Where we went: Bald Mountain Scenic Area
What went wrong: Bald Mountain and Bald Mountain Scenic Area are two different places.
What we did right: The drive up Sunshine Canyon Road is as pleasant as the hike.
How you can avoid mistakes: Easy, straightforward trail with few surprises. It's marked as mountain lion habitat, but we didn't see any big cats.
With picnic tables at the trail head, and a park bench at the top, this is a relaxing place to spend time.
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| The trail head, with parking on Sunshine Canyon Road. There is a port-a-potty in the parking lot. |
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| Picnic area at beginning of trail. |
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| Take the right Pines to Peaks trail for an easier climb to the top. |
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| Trails are wide and lined with flowers. Grasshoppers are everywhere. |
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| Fire hit the east slope in 2010. |
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| Rest stop overlooking the valley. |
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| A short steep climb to the summit. |
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| At the top. |
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| Take in the views from the park bench. |
Would we hike this trail again? Yes, if we lived closer. But the drive from Denver is too long for such a short hike.
