour wasn’t clearly marked, we’ve provided an image of the normal route vs. the detour route we took below. Begin by following the trail along the south (road) side of the outhouse towards Reverend’s Ridge Campground. Logistics: Parking costs $8 per vehicle, per day. The snow was fresh and most of the pine tress still had snow in their branches. After this third junction, the trail climbs steadily through the forest and ends next to two large wooden platforms at Panorama Point. I have been stopped on several hiking trips due to closed roads. Entering a more mature stand of aspens, the trail begins a more steep descent. Shortly after the brook is where we encountered the closure of approximately 0.5 mile of the Raccoon trail. The hard part will be picking which trail you wan to hike. The summer may be the best time and also the warmest but seeing the aspens turn yellow in October is a special treat. It is a thicker material that keeps you warm but not so much that it causes you to sweat. We had to be careful on the drive as there was still some significant snow and ice in the shade of the mountains from the recent snow fall. We hiked the Raccoon Loop counter-clockwise from the Panorama Point Trailhead and found it to be easy to moderate in difficulty. Thanks for all of the great questions. Check out this short video of the Raccoon trail on YouTube. I have never been there, but if I had the chance I would definitely try it.Besides Ultra Clava that you recommend plus a several items mentioned. We stopped by the Visitor’s Center and got the updated map with the trail clearly marked. Ranger loves the snow but he likes it better when it’s around 30 degrees F, not 12 degrees. My sister came and visited in October and after about 5 days of hiking there, she was able to handle the altitude much better. This can be a good trail to try out. I can see a lot of good photos of you that come with amazing views and great skiing. The few things you need on any Colorado trail in the winter are: I highly recommend the Seirus Ultra Clava breathable hood. ", Click for Driving Directions to Panorama Point Trailhead, Pole Creek Falls Hike near Granby, Colorado, Grace Falls Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, https://dayhikesneardenver.com/hikes-by-difficulty/, Mountain range views of snowcapped peaks, wildflowers, aspens, Hiking, mountain biking, photography, snowshoeing in winter. Last year didn’t get as much snow but this year it’s snowing a lot. Interesting hiking trails. Also, should probably be updated to a moderate difficulty. If they were, we would rename this website "paradise. Soon, views of Thorodin Mountain and Starr peak dominate the landscape as the trail winds to the east and crosses a seasonal brook. Your email address will not be published. Can be a little warm in the middle of the day, but there is plenty of shade and plenty of wildflowers to be seen. Ours are pretty used to hiking but we don’t want them to have an awful experience and hate hiking in the future. Our family hiked this from the Panorama Point Trailhead. Established in 1960, the park boasts 42 miles of hiking trails and 11,911 acres. Fortunately for me and my kids, Caleb and Grace, we had brought along face masks or face warmers, which made a tremendous difference. or do you have any suggestion?And another thing, can I reach the area without using an SUV?Thanks Rick! It’s good to know that it’s one of those hikes that is on the edge though. Terri Cook is an award-winning freelance writer based in Boulder. Thanks a lot for such an amazing review about Hiking Trails in Colorado Raccoon Trail and explanation are given, I’ve been wanting to climb these mountains for a long time. Credit: Terri Cook As you continue counter-clockwise around the loop, the trail drops about 500 vertical feet through more pockets of aspen and a few open, sunny meadows in between patches of blue spruce and Douglas fir trees. Some bouldering is required at the beginning of the trail, cairns help to mark the trail through this section. If you’re hiking in warmer weather then you probably don’t have to worry much about your children. It provided some easy access of a park road, which was open, for those who want to drive to a beautiful view, rather than hike to it. It was nice that the trail is extremely well-marked, even in the snow, so we were never lost on the Raccoon Trail. Thank you so much for sharing the article. There are other things, such as matches, in case you get lost and stuck out overnight, but this list can go on and on. With +500 feet of elevation gain, it’s right on the edge of our criteria for moderate, see the criteria here: https://dayhikesneardenver.com/hikes-by-difficulty/ However, the short distance keeps it closer to the easy category. A versatile combination for all cold weather activity, WINDPROOF AND WATERPROOF - Seirus exclusive Weathershild tri-laminate fabric keeps you warm in the coldest, wettest conditions, COMFORTABLE - Weatherproof combination of Lycra outer and Fleece inner with a wicking lining keeps your skin dry, 4-WAY STRETCH - Will stretch to fit over goggles and central breathing holes provide increased ventilation, VERSATILE - 3-in-1 Ultra Clava can be worn as a face mask, neck gator, full hood, or a combination of these, Ultralight (4.33 lbs) technical snowshoes with superior traction for mountaineering, aggressive backcountry pursuits, and rugged terrain, 360-degree Traction Frames deliver edge-to-edge grip, especially on traverses, while durable steel DTX crampons provide serious bite on alpine steeps, Paragon bindings feature a one-piece contouring strap that wraps securely around boots, for a glove-like feel that eliminates rigid pressure points, and provides easy alignment and foot control, Ergo Televator heel lift bar flips up to increase uphill efficiency, provide help on steep ascents, and reduce fatigue, Snowshoes measure 8 x 25 inches, weigh 4.33 pounds/pair, and can carry up to a 220-pound load; bindings fit men’s shoes sizes 4.5-15; made in the USA. Join our Community. 1675 Larimer St. Either one, however, is a good option. This is a nice review of Raccoon Trail. We have done some preliminary research and have settled on the MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes, which are some of the highest rated, meant for more mountainous terrain, but are also some of the most expensive. This is a great hike for visiting friends and family, but those who have not acclimatized to the altitude, or who are not in the best shape, may find this last part challenging. (This is not a problem for us as we hardly ever hike in the national parks). Particularly, I’ve used the MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes when I visited the Herman Gulch Trail and it’s been great so far. About Golden Gate Canyon State Park. After closer inspection, we could see that Colorado State Highway 57 was close to another park entrance so we decided to drive on further and try it. Each of the park’s 11 trails is named for an animal native to this area (and is signed with that creature’s footprints). The owner and editor of Dayhikes Near Denver, Aaron writes every trail profile as a local guide who has hiked hundreds of miles of trails along the Front Range and deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It’s one of the best accessible views you’ll get of the Front Range near Denver. Aaron Johnson has been hiking in Colorado for over 20 years. Turn left onto Twin Spruce and continue along it for 2.7 miles to a  junction with Gap Road. This rerouted us up to the Reverend Ridge Campground, then required that we hike down State Park Road for about 0.5 mile until we were able to pick up the Raccoon Trail again. Aspens turn yellow in October is raccoon trail golden gate canyon good option be the best accessible views you ’ ll of. Dominate the landscape as the article mentions, the Park boasts 42 miles hiking... 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