Let’s face it – humans as a species are creatures of habit and that extends to our recreational activities. We visit the same parks, and hike or bike the same trails, because they may be convenient or familiar. We’re comfortable with what we know, so we go back. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Living in the middle of a triangle that is made up of Ute Valley, Pulpit Rock and Palmer Park, I have my favorite “go-to” trails in each, especially when I suddenly find myself with a free hour or two for a hike.
Our tendency towards the same familiar trails and parks probably gets a bit more ingrained over the winter months. Limited amounts of daylight hours, bad weather that might make trails inaccessible and roads impassable often limit our ability to travel far for a day hike.
But now it’s the summer season. The days are long, the weather is nice, the kids are out of school, and it is vacation time. It’s time to stretch our horizons, stretch out the miles we drive, and stretch our legs a bit and hit some new, slightly more far flung, trails.
One of my favorite day trip/road trip places to go for a hike is the Pueblo Mountain Park located in Beulah, about 20 miles west of Pueblo. At more than 600 acres, the park has plenty to see and do, with miles of trails with a variety of views, distances and challenges. There’s even an old fire tower you can visit. And, in keeping with the theme of this column about going to new places, two of the trails connect to trails that leave the park and enter the San Isabel National Forest, further extending your experience.
The best place to start is from the Tower Trailhead, near the south end of the park. From here, you can connect to virtually every trail in the park and loop your way back to where you started. Everything from here is uphill, although none of the trails are particularly steep, and as you work your way around, you will drop down on the other side of the mountain before climbing back up – and then down again. In the summer, the park is rich with wildflowers.
I have hiked all the trails there and my favorite hike is what I call the “big loop,” a nearly 7-mile trek that leaves the park for a bit before circling back to the Tower Trailhead. Much of this loop is so remote that it’s unlikely that you will encounter anyone else on it. I created a COTREX route for it here: https://trails.colorado.gov/routes/135931#activity=hiking
Of course, there are other hikes you can do there that are shorter in length, and I highly recommend visiting Lookout Point and hiking through Devils Canyon. You can see all the trails in the park, and plan your own routes on the parks COTREX page: https://trails.colorado.gov/places/na~2257889#activity=hiking
The park is managed for the City of Pueblo by the Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center, and you can get more information, about the park itself, including rules, regulations and hours, on their website: https://www.hikeandlearn.org/locations (scroll down to the “Mountain Campus”). You can even book a night or two in the historic Horseshoe Lodge and Retreat Center, which was built during the Great Depression and also serves as the visitor’s center!
When you visit, make sure to take a slow drive around the park and take in the old bridges and structures there, including the old ballpark.
Be Good. Do Good Things. EXPLORE.
