The first half of the hike was easy (you can check it out here to
refresh your memory - Pine Valley Ranch Park hike... the beginning). Walking along a flat trail beside the stream
was pure bliss. But soon I asked myself: Am I really ready to head back home? And the answer was simple - nope.
So instead of returning to the trailhead, I turned right onto a winding
trail that disappeared into the trees, luring me toward some kind of
adventure. (Right - no, I didn’t look at the map and had no idea where
this trail might lead me.)
The trail began a gentle ascent and still felt like a good idea...
until I reached a fork and had to decide again - left or right? While I
paused for a moment, hoping for inspiration, something zoomed past me: a
biker flying downhill at full speed. That made my decision easier, I
picked the left path. Fewer bikes, more peace.
The left trail also looked more inviting, with more shade and a softer feel.
The trail twisted and turned, becoming steeper as I climbed, but the
scenery was beautiful, so I kept going. I told myself I’d turn back once
I felt like I’d had enough… but that moment was still somewhere in the
future (and, actually, never came).
Am I the only one who sees an angry face in that tree? I swear I heard it whisper something when I passed by...
I wasn't in a hurry, so I stopped here and there to enjoy the view or
snap a quick photo. A few hikers passed by and told me I was on the
loop trail, and that it would eventually lead me back to the lake. That
was great news, no need to decide when to turn around. I just kept
hiking, enjoying the climb and the views.
Before long, I reached the summit and began the descent. Just in time, too - the uphill was starting to catch up with me!
Along the trail, I’d seen tons of wild currant bushes. Eventually, I
gave in to temptation and popped a few ripe berries into my mouth. Not
bad - not as tart, significantly sweeter than the garden variety, though
not as flavorful, and full of seeds. Tasty, but not worth repeating, so
I moved on.
After another bend in the trail, I caught a glimpse of the lake far
below. Not the whole lake, but enough to let me know I was getting close
to the end.
The trail wound through trees and around massive boulders. These two
rocks in particular looked huge - and they were, even if the photos
don’t quite do them justice.
Soon the lake came fully into view again.
From here, the trail dropped steeply, but steps had been added to
make the descent easier, and I really appreciated that. Around another
turn, the lake disappeared again as the trail hugged a steep slope,
weaving through more steps and switchbacks. I was relieved I was going down, not up.
Finally, the last bend, and the lake was back, in all its glory.
Just five more minutes and I was down at the water’s edge, admiring
the near-perfect reflections. Not quite as glassy as in the early
morning, but still stunning. It's rare to have such calm water in the
mountains, and I soaked up the view of sky and clouds mirrored on the
surface.
The water was very clear and looking down, I could even spot fish and
crawfish. Not sure I’ve seen so many of them in any other lake!
Isn’t it a beautiful spot? And now, the area was full of people
walking, fishing, or just enjoying the peaceful surroundings. For me, it
was time to head back to Denver.
I crossed the same bridge where I began a few hours earlier. It looked different now... brighter, and more familiar.
3 hours and 4.4 miles on a trial. I’d say it was an easy hike. Easy,
but beautiful. And I’ll definitely be back to explore the other trails
in this area.
Photos taken on July 06, 2025.
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