If you're looking for a family hike with great views and interesting destinations, then you've got to visit Mount Falcon Park in Jefferson County. Here families will find two short options under two miles roundtrip: the Castle hike (click here for more information) and the Eagle's Eye Shelter and fire watch tower hike.
The Eagle's Eye Shelter is a picnic shelter with an amazing panoramic view from Indian Hills to Evergreen that includes a 14er, Mount Evans. The fire watch tower offers an eastern view that includes downtown Denver and front range.
The Eagle's Eye Shelter/fire watch tower hike starts at the western side of the park (directions below). From either of the west lots, hike the trail closest to the lot for a short distance until you come to a sign board. At the sign board, pick up a map and head east on the Castle Trail.
The Castle Trail is an old road, so it's very wide. Just make room for the cyclists and runners who share these trails and will likely be moving faster than you.
Less than a half mile from the parking lot, you'll come to a trail split that says Castle Trail and Meadow Trail. Castle Trail winds through the meadow to the castle ruins. For this hike, turn on the Meadow Trail and hike just 0.2 of a mile to the Eagle's Eye Shelter.
The Eagle's Eye Shelter has several picnic tables and an unbelievable view. As you take in the peaks, imagine living at this spot. This was the summer cabin for the Frank Kirchhof family from 1933 to 1972. This is the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic lunch before you tackle the hard part of this hike.
Outside the shelter is a sign pointing the way for the Tower Trail. This trail is steep, but short. It gains about 175 feet in the quarter mile hike to the old fire watch tower. Now honestly, this doesn't look like any other fire watch tower I have seen before. And the tower is definitely not old. But the trail description on Jefferson County's Open Space website calls it an old fire watch tower, so that's what I'm calling it. What is undisputable is the view from this spot. You can see Mount Morrison to the north, downtown Denver and the front range to the east and the mountains to the west.
When you're done soaking in the scenery, return the way you came. Or use the map you grabbed at the beginning of the hike to explore more of the trails and possible see the castle ruins.
Directions: To get to the west trailhead, google 21004 Mount Falcon Road, Indian Hills, Co. 80454. Or from C-470, exit U.S Highway 285. Drive about 4 miles to Parmalee Gulch Road and turn right. Follow the windy road 2.7 miles to Picutis Road, then follow the signs another 2 miles to the west parking lots.
Learn more about the history of Mount Falcon Park. Visit the website for Mount Falcon Park. Check out this list of great places to hike in Colorado and throughout the west.
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