Hanging Lake Trail & Glenwood Canyon

Hanging Lake is a geologic wonder and is popular with travelers for its awe-inspiring beauty. Suspended on the edge of Glenwood Canyon's cliffs, the clear turquoise lake and the waterfalls that spill into it are a breathtaking sight after the rigorous uphill climb. [1]

Geologically speaking, there are few places in the world that can compare to this marvel of Mother Nature. Hanging Lake is a rare example of a lake formed by travertine deposition where the natural geologic and hydro-logic processes continue to operate as they have done for thousands of years. 

The hike starts with the awesome views of Gleenwood Canyon. Glenwood Canyon, carved over 3 million years by the power of the Colorado River and snow-melt from the Continental Divide, is the gateway to Glenwood Springs from the east. 

Glenwood Canyon

Train 

Most of the hike is in the shade of towering spruce, cedar, and fir trees. You’ll find several benches and rocks where you can stop and rest.

Deer Creek Canyon Park, Littleton

This is one of the most southern of the Jefferson County Parks, just west of C-470 and with trail connections to both South Valley and Hildebrand Ranch Parks. Deer Creek Canyon Park has 12.8 miles of trails.

This hike is relatively easy, characterized by mostly gentle slopes and a very few rock scrambles. [1]

At the beginning of the hike

Deer Creek Canyon has been a natural corridor through the Front Range foothills toward the Colorado mountains for thousands of years. While no major archaeological sites have been found within the present Deer Creek Canyon Park boundaries, the presence of other sites in the area indicates use of the canyon by the region’s prehistoric people. [2]

Many settlers explored the canyon following the 1850s Colorado Gold Rush.

Raining in the mountains

Cacti will always remind me of Virgin Islands

You can see Denver

The Plymouth Creek Trail follows the creek for a while, and gives lots of views to small cliff walls on either side.

Flatirons Hike, Boulder

This was one of my favorite hikes. There are some breathtaking views of Rocky Mountains at the end of the trail.

The Flatirons are the most prominent feature of Boulder Colorado’s landscape. They are beautiful to take in from a distance, but they are even better to explore. [1]