DIRECTIONS:

From Boulder head north on Hwy 199 (Diagonal Parkway) and turn north onto 63rd Street. Turn right on Nelson Road and left on N. 75th Street. The Pella Crossing trailhead will be on your right. From Denver, take I-25 north to Hwy 66. Head west on 66 and turn south on 75th Ave to Pella Crossing.

HIKE DESCRIPTION:

Pella Crossing is a park located in Hygiene, Colorado in Boulder County. The park is made up of eight or so ponds with gravel paths weaving between. The parking lot is located on 75th Street and divides the park between the Braly Trails on the east and the Marlatt Trails on the west. Combining these trails results in a 3 mi easy hike/walk.

Since you are starting on the east side of the park, I suggest hiking the Braly Trails first by turning right (south) out of the parking area. The hike will take you in between Webster Pond and Heron Lake providing some of the nicest views in the park. Longs Peak is on full display from these lakes and makes for some great scenery. The trail curves around the south of Heron Lake and back to the northwest. Pass by Sunset Pond to 75th Street. Cross the street to access the Marlatt Trails.

A long path takes you across private property to Dragonfly Pond. Turn south in between Dragonfly and Poplar Ponds to a nice shaded wooded area. At the end of the trail are some restrooms and a small loop through the cottonwoods that should be beautiful in the fall. When the loop finishes head back north, but this time, turn the west to take the trail that circles the west side of Poplar Pond. On the north of the ponds, follow the long path back to 75th Street, and back to the parking area.

This is an easy Boulder County plains hike. The area is popular with birders and neighborhood walkers. The ponds with the Front Range mountains in the background provide nice photo opportunities and year round hiking in Boulder County.