Blue Ridge Parkway: Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower

When my parents and I first came here last December, we thought we were breaking the law- the gravel road that leads to the tower is marred with "No Trespassing" signs on either side. But after doing some research, I discovered that the lookout tower that sits atop Fryingpan Mountain (elevation 5,340) on the Blue Ridge Parkway is in fact open to the public, and hikers are encouraged to use it.

The tower... of doom!!!

Fun fact: The tower was originally built by the US Forest Service in 1941, and is the tallest lookout tower in Western NC. Although the top platform is locked and not open to the public (I wonder why?), you can still climb five flights of stairs to catch some amazing views.

View from the top of the lookout tower

We stumbled upon this tower on a winter day when the parkway was closed. After parking at the lot beside the parkway's intersection with Hwy 276, we walked about 3 miles east and saw the gravel road to the lookout tower on the left. From the parkway, it's about 3/4 of a mile hike up to the tower. There are some camping spots near the entrance to the trail that might be worth checking out. This is near mile marker 409, and I'm sure you could park somewhere closer than we did (when the parkway is open, that is). I would highly recommend checking this spot out- the 360 degree panoramic views are incredible. 

Boulder: Saddle Rock Trail

So, we actually didn't reach Saddle Rock because one of our hikers was having back pain, but I want to do it next summer! We parked at the Crown Rock Area, which is right off Flagstaff Road. We hiked down into Gregory Canyon, which is a very steep and pretty treacherous trail due to loose gravel. There are lots of college kids bouldering in this area- it's a nice place to come and rock hop if you don't want to hike. There is also the "bonsai tree" that is growing out of a rock- very cool, and a nice place to chill out and take pictures.

We took the trail all the way down into Gregory Canyon, which as already noted is a very steep and rocky descent. The canyon has a stream running through it, and as I just discovered, has its own trailhead nearby. We began the ascent to Saddle Rock but turned around about 15 minutes later. The climb back to the car was pretty sketchy in places, and there are a couple places where the trail forks off with no signage. I wouldn't recommend taking this trail if you don't know the area well. The hike from the Crown Rock parking area down into Gregory Canyon and back up takes about an hour round trip.

After studying the above map, I think that next time I'll park at the Gregory Canyon trailhead and do the Saddle Mountain loop. Just a warning that all of the areas in the Flagstaff area charge $5 per car for parking.

Directions from Boulder: take Baseline Road, pass Chautauqua Park on the right and turn left into the Gregory Canyon parking area a few minutes down the road. The area is well marked and visible from the road.

New Trail Ideas for 2012

HAPPY TRAILS THE PUNCH BOWLS

by DAVE PHILIPPS, THE GAZETTE

WHERE: A series of pools hidden in Queens Canyon above Glen Eyrie.

TO GET THERE: From Interstate 25 take the Garden of the Gods exit and head west for two miles to 30th Street. Turn left and drive a half-mile to the Navigators entrance on the right. Turn in, then immediately veer left to head into Glen Eyrie. Stop to register at the gate, then drive a bit further and park in a gravel lot at the head of the canyon.

TRIP LOG:

Two boots, two miles round-trip, 400 feet elevation gain.

THE HIKE:

Few people in Colorado Springs know about the punch bowls, even though they rank as one of the most refreshing summer hikes in the region.

The five polished granite pools engraved in Queens Canyon by Camp Creek are perfect for a dip, or just a nice picnic spot. They've been kept under wraps because this spot in the Pike National Forest is easily accessible only from Glen Eyrie, which is owned by the Navigators, a Christian missionary organization.

Anyone casually wandering into Glen Eyrie is usually scared away by a guard house-like gate. But don't be. The Navigators welcome hikers.

Locals should be thankful. This hike rocks.

The trail starts just past Colorado Springs founder William Jackson Palmer's Glen Eyrie castle and winds up Camp Creek. Soon the walls of Queens Canyon close around it.

After a few minutes, hikers will encounter a long wooden catwalk that hugs the gorge walls. Follow it up to a small dam. The trail continues along the creek for a half-mile and seems to end at an ambitious little spout of water called Dawson Falls.

Hikers who want to continue to the punch bowls should look for a trail lunging up to the right. It stays steep for about a tenth of a mile, then levels out again and follows the stream a short distance to the pools.

The first bowl is the biggest. And the depth is perfect for a vigorous plunge.

Up above, the other bowls get progressively smaller, but they still make a great natural playground for cooling off during a hot, summer hike.

Return the way you came.

DETAILS: Hiking from Glen Eyrie is free and open to the public, but hikers must register at the front gate. Don't forget a swimsuit.

INFORMATION: Glen Eyrie, 634-0808.

RATING SYSTEM: A scale of one to four boots. One is easiest, with little elevation gain, and it is at a reasonable altitude. Four is most difficult, with severe elevation gain, difficult terrain or extreme length or elevation.

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Lyons - Indian Pools for swimming this summer
Eldorado Springs- hiking and swimming

Golden - Mt. Galbraith Park

Mt. Galbraith Park is an awesome hiking spot just outside of Golden city limits. I would recommend going when you want to get your heart pumping and see some nice views, rather than exhausting yourself with a super steep and intense climb. The area is moderately open and exposed to the sun, so it is perfect for a colder day when you want to get some rays. All trails are for hikers only, so you don't have to worry about being run over by mountain bikers- hooray!

I parked at the main trailhead off of Golden Gate Canyon Road, which has a nice sized parking lot and a bathroom. I hiked up the Cedar Gulch trail, stopping at a couple nice overlooks of Golden and Boulder along the way. It is a pretty popular hike, but it's not overwhelmingly crowded (i.e. Chautauqua). I would like to continue on the Mount Galabrath loop next time I'm in the area- this area seems a little steeper, but you get better views of the mountains to the west. The Cedar Gulch trail is 3 miles round trip and took about 2 hours with a few breaks. 

Directions: Take US 58 to Golden, take a right on US 93, go a few miles down the road, and take a left on Golden Gate Canyon Road. Follow the road about 2 miles until you see the parking lot on the left. The park is well marked. 

Golden: North Table Mountain Park

This is a beautiful hike with excellent views, and is extremely close to Denver. The area has no trees and is extremely exposed to the sun and wind. I wouldn't recommend coming in the hot summer months because you will run the risk of getting fried. No matter what the temperature, remember to wear sunscreen and dress in layers.

We did the North Table Mesa loop, beginning at the southern entrance, which turned out to be about a 2 hour hike. The trail is gravel and wide enough to drive a car on. Although we ran into a number of mountain bikers, there really weren't that many hikers out on a Sunday afternoon. The beginning and end of the hike is steep, however the majority of the trail is flat and easy sailing. I would like to come back and do the bigger loop in the future. The views of Denver/Golden, the mountains, and nifty rock formations are incredible, so don't forget to bring your camera!

An interesting side note: this park has the nicest outdoor public restroom that I have ever seen! Running water, two bathroom stalls, and actual toilets (that were extremely clean, for the record). Stay classy, North Table Mountain.

Driving directions from Denver: Take the Golden exit, right on Hwy 93, drive a few minutes while looking for "North Table Mesa" signs. The parking lot and trailhead will be on the right.

Golden: Centennial Cone Park

We did a small loop, which lasted about 1.5 hours with a few breaks. From the trailhead we took Elk Range Trail to Travois Trail to Juniper Trail to Mayhem Gulch Trail to Travois Trail, which makes a nice little 2 mile loop. Map and park information here: http://jeffco.us/openspace/openspace_T56_R95.htm.

The hike was pretty gentle and mostly flat. Great for a hungover Sunday afternoon when you just want to get some fresh air and a little exercise in a beautiful setting. No water in the area. Hiking is allowed on odd numbered days, and mountain biking is allowed on even numbered days. There are some really nice overlooks and not a lot of people on the trail. I would like to come back and do the bigger loop. There is a bathroom at the trailhead.

Directions from Golden: Take 58 to US 6 toward Black Hawk. There will be a sign on the road for Centennial Cone Park. Go up the road and go straight when the road splits (the paved road will turn into gravel). The trailhead parking lot will be less than a mile up the road. Or, to add 1.5 miles onto your hike, park at the Mayhem Gulch parking area which is just off of US 6 before you see the sign for Centennial Cone Park.

Guanella Pass & Mt. Bierstadt

Best camping spot ever! And the hike wasn't bad either.

From Denver, take I-70 to the Georgetown exit. Go through town and follow the signs to Granella Pass. Once you turn onto Granella Pass Road and begin climbing up the mountain, drive 7-8 miles and look for our camping spot on the left. There are lots of camping spots in this area, but this one can accommodate many tents. Hint- you have to cross a stream to access the camping spot.

To access the Mt. Bierstadt trail, drive up Granella Pass about 12 miles. You will see a paved parking lot on the left with bathrooms. The trail starts right beside these bathrooms.

The Mt. Bierstadt hike is about 7 miles roundtrip, and is extremely intense (for me, anyway). You will climb almost 3,000 feet to get to the peak, which is 14,060 feet. This is apparently one of the easiest 14ers to hike, so you will encounter a ton of people, especially on the weekends. For the best weather, go in July, August, or early September (we went over Labor Day weekend).

Start the hike as early as possible to avoid afternoon thunderstorms. We arrived at the trailhead around 9:30 and hit the trail by 10, and were done with the hike around 3. Remember to pack lots of layers, because it gets colder the higher you climb! I was freezing once we reached the summit.

One more thing- pack a bunch of food and water. And make sure to stretch before you start!