racoon trail - August 22, 2014 - Member Trip Report

Hike Name: racoon trail
Country: United States
State: Colorado
Trip Rating: 3 stars
Trip Date: August 22, 2014
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Trail Conditions: Excellent
Trail Traffic: Light
Trip Weather: Partly Cloudy, Fog
Trip Winds: Light
Trip Precipitation: Showers
Trip Temperature: High: 61-70, Low: 31-40 degrees Fahrenheit
Trip Report: Itching to explore the great outdoors I walked to the ranger station to see what trails were nearby. I decided to hike the raccoon trail because it was kind of a foggy day with the possibility of rain nearby. I started out at the trail head which was directly behind the ranger station of reverends ridge campground in the Golden canyon state park in Colorado. The trail starts of going down the mountain side nice and wide then it comes to a spot where it levels out just a bit with a wooden fence along the side and there is a side trail that joins it from the campground from straight ahead but the main trail turns right and goes down along beside the fence in the distance I can see a nice mountain peak but can't quite get a good picture so I continue with great anticipation to see if I get close enough that I can get a better shot of it. The trail then comes to a clearing at the base of this peak and becomes a loop. I choose to go left after crossing a small foot bride over a creek I see another trail that goes right to a cabin with signs that say private property so I stay on the trail instead now climbing towards the peak I had been looking at the trail becomes a bit harder as we are at 9500 feet and still going up it is harder to breathe because I am not used to the high altitude. The trail then levels out to go around the side of a peak the joins the mule deer trail for a bit. There is a rock outcropping that makes a nice spot to stop for a snack and to admire the view but with the fog and clouds it is harder to get a really good picture. Then the trail climbs a bit more before coming to a parking area with a panoramic view and covered picnic area. The trail here becomes paved for a bit going down with a couple of nice benches which is where I met another hiker who was taking a break on a bench. He gave me a plastic bag for my camera because it was starting to rain a bit after this the trail retreats into the forest for a half mile before it finally rejoins at the loop section of the trail in the clearing below the campground. From here I backtrack up the hill towards the ranger station and then back to camp.

Hiker:

sadonna


10,850 points


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