Winter hikes: Fountain Valley Loop at Roxborough State Park

Roxborough State Park is one of the best kept secrets in Colorado. Just 10 miles from C-470, the park features amazing red rock formations and the Fountain Valley Trail takes hikers right through them.

 

At the Visitor's Center (directions below), sign the register and ask for a brochure for the nature trail signs. When you're ready to hit the trail, walk past the tables on the patio, cross the service road and veer slightly right for the Fountain Valley Trail. In winter, this trail may be icy, snowy, muddy or dry.

 

Follow the wide path through the scrub brush about 1/8th of a mile to the Fountain Valley Overlook. Walk just a few steps up this path to a small area with two benches and a nice view of the rock formations. After taking pictures, head back to the main trail and continue on. A short distance past the Fountain Valley Overlook is a trail split. This is the Fountain Valley Trail. It is a loop trail so you can go either direction. However, the best views are on the west side of the loop trail. I would suggest starting clockwise (turning left here) and taking the trail that winds through the valley between the striking formations. If the path is snow-covered, follow the nature trail signs to stay on course. 

In this area, you'll find yourself taking lots of pictures. There is a wall of formations to your left, there are pinnacles and other formations on your right. Sometimes the trail winds very close to the formations. Visit on a blue sky day, when the ground is covered in snow and the red rock formations will be even more striking.

About 1.1 miles from the Visitor's Center, at the top of the loop trail, is the historic Persse ranch. The Colorado Historical Society says Henry S Persse (pronounced Purse), a native of New York, visited Colorado in 1882 after reading an article describing its mountains and mineral wealth. In 1889, he acquired this land south of Denver and renamed it Roxborough Park after his family's estate in Ireland. Persse used Roxborough as a summer home and hoped to develop the land into a resort with a hotel, golf links and more. While his dream never came true, this area is home to the nearby Arrowhead Golf Club. (Read more on the Colorado Historical Society's website.)

 

After looking in the windows, it's time to finish the loop. As you hike up the hill on the east side of loop, don't miss the spur of the Lyons Overlook Trail. This 1.3 mile round-trip trail takes hikers up to the top of the rocks for a view of the valley you hiked through earlier. This is a stunning view of the red rocks against the white snow in winter or the green trees in summer.

Details: The Fountain Valley Trail and Fountain Valley Overlook are about 2.2 miles roundtrip with about 250 feet of elevation gain. The Lyons Overlook Trail adds about 1.3 miles and 150 feet of elevation gain.

 

Directions: From C-470, take Wadsworth south past Chatfield State Park. Turn left on Waterton Road (just before the entrance to Lockheed Martin.) Continue on Waterton Road until it ends at North Rampart Range Road. Turn right (south) on North Rampart Range Road. After 2.3 miles, you'll see the entrance to Roxborough State Park on your left, just before the entrance to Arrowhead golf course. Pay the entrance fee at the toll booth or the nearby self-service kiosk. Then take the main road to the parking lot and walk to the Visitor's Center.

 

Learn more about Roxborough State Park. While you're there, hike to Carpenter Peak. Read about more great hikes in Colorado and the west.