Do you ever drive McCaslin Boulevard in Superior? There's a newly improved trailhead there.
The trails at the Coalton Trailhead are fairly easy. There's not much elevation gain, but you can hike up to 10 miles.
This is the perfect place to hike in the winter. The trails are wide-open with rolling hills and views of the open plains, grasslands, the flatirons, the foothills and beyond. In the summer, this spot is probably very hot, because there are very few, if any trees.
At the trailhead (directions below), hikers can decide to do the entire 10-mile loop or an out and back hike.
We chose the Meadowlark Trail. From the parking lot, walk through the first gate, then quickly through a second gate on the right to the Meadowlark Trail. It's a 2.7 mile (one-way) trail that follows McCaslin Blvd. for a short distance, then turns towards the foothills. Climb a short hill and enjoy the wide-open views from Eldorado Canyon to the Boulder flatirons to Longs Peak in the distance. The views here are impressive and in the winter, the snow-capped peaks really stick out.
The trail winds through the grasslands, pass a fenced reservoir.
After about 2 miles, you'll come to another gate. Pass through the gate and start down a hill. This part of the trail winds down about 200 feet in elevation, past a building, over a bridge, past a water canal and down to a sign for the Coal Creek Trail. This is where the Meadowlark Trail ends. There's a port-a-potty here and some signs, but no picnic tables or anything. This is the turn-around spot for the Meadowlark Trail.
As you hike back, imagine bike racers flying through this area. This is the former route of the Morgul-Bismarck Loop of the Coors International Bicycle Classic from the 1980s. Boulder County's open space website said the route was commonly referred to as the Dirty Bismark Loop.
Details: The Meadowlark Trail to the Coal Creek Trail and back is just about 5.7 miles with 400 feet of elevation gain.
Directions: From U.S. 36, exit McCaslin Boulevard. The exit signs also say Superior/Louisville and Marshall/Eldorado Springs. Turn south on McCaslin Blvd. and drive about two miles to the trailhead on the west side of the street at a traffic circle.
Read more and see maps of the Coalton Trailhead. Want more hikes? Check out this list of great places to hike in Colorado and throughout the west.
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