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Introduction
Last week, the weather was just awful for an early supposedly Autumn day. It was bleak, cloudy, cold, and snow kept misting down. I mean misting, too-- what did hit the ground melted immediately. Cabin fever will get you eventually, so we hit the trail through the snowy fog. Trail Rating
What to Bring In the summer, this trail must be hiked early in the day because of the heat. On this day, however, dressing for the weather was a prime concern. Because of the snow falling and the mist all around, we were most concerned with keeping fairly dry. A basic layer of comfy sweats was plenty, but an outer, water repellent layer was necessary. Of course, we wore our gloves too. It was cold and we really wanted to make and throw snowballs! How to Get There From Colorado Springs, take Highway 24 west. Just outside Manitou Springs, the highway begins to wind around. Keep your eyes on the right side of the road. You will very soon see a parking lot and a sign marking the Waldo Canyon trailhead.
Trail Specifics We decided on a misty, snowy day to take our chances with an easy trail that was not very far out of town. After a weekend in the house, we were ready to get out and brave the weather. At the start of the trail, there is a little bit of initial climbing, but it is not difficult. The trail travels along parallel to the road far below and you can see the traffic heading west. After about half an hour of gentle walking, the sounds of the highway are far behind you and you can concentrate on the rocks and trees.
On the day we did this trail, the snow had covered everything with a light layer of white. The children couldn't resist making snowballs and starting the first snowball war.
As we walked, we were walking through the low-lying clouds. It was remarkable to make out trees and rocks through the mist. It was magical and weird all at the same time. The dog kept running ahead and would appear in the mist when we called. It was a little creepy to be surprised by him. This trail is excellent for visitors from lower altitudes because after the little initial climb, the trail remains relatively flat and gentle. It is an excellent running trail because it is a little wider and it doesn't have a lot of pitfalls or holes to trick the feet. I definitely recommend this trail for all ages of children and dogs as well because it is so easy. It is a little long - 7.0 miles round trip - but it is so easy, you don't really notice. There is a map after the first half a mile or so and you can take the full loop and return to the starting point very easily.
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The copyright of the article Waldo Canyon in Hiking in Colorado is owned by . Permission to republish Waldo Canyon in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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