Colorful Caribou Ranch

I finally got in a drive on the Peak to Peak Highway to see the high fall colors. The drive from Boulder to Nederland to Allenspark to Estes Park and back to Boulder was a gorgeous 2-hour loop. Most of the aspen were still bright and vibrant with only a few stands on the decline, and the mountain peaks were dusted with fresh snow. 

I stopped at a Boulder County Open Space just north of Nederland (Want to sound like a local? Then just call this mountain town "Ned.") for a short hike. Caribou Ranch, named by a prospector who was reminded by the area of the Cariboo Range in British Columbia, is over 2,100 acres of montaine ecosystem in western Boulder County, near the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The park lies between 8,000 and 10,000 feet in elevation, meaning that glacial activity helped to form the area's valleys. Loads of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds live or pass through the park.

Along the Switzerland Trail RR grade portion of DeLonde Trail.

The Denver, Boulder & Western Railroad ran from 1904 to 1919 through what is now the park. The former route is called the Switzerland Trail after brochures for the train ride that proclaimed the scenery as beautiful as the Alps. The Blue Bird Mine site is in the park, to which miners flocked (among plenty of other area mines) in the 1870s on the search for silver. In 1936, the first Arabian horse breeding operation in Colorado was set up on the ranch. In 1971 a music producer bought the property and converted the barn into a studio, which was used by the likes of Chicago and Elton John, and then destroyed in a fire in 1985. Lands for the park were acquired by Boulder County in 1996 and 2001.

Black Bear claw marks.

I set off along the DeLonde Trail which would take me 1.2 miles to the 1.9-mile Blue Bird Loop. The entire walk was a very pleasant stroll through the yellows and greens of aspens and pines. Part of the DeLonde Trail follows the old railroad grade and features placards showing photos and information about the old tourist train rides.

The aspen are ablaze.

Along the Blue Bird Loop trail I took the short spur trail to check out the old mine complex, which includes a restored bunkhouse and company house, the remains of log buildings, a mill foundation, chicken coops, smoke house, and several mine shafts complete with the original cart tracks coming out of their (gated) entrances.

Restored bunkhouse at the Blue Bird Mine.

Mine entrance.

The rest of the loop brought me to the barn and back to the DeLonde Trail. The ~4.5-mile walk was very nice and I'm looking forward to returning on snowshoes and cross-country skis, but I am so glad I was able to explore the area with the aspens still peaking. 

Aspen litter.

Afterwards, as I continued my drive up the Peak to Peak Highway to Estes Park, the tops of Mount Meeker and Longs Peak became socked in with dense clouds as afternoon rain rolled in. I briefly walked through the Upper Beaver Meadows in RMNP in hopes of spotting some elk. I was a bit too early in the day for them though, so I headed to Smoking Dave's for some Carolina-style BBQ pork instead!