(For 2017, I have a goal of getting through all 60 trails in the book “60 Hikes Within 60 Miles Denver Edition.” You’ll see these posts all year-long. You can find a lot of info on each of the trails in the book, but I’ll highlight some things each time in addition to including my experience and opinion on the trail. The number below is associated with how they are labeled in the book if you have it.)

So far, as you can see, I got after it in January – I’ve gotten SIX trails done from the book! February has started off a little slower as I battled a bad cold, my schedule drastically changed, and I race directed my first race. I’m left with two more weeks of February and I haven’t checked a new one off! Here’s the most recent one I got at the end of last month….

Trail #17 – Deer Creek Open Space Park: Meadowlark Plymouth Creek Loop
Completed: 1/28/17 | Mode: Run/Hike
Location: Ken Caryl Deer Creek Canyon Rd. and Grizzly Rd.
Distance: 2.5 miles (we did 2.9)
Difficulty:  Challenging! Gradual climbs will some steep spots. Icy in the winter
Surface: Hard packed dirt with some bigger rocks in parts
Exposure: Lots of shade

My Experience:
FINALLY! Finally an actual HIKE! The past ones have been super flat and I wouldn’t call them hikes, but this one got the legs burning and the heart pumping. We did run it, of course, but it had some great climbs for hiking as well. We got to the trails as the sun was starting to go behind the mountains making it shady and chilly in spots, but the trail winds and curves around valleys, popping in and out of the beautiful sunshine. It was a great run. Neither Ben or I had been down to the Ken Caryl area before and it was well worth it.

Pros
-Beautiful
-Challenging
-The main loop is 2.5 miles but you can take a side path to other loops to add on the mileage
-Quite and away from the city
-Not that crowded, at least on a Saturday late afternoon in January

Cons
-Icy spots during the winter (but still able to run on it)

Overall
This would be a great place to take people from out of the state but that don’t want to travel far. This area is about 20 minutes from where I live, but well worth the drive to get a run in. There are more trails in the area as well that I can’t wait to check out!

Check out the book I’m getting all the trails from: