Denver Fresh

Denver, Colorado has great weather, period.  Yesterday (mid-November) was no exception with temps in the high sixties which will draw anybody outside.  Now it’s getting dark at 5 pm and even earlier in the Foothills so we decided a close, easy hike would be perfect for this mid-November Sunday afternoon. 

Just outside of Boulder, Colorado is a small town called Marshall where there is a series of hiking trails that provide hours of easy, well-marked hiking trails.  The drive from downtown Denver is 25 minutes and half that from Boulder so it’s a great hike if you don’t want to drive for a long time.

 The history of the Marshall Mesa Trail is outlined through the easy trail as you can read of the mining operation of the past.  The trail winds through open prairie into the wooded foothills providing spicy scenic variety.  The network of trails is also open to horses and single-track mountain bike riders.  Along the way we spotted 5 dear and 1 buck, a handful of dogs a few humans.  The signage warned us of bears and I’m glad we didn’t see any!  We snacked on prickly pear cactus which is sweet and juicy–eat with caution, they have that name for a reason.

 To access the trail from Denver get on the Denver-Boulder Turnpike and go towards Boulder.  Exit McCaslin Blvd. and go South and make the first right on Marshall Road (170).  The trailhead is just east of the intersection of Highway 93 and Marshall Road.