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Directions: From Denver, head West on I-70 to 58 and make a left onto Hwy 93/6th Ave. Or take 6th Avenue from Denver to Golden. Head up Lookout Mountain Road to the Windy Saddle, the trailhead, and the small parking area.
The Beaver Brook Trail is an 8 mile single track hiking trail that goes from the Windy Saddle to Genessee Park, suitable for shuttling between trailheads. While I have never done this complete hike, I have hiked the first few miles on either side. The 1.5 mi (one way) hike from Windy Saddle to the overlook, is fantastic, in fact it is one of my favorite front range foothills hikes. The trail is rocky, if you like rocks, then you'll like this hike. Some people think of rocky trails as a bad thing, but to me it's just plain fun. This hike has boulder hopping...fun..., scrambling...super fun..., sheer cliffs...crazy fun...it has it all. Most of this hike is through evergreen forest, surprisingly lush forest, for Colorado. You cross 3 talus slopes, an open area, come to a nice viewpoint at the 1 mile mark, and finally the destination overlook at 1.5 miles. You'll know the overlook when you get there, the rock outcroppings are phenomenal and you get a view back east through Clear Creek Canyon and out west to the high peaks of the Continental Divide. If you have more energy, you can continue on, otherwise, turn back here and you'll have completed a nice 3 mile hike into Clear Creek Canyon. |
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