Not 14er related but wanted to see if the community had any ideas as I am coming up blank. For Valentines Day, I want to take my wife on an early morning hike - watch the sun rise and cook a little brecky on a camp stove. Presuming good (enough) weather does anyone have any suggestions on the Front Range for such a spot? Don't want to hike in more than 3 miles.
Thanks for any and all help.
Good Front Range Spots to Watch the Sun Rise
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AckMonster
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E-dorvs
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Re: Good Front Range Spots to Watch the Sun Rise
Chief Mountain off of Squaw Pass road. About 1-1.5 miles up, 1000' of gain but on an easy trail. It will probably be pretty packed snow so some traction would likely be a good idea. Otherwise it's through the woods and then breaks out above the trees for the last 1/4 or so. Great views of Denver & the plains with a great view of the entire Front Range (Longs down to Pikes with Evans right in your face) assuming the weather is clear. Parking is on the right side of the road just after Echo Mountain (or whatever it's called now - Front Range Ski club).
Only concern I would have is the weather. Chief can be subject to some pretty impressive winds so I would check that piece of the forecast before heading out.
Only concern I would have is the weather. Chief can be subject to some pretty impressive winds so I would check that piece of the forecast before heading out.
"The solitary places do not seem quite lonely. At the gates of the forest, the surprised man of the world is forced to leave his city estimates of great and small, wise and foolish. The knapsack of custom falls off his back with the first step he makes into these precincts. Here is sanctity which shames our religions, and reality which discredits our heroes."
— Ralph Waldo Emersron, Nature.
— Ralph Waldo Emersron, Nature.
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AckMonster
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Re: Good Front Range Spots to Watch the Sun Rise
Thanks for the input E-Dorvs!
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AlexeyD
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Re: Good Front Range Spots to Watch the Sun Rise
If getting to a particularly high elevation isn't a requirement, anywhere in the Boulder Open Space foothills could work well, e.g. Mt. Sanitas. Or...there's a nice spot on the way to Mallory Cave with a great view out over the plains...only about an hour to get there, too. Nice idea, BTW!
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tjmartn1
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Re: Good Front Range Spots to Watch the Sun Rise
Mt. Gilbraith summit is less than 3 miles from the trailhead and has pretty good views to the east.
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AckMonster
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Re: Good Front Range Spots to Watch the Sun Rise
Thanks for the suggestions. The Forum is always a great place to troll for good beta from the big to the small.
