Chief Mountain

Where we went:  Chief Mountain
What went wrong:  Unsure about the trail in a few spots
What we did right:  Used the map and the GPS to get back on track
How you can avoid mistakes:  The trail head is hard to find.  Look for it just around the curve from the ski resort sign.

Chief Mountain has an elevation of 11,709', and is billed as a short, moderately difficult hike, but one which provides fantastic vistas.  It's a bit farther drive from Denver, it took us about an hour to get there, plus there is construction now on Squaw Pass Road, which slowed things down a bit.

The lower part of the hike is through trees, on a trail that is wide, and a little rocky.  The trail takes a right turn at the edge of the alpine meadow, which we somehow missed.  Maybe we were looking at the scenery too hard, but before long it didn't feel like we were on a trail, so we had to backtrack and find the turn.  The top portion of the hike is rocky, with a scramble to the top.  It's windy up there, and a bit chilly, so you may want a jacket.

Parking strip along Squaw Pass Road.

Trail head - not obvious, especially coming up from Evergreen.

First climb from the road.

Yes, this is it.

Pass the 290 concrete marker.

The lower part of the tail looks like this - shady and wide.

Cross over Old Squaw Pass Road

View along Old Squaw Pass Road

A marker on the other side kept us on the right path.

Chief mountain trail.

Coming into the alpine meadow.  This is a spot where we missed a turn.

The trail takes a right at the edge of the meadow.

Looks obvious now, but it wasn't at first glance.

Beginning to see the view through the trees.

Trail marker coming out of the trees.

High alpine meadow

The summit in sight.

Following the wide rock path leads to the outcropping on the left.

The trail switches back to the right and then forks.

Take a left and climb through the notch at the top.

Or continue to where the trail dies at the rocks, and climb here.

Either way will get you to the top.

Enjoy the 360 degree view.

Retrace the trail to the parking strip.

The trail on the other side of Old Squaw Pass Road on the descent.

Would we hike this trail again?  Yes.

Lookout Mountain Trail

Where we went: Lookout Mountain Trail
What went wrong:  Not much, since we'd been on this trail before.
What we did right:  Started at the Lariat Loop parking lot, so we climbed first.
How you can avoid mistakes:  Several other hikers stopped us with questions about where the trail went.  Make sure you at least take a look at the map, and preferably bring it with you.

We had by no means exhausted the Lookout Mountain trail, so we chose to take it again and add on another leg, the portion from the Buffalo Bill trail to the Nature Center.   By parking at the low elevation end of the trail, we could climb first while we felt fresher, then descend on the return.

Two fawns scrambled up the hillside right beside the trail.  One is hiding behind the small tree in the middle.

Wildflowers...

This is the trail head across from the nature center, our turn around point today.

The rocky overlook was a good turn around point.

 We enjoyed a snack and great views.

Turn around and retrace path to the parking lot.  There is a nice restroom and water available at the Lookout Mountain Nature Center.  A port-a-potty is in the Lariat Loop parking lot. 

Would we hike this trail again?  Yes.  Love going through the trees.

Lookout Mountain/Buffalo Bill Museum

Where we went:  Lookout Mountain/Buffalo Bill Museum
What went wrong:  We wore jeans, which are hot and heavy.
What we did right:  Packed water bottles and a snack.
How you can avoid mistakes:  There are a few confusing turns on the trail, which aren't obvious on the map.  They are pictured below.

Buffalo Bill's Grave

Buffalo Bill's Grave

Buffalo Bill's Grave

View from Buffalo Bill Museum

View From Buffalo Bill Museum

View From Buffalo Bill Museum

Looking West From Buffalo Bill Museum

The trail head is across the parking lot from the museum.  Great buffalo burgers served in the gift shop.

The trail passes through Lookout Mountain Park.

Keep to the left over the rocky patches.

Watch for the arrow marker.

Hiker only trail, 0.5 miles, connects to the Lookout Mountain Trail.

Junction with the Lookout Mountain Trail.

 Head left  (uphill) to the Lookout Mountain Nature Center, 0.4 miles, or

right (downhill) to the Beaver Brook trail head, 0.6 miles.  We went downhill.

The trail winds through the trees,

and has a few rocky places.

The trail marker at the scree field.  This is the spur trail.

Take a right on the spur trail for views.

The Lookout Mountain trail makes a switch back to the right just beyond the marker before the scree field.               

The Beaver Brook trail begins to the left.  Follow the Lookout Mountain trail on a switchback to the right, and end up in a parking area on Lariat Loop Road.  There is a port-a-potty in the parking lot.

Turn around and retrace the route to the parking lot at the Buffalo Bill Museum.

Would we hike this trail again?  Yes.  We've been on it multiple times.