Gordon Gulch Winter Hike

We ventured out for a winter hike over the three-day weekend. We're only moderately prepared for winter weather, so we haven't gone out a lot. We don't have any traction or micro-spikes for our shoes, I don't have waterproof warm gloves and we haven't bought any hand warmers or anything to throw in our backpack. But the sun was out, it wasn't windy or too cold , and the trail we picked was mostly flat so we decided to go for it.

                     
We parked at the end of Primos Rd. and took NFS Non-Motorized Road 233.1 for about a mile out and a mile back (this connects to many other "trails" on the online map look like they are non-maintained roads?). We were the only ones on the trail although we saw lots of evidence of other hikers, and dog tracks (and poop). The trail follows Gordon Creek which looked mostly frozen, but there were some open water spots where quite a few American Robins were congregating. I also spotted my first Golden Crowned Kinglets, a pair, flitting around on a tree right on the trail.

My eBird checklist.

Mud Lake and A Lesson in Mountain Weather

With summer in full-swing, just in time for our arrival to our non air-conditioned apartment, we heeded the advice of some locals and sought reprieve up in the mountains. Thankfully, that only means a 30 minute drive. Thirty minutes can take you some pretty incredible places from Boulder. We got some advice and maps from the Visitor Center in Nederland a couple days earlier and decided on a short hike around Mud Lake. It was a beautiful day, but by the time we finally got out of the house it was around lunch time.

My obsession with wildflowers continues

Nice flat trail means easy walking for Lucia

This pileated woodpecker has strayed from his usual range. Definitely a rarity.

Pockets of views from the trail, clouds moving and converging quickly.

Hiking is all about the snack breaks for some!

Gorgeous blue columbine. Perfection.

About halfway around the loop the clouds starting looking pretty ominous and it started to sprinkle a little. Then we heard the thunder in the distance. Being inexperienced with Colorado weather we decided to book it back to the car and made it right before it started pouring out. We did really like this trail though. You get the mountains, but its a flat trail and not too long of a loop for Lucia. We vowed to try and get out the door earlier in the future to hopefully avoid the afternoon thunderstorms.

We took the Tungsten Loop. Skipped the Kinnikinic Look because of the thunderstorm. 

A Hike in the Meadow - Prairie Vista loop at Flatirons Vista

We stopped at a great local bookstore while in Estes Park the previous weekend and picked up a little guidebook called Best Easy Day Hikes Boulder. And although my main obsession is birds, and our wonderful friends, the Alexanders, had already equipped me with a Colorado Birding book, I picked up a pocket guidebook on Rocky Mountain wildflowers.

With the plethora of trail choices in and around Boulder, we were completely overwhelmed with what trails to explore first, and which ones would be short & easy enough for a four year old, but still interesting for the grown ups. We figured we would just work our way through this book and it would give us a good introduction to a wide variety of trails in the Boulder area.

The first one we decided to try was south of town at a trailhead called Flatirons Vista. We hadn't registered our car in Boulder yet, so we had to pay the fee at the trailhead. If your car is not registered in Boulder County, there are several trailheads that you must pay to use. You can get an annual pass as well. More info on fees here.

Now, we are not the family to go hiking with if you are going hiking for a cardio workout, or to cover a lot of ground. Obviously, we have a four year old, who, coupled with short legs, happens to be right at eye level with all sorts of interesting things to investigate. We also have a moseying Mama (me!) who must stop and identify a new wildflower, scan the horizon for any birds resting on the tops of grasses or hiding in a tree, or have a discussion about how dragonflies existed in the time of the dinosaurs with Lucia. Needless to say, we spent quite a bit of time on that boardwalk through the meadow. It was a wonderful introduction to the unique-ness of the Front Range!

Chicory flower - I guess it is considered a weed and not a wildflower, but I still think it's beautiful!

Wildflower book in action. It's spiral bound with big pictures, great for kids and adults!

Flowering cacti - I think Prickly Pear,  now that's something you won't see in Maryland.

The trail takes you through this beautiful expanse of meadow, bursting with flowers, dragonflies and birdsong.

When you get to the junction near the pond the trail transitions from the boardwalk to a dirt trail (and note that mountain bikers are allowed to share these trails). We did see someone using a stroller though since it is relatively flat.

Magnifying glasses are a great thing to bring along to help with getting a close up look at bugs and flowers. This one just stays in our hiking backpack, and Lucia will be on the trail, see something interesting, and come running over, "Mommy! I need my magnifying glass!"

So many interesting textures, colors, sizes, shapes when it comes to plants!

Mountain Harebell/Bellflower, commonly seen in foothill meadows & dry open areas June-Sept.

Not sure what this one is.

I think this is an Aspen Sunflower, but don't quote me on that.

Again, ID TBD

We made it around the smaller Prairie Vista loop (about 2 miles) before the thunderclouds started closing in on us. There is the larger Flatirons Vista loop which could turn into about 3.5 miles for you. And Flatirons Vista North connects with the Dowdy Draw trails, which is where it looked like most of the mountain bikers were coming from.

Click map to take you to the details page on Flatirons Vista.

Overall this was a beautiful hike with lots of interesting things for the kiddo, especially with the wildflowers in bloom. Not much in terms of elevation, so its an easy hike as well.

Other wildflowers observed but not photographed:

Trailing Daisy
Yarrow
Tall Coneflower
Butter & Eggs (Lucia's favorite)

Birds
Western Meadowlark
Barn Swallows
Chipping Sparrow
Blue Grosbeak (Male & Female)