Dogs are welcome and must be on a 6 foot leash at all ti mes. Routes can be viewed on Colorado Trails Explorer website.
There are several interconnecting trails which give us options. We’ll explo re the much less-visited westernmost area of the park, so you’ll be among t he select few adventurers who venture there at this time of year. We will l ikely have the West Meadow trail mostly to ourselves - a real backcountry e xperience close to home.
Staunton Ranch, Bugling Elk to Elk Falls Pond. After a snack we wil l continue to Chimney Rock, then Elk Falls. We will have our lunch at the f alls. After lunch we will return on Elk Falls trail and continue our journe y on Chimney Rock trail to Elk falls Overlook. If conditions are reasonable we can continue past the overlook to the lions head trail. This trail is a bout .8 mile trail with a .5 mile loop over the lion's head, it has specta cular views of mountain ranges. Since the falls are frozen, we will return to Elk Falls Pond hiking on the Lions Back trail. From here, if there are a ny adventurous hikers, Tom will take them back over Marmot Passage and Scou t line. For the others Linda will take others over the same route Bugling E lk and Staunton Ranch.
Set forth on Davis Ponds Pookah loop for a fun winter scavenger hunt! Scavenger lists will be provided at the Visitor Center. See how many items you can check off!
This hike will begin at the Meadows Parking Lot with Staunton Ranch trail. The trail winds throu gh open meadow with views of Staunton's famous rock formations including it s signature Lions Head. The trail also passes the Staunton Ranch cabin wher e the Staunton family homesteaded in the early to mid 20th century. Nearly two miles into the hike the trail comes to the junction with Red Wall overl ook. The hike will turn right onto this trail and climb to the summit of R ed Wall, a rock monolith. A fairly short scramble to the top rewards hikers with spectacular views of the park below and mountains to the west and so uth including Pikes Peak. Be sure to bring your cameras. The hike will retu rn by way of the cabin district trail which passes historic buildings. Thi s trail connects into beautiful Chase Meadow trail which also treats hiker s with open views to the west. On the way a search for evidence of the Sasq uatch in Staunton State Park is an adventurous option of this hike. Another option, if time, is a side trip to Davis Ponds. Finally, the hike loops ba ck up to its terminus at Meadows Parking Lot.
Travel up the Old Mill trail and visit the Staunton logging mill at the to p! Continue the hike further into the Park on Borderline trail and enjoy so me lovely vistas at the overlooks! Segue onto Staunton Ranch and connect to Marmot Passage and onto Scout Line where views are almost constant. Then w e are headed back to Lazy V Lot.
Travel back in time along the Cabin District trail as you visit t he Staunton Cabin. Take a magical guided tour inside the cabin. Then contin ue your journey to Brola, Richardson and Blaine cabins. Your guide will sha re stories of those who lived here before the land became a park and the hi story of putting the park together.
The 10 essentials, winter weather appropriate gear, sunscreen, water (at least 1.5 liters), lunch/snacks. Traction devices, snowshoes, and/or gaiter s for snow and ice.
Watch the fo recast, and be prepared for winter conditions, even temps around 10 degrees and snowing– basically what you’d expect on a backcountry outing!
https://cpw.state.co.us/event/2025/01/staunton-first-day-hikes