Staunton State Park 2022 First Day Hikes/Bike
Vis it Meadows Parking Lot for Giveaways, Hotdogs, Hot Chocolate and S’mores!!< /div>

Bike #1 “Get to Know Stau nton State Park”
Planned Bike route: Staunton Ranc h to Marmot Passage to Elk Falls Pond / Cabin. We will see if trail conditi ons are favorable for an optional loop on West Meadow to Chimney Rock if th ere is interest / ability. Return via Bugling Elk to Staunton Ranch and may be even a Cabin District detour. If snow is too deep on Marmot Passage we w ill take Bugling Elk to the pond.
Meeting Location: Meadows Pa rking Lot
Time of Event: 10am

Length: This will be about an 8.6 mile RT loop / out and back to Elk Falls Pond. Add 3. 7 miles for optional West Meadow and Chimney Rock loop. Total max 12.3 mile s and about 1,540' cumulative vertical of elevation gain / loss! Plan on 2. 5-3.5 hours RT (depending West Meadow/ Chimney Rock addition). A good way t o start off the new year!

Things to bring: Fat bikes wo uld be required. Weather appropriate gear, sunscreen, water (at least 1.5 l iters), lunch/snacks.
Degree of difficulty: Intermediate (depe nds on snow conditions)

Volunteer Guide: Shane Matson
Hike #2 ‘Lions Head, Elk Fal ls Overlook, and great views of the Continental Divide’
< b>Trails Hiked: Scout Line, Marmot Passage, Chimney Rock, Lions Back, L ions Head
(summit loop), Bugling Elk, (upper) Staunton Ranch
Time of the event: Depart promptly at 8:30am.
Meeting locatio n: (New) Lazy V Ranch parking lot (well inside park)
Degree of difficulty: Difficult/strenuous
Minimum age or children: 12 years of age and older (exception: kids with backcountry experience) Lea shed pets are permitted
Length of hike: 9.5 mi.*, 2200 ft elev ation gain (approximate time: 5 hrs.)
Things to bring: Weather appropriate gear, sunscreen, water (at least 1.5 liters), lunch/snacks. Tr action devices highly recommended.

Description of the hike: Come join us for a somewhat challenging hike to the west end of the pa rk -- and take the summit loop around our famous landmark, Lions Head! The LH trail is accessible only during certain times of the year (closed mid Ma r – end of July), so here’s a great opportunity to enjoy it! Better yet, st arting at the new parking lot keeps this scenic tour to around 10 miles.We’ ll begin by ascending Scout Line, then connecting to Marmot Passage, where we’ll have great views of Mt Evans and the Divide. We’ll descend to Elk Fal ls Pond, then follow scenic Elk Creek to near Chimney Rock, then head uphil l to the Lions Back trail and Elk Falls Overlook. After a nice jaunt around Lions Head (with great views to the south and west), we’ll take an easier return route (Lions Back/Bugling Elk/Staunton Ranch). *Hike may be shortene d somewhat depending on conditions.

Volunteer Guides: J en Nickerson and Jenna Yeager
Route can be viewed on Colorado Trails Explorer - Cotrex (trails.colorado.gov):
trails.colorado.gov/routes/66343? t=juGQxYTfEBeyDQgJoHdo

Hike #3 “Mystery History”
Name of trail: Mystery History Hike
Time of the event: Depart at 1:00
Meetin g Location: Group Picnic Area
Degree of Difficulty: Easy Any Restrictions: Leashed pets are permitted
Length of hike: Approximately 1.5 miles
Things to bring: Water, Sna cks, weather appropriate gear

Description of hike: Trav el back in time along the mason creek trail as you visit an old stone house . Who built the structure? What was it used for? Your guides will share the stories of those who lived here before the land became a park and the hist ory of putting the park together.

Volunteer leaders: Ra ndi Boldra

Hike #4 “Search for Sasquatch”
Name of the trail: Davis ponds to C hase Meadow to Cabn District to Staunton Ranch back to Group Picnic Area
Time of the event: Depart at 1100
Meeting location: Group Picnic Area Parking Lot
Degree of difficulty: Mild Mode rate
Minimum age for children: Kids and dogs welcome
Any restrictions: Leashed pets are permitted
Length of hike: Approximately 4 miles
Things to bring: Water, snacks, Snow shoes, weather appropriate gear

Description of the hike: Travel through the numerous trails in Staunton State Park in search of th e elusive Sasquatch! Travel through ponderosa pine forests, Aspen groves, r ock outcroppings and cross creek beds all while keeping on alert for a crea ture rumored to roam around Staunton State Park!!

Volunteer Leaders: Joanne Blasberg

Hike #5 Mason Creek Trail to the Catamount Overlook
Starting Point: Meadow Parking Lot Information Kiosk
Starting Time: 9:00 am
Time Frame: 4 hours
Distance: 6.5 miles

Difficulty: Moderate degree of difficulty. In the winter time, it is a bit more difficult if there is recent snow. Trekk ing poles and traction devices would be a must as the trail can get icy in the canyon. Elevation Change: Approx. 1,000 ft.

Best for adult s and children over 12

Description: The initial couple miles follow Mason Creek uphill through a beautiful canyon where the climat e and forest differ from the primarily Ponderosa Pine Forest that is predom inant in other areas of the park. Here you will find the temperature is typ ically 10 or more degrees cooler and the humidity is much higher than elsew here in the park. This creates a rain forest type environment that promotes growth of thick underbrush and a huge variety of spruce and deciduous foli age. There are many great stopping places along this section including clim bing rocks and cascades.

Once you continue above the canyon, t oward Bear Paw trail, the environment changes into a breathtaking aspen for est where wildlife is often seen. Here you meander through the trees until you surprisingly come across the first of 3 overlooks, Catamount Overlook. On a clear day, you can see the entire front range from Square Top
Gear: appropriate layers (breathable fabrics and wind resistant outer layer), gloves, good hiking shoes, traction devices (spikes work bes t), trekking poles, hat, extra socks, sunglasses, sunscreen, neck gator or mask, plenty of water, energy snacks, cell phone.

Route: Dines Meadow spur from Meadows Lot to Mason Creek Trail to Bear Paw Trail to Catamount Overlook and back.

If the weather is bad, we wil l not go beyond Mason Creek canyon (2 miles).

Volunteer Leader : John Lewis

CONTACT:303-816-0912 DTSTAMP:20260514T145744Z DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20220101T083000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20220101T140000 SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR