12/20/2023 0 Comments Panorama point![]() Look for trail markers as you climb, the rugged path is hard to follow over outcroppings and around boulders.Ī sign near its eastern end warns hikers of the Black Bear Trail’s rugged path.Ī wheelchair-accessible loop at the visitor’s center circles a trout pond. Turn right at the Y-junction to complete this loop route on the Black Bear Trail. The trail turns uphill from here and offers views of Ralston Creek and valley farmland.Ĭontinue on the Mule Deer Trail at this 3-way junction, bypassing the Blue Grouse Trail. A short lefthand spur trail leads to the Ole’ Barn Knoll parking area and restrooms.Ĭontinue straight across the park road. Turn right at the T-junction to follow the Mile Deer Trail toward Frazer Meadow. Stick to the trail as it squeezes between Mountain Base Road and private property lines along the park’s Western boundary.įollow the Elk Trail straight at this 3-way junction, bypassing the Coyote Trail.Īfter a small, bridged stream crossing, the trail overlooks the ruins of twin hay barns, remnants of a silver miner’s early 20th century homestead. Relief maps of the view point out: South Rosalie Peak, Loveland Pass, James Peak, Devil’s Thumb, Nederland, the Estes Cone, North Signal Mountain and 40 other landmarks.Ĭontinue straight at this 3-way junction that marks the end of the Raccoon Trail and the beginning of an easy 2-mile stretch along the Elk Trail.Ĭontinue straight across the Park Road on the Elk Trail. A sign indicates 0.8 miles remaining to Panorama Point.Īvoid walking on Gap Road by staying left and climbing slightly to parallel the road as it heads west.Ĭross Gap Road’s gravel surface and turn left to join the Raccoon Trail to Panorama Point.Ī large wooden platform with interpretive information and high-powered binoculars offers sweeping 50-mile views of towns and peaks near the Continental Divide. You’ll see Gap Road below the trail as you continue through this 3-way junction. Turn right onto the Mule Deer Trail toward Aspen Meadow.Ī couple of steep banked downhill corners on this multi-use trail are well-worn by mountain bike tires.Ĭontinue straight at this 3-way junction, bypassing the Snowshoe Hare Trail. Turn right at the Y-junction toward Greenfield Meadow and campsite spur trails scattered over the next 0.6 miles.Ĭampsite 2 is a favorite: A rocky outcropping perched near the tent-pad provides easy southeastern valley views.Ī 50-yard trail near campsite 3 leads to a free-flowing pipette of natural spring water.Ī meadow traverse passes campsites 4 and 5 and offers views of Tremont Mountain’s 10,368-foot peak before this T-junction. Turn left to follow the Horseshoe Trail under a pine and aspen canopy.Ĭontinue climbing as the trail veers right around a rocky knoll. Optional: Drive a few hundred yards north to the Ralston Roost parking area.įrom the Raslton Roost parking area (left side of the road), the trail climbs uphill.Īfter a quick uphill, turn right to begin the counterclockwise loop.Ī tiny wooden bridge crosses a creek to a T-junction. The trail begins from the north end of the visitor center parking lot. INFO: For more information, go to the Golden Gate Canyon State Park website.ĬONTACT: 92 Crawford Gulch Road, Golden, CO 80403 (303) 582-3707 For more information, go to Golden Gate Canyon Fees.ĬONDITIONS: Check weather at Golden, CO (80403) Weather PERMIT: Purchase a day-use pass in the Visitor’s Center. Order the USGS topo quads listed above at. Order a custom map of this route by selecting the “Print MyTopo” option in the left-hand menu bar. Mapped by Kristy Holland Hike Golden Gate Panorama Pointĭownload maps of the area at the Golden Gate Canyon State Park website. Simple route-finding-look for hard-to-spot trail markers to stay on track-and some hand-over-foot scrambling add difficulty before a rugged downhill back to the trailhead. Turning downhill, the route traverses grassy meadows and homestead ruins along the park’s western edge before it’s final challenge: a climb up Ralston Roost along the Black Bear Trail. Skirting the base of 10,388-foot Tremont Mountain, the Mule Deer Trail travels toward Gap Road, crossing it once before reaching Panorama Point where stationary binoculars and relief maps identify 47 distant features along 100 miles of the Continental Divide. You’ll pass several backcountry campsites just 1.5 miles from the trailhead. This counterclockwise loop begins at the Ralston Roost trailhead and follows the Horseshoe Trail around rocky outcroppings as it climbs toward Greenfield and Frazer Meadows. This moderate, 12.3-mile dayhike links five trails and showcases the often overlooked backcountry of Golden Gate Canyon State Park (less than an hour from Denver). Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+
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