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Distance: 6.4 miles
Rating: moderate

So, back to reality. The Bryce Canyon and Zion trip was amazing, and for a time it overshadowed the beauty that I’m surrounded by here in Colorado (at least in my mind). To snap out of this mindset, all I needed to do was take a trip to one of the most impressive places along the Front Range: Roxborough State Park. Roxborough is famous for the line of tilted, reddish-brown rock formations running through much of the park. Known as the Fountain Formation, this towering line of sandstone dates back to the Paleozoic Age and the so-called Ancestral Rocky Mountains. The formation gets its color from oxidized iron in the rock and is found in several areas just before the Foothills. In addition to Roxborough, the dramatic Fountain Formation can also be seen in such places as Red Rocks Park to the north (outside of Morrison) and Garden of the Gods to the south (in Colorado Springs).

This park offers a nice variety of hiking opportunities that range from short, paved walkways to somewhat steep trails. At about six and half miles roundtrip, Carpenter Peak offers the most challenging hike in the park. The highest point in Roxborough, the summit offers impressive 360 degree views of the park, the southwestern suburbs of Denver, and the Pike National Forest to the west. On a clear day, the buildings of downtown Denver may be visible to the north and east. The park map lists this hike as “strenuous,” but I beg to differ. At best, I would call it moderately difficult in places, particularly the initial climb after crossing Douglas County Road 5.

From the Visitor Center, head west for about twenty or thirty feet to the trailhead. At this point, the route follows the Willow Creek trail south and then west for about a half mile. The park is very well signed, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find the right direction. The trail crosses CR 5 in an open meadow between several different rock formations. Keep an eye out for wildlife here as this seems to be a popular grazing area for deer. After the trail crosses the road, it gets quite a bit steeper as it winds its way up the hill. As the trail climbs, the views of the park get better and better. The last of the Fountain Formations give way to a rocky and exposed hillside covered with dense Gambel oak thickets. At higher altitudes, the trail passes through stands of Douglas fir, which offer some of the rare shaded areas along this hike. After the initial climb, the trail levels off at a false summit before a brief downhill stretch. There is a bench at the false summit, but the view is rather obstructed by the thick Gambel oak. The trail gets increasingly rocky along the final climb up towards the boulder-covered summit. The last tenth of a mile is probably the steepest part of the trail, but the payoff is worth the effort.

For a much longer hike, this trail can be followed out of the park to west, where it eventually connects with the Colorado Trail in Waterton Canyon. Also accessible from the Carpenter Peak trail are the Elk Valley and the Powerline (USFS 800) trails which further explore the foothills above Roxborough. For an easier hike that travels closer to the park’s rock formations, consider the two and a half mile Fountain Valley and Lyon Overlook loop along the park’s northern end. I will be covering the southern end of the park (and the adjoining Douglas County Open Space) in a different entry.

Keep in mind that there are relatively few shaded areas anywhere in Roxborough State Park. The temperature is usually not much cooler than it is in Denver, and there is generally very little relief on hot summer days. I recommend visiting Roxborough during the spring or autumn months when the temperatures are less oppressive. Poison ivy grows along the trail in the dense oak thickets, so be careful and read the signs that explain what to look out for. There have been mountain lion sightings in the park, and a hiker was attacked a few years ago. A quick stop at the Visitor Center is not a bad idea if you have any questions about safety.

Directions: From the Denver area, take C-470 west to the Santa Fe exit. Turn left (south) and follow HWY 85 south for 4.2 miles to Titan Road. Follow Titan Road west and then south (it will turn sharply and become North Rampart Range Road) for three and a half miles. Turn left on Roxborough Park Road (just before a fire station) and take an immediate right into the park. The entrance fee for the park is $6.

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