Coyote Ridge continued....Winter hiking

Here is the sign off the Wilson Rd entrance

Just wanted to add in that hiking at Coyote Ridge is a year round affair with no need for snow shoes. The trial is traveled enough that what little snow does accumulate on the paths over the winter is pretty quickly packed down and hiking is easy. There are a few areas on the north side of the first hogback where the snow gets packed down to ice as the trail here sees little direct sunlight if any. So, the trail here can be tricky and if you intend to hike, bike, or run this far in, beware of the couple hundred yards of icy trail here. Often there is room or patches of clear path to step on, or an "alternative" route through the snowy brush can get you around the main trail, though it is frowned upon to leave the actual trail.

I also wanted to post up a few photos from mylast jaunt up at the end of December

Dramatic Cupcake Dog - Revelation

Coyote Ridge - Easy access hiking from Loveland and Fort Collins, CO

Man I friggin love living here! Moved here three years ago now from Indiana and still have some serious wanderlust. Humping over corn cobs was not cutting it for me in Indiana and while I miss the Colts and LaBamba's (mid-westerners with a palete for grilled burrito perfection know what I mean), I don't miss the lame scenery. Don't get me wrong, Indiana is great, but when you spend all you free time daydreaming of backpacking through alpine wilderness, Indianapolis leaves much to be desired.

View from Rim Rock Open space

Disclaimer: To Indiana lovers... I am not a hater...I speak only of lame MOUNTAIN scenery as Indiana has none. The woodlands, southern Karst topography, and the Fall in Indiana are killer!
Anywho, I thought I'd start some mini travel blogs up in this cyber joint and share some of my favorite local hikes and then as I get some time on my hands, get into posting some real hikes up in the great Colorado wilderness.
So, where to begin....I guess I will start with the trail I use the most as it is near my home in Loveland. Coyote Ridge. This is a good out and back trail that you can pop on with ease from anywhere in Loveland or Fort Collins for that matter. Easy access is why I use it the most and once you hike up around the first hogback you get a nice sense of seclusion, other than the occasional runner and biker. If you go early in the day, later in the afternoon, or during the week actually, you get the place almost to yourself. As with any trail I have found anywhere, the further you hike in, the less people you run into.

SO....If you know Loveland at all, you are familiar with the "hogbacks" that lead up into the mountains of the Front Range and RMNP (Rocky Mountain National Park). Well, there is a sweet little area off of Wilson called Coyote Ridge Natural Area. This protected area is open to the public (us baby) for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Note* Beware that we do have rattlesnakes and I have seen them as late as (last week) the end of Novemeber on the trails. I also have seen many a prairie dog, deer, elk, burrowing owls, eagles, hawks, rabbits (big flippin deal Paul, rabbits...come on.. bunnies count too), coyotes, and fox, as me and my family have traveled up and down this trail through out the last few years. Lately, I have been running (walkie-running really....stumble jogging?) the trail lately as I need to get into shape. (MAP)

bottom if descent from Coyote ridge looking west

Side note: don't be jack-ass,like yours truly, and adjust your ipod-sleeve holder or water bottle gear while running down a rocky trail. Go ahead and take a precious few seconds to do it while stationary. I learned this elementary lesson the hard way as I took a major face dive on the trail whilst full speed running down the back of the first hog back and ripped the flesh off my right palm,and my left knee. the slightest distraction and the rocks suddenly jump out to catch your toe and as you may guess, the only thing to cushion your fall on a rock/boulder strewn path are of course ... rocks! ...but I digress.....
This trial leads from the parking lot about .5 miles comfortably ascending (though it looks like your descending) through a prairie dog Mecca and research area that is part of the park system in Larimer Co.. The trail ascends up and around the first hills the the second .5 miles to the 1 mile mark that is the bathroom and prairie dog research hut. I have never seen this hut open but there is a fun (for kids and adults alike..I guess) interpretive trial that loops around the ranger shack btw. The next 1.2 miles from potty go up and around the hogbacks to get you to the top of Coyote Ridge. Great spot to enjoy the views and chill out a bit. Have a snack and enjoy some sweet views of the city to the east and the mountains (RMNP) to the West. The trial continues west down through a valley (Rim Rock open Space) and up another drainage to join up with the Blue Sky Trail. This trial begins at Devil's Backbone and travels some 15 miles ( or more if you travel the several trail loops along the way) to Horsetooth Reservoir which also hooks up with trails all the way to Horsetooth Mountain in Fort Collins. I will post about this trail next time.
Anyway... it is a great place to live with trails and open space galore and you should get out and explore it!!! See you there.