Happy Wednesday! July is a fun month to hike because there are so many snowless trail options. I’ve explored a few new trails over the past couple weekends and enjoyed each one so I am excited to share them here.
My younger brother came to Colorado to visit and help with (a ton of) house projects. We squeezed in hiking Mount Sniktau Trail (3.6 miles, 1,584 ft. gain) and Chasm Lake (8 miles, 2,552 ft. gain) while he was here too. We didn’t quite make Mount Sniktau for sunrise but it was a gorgeous hike in the morning light. He loved Chasm Lake and I loved the chance to spend time with him and learn a few things as I inch towards my handywoman era!
This past weekend I hiked Saint Vrain Mountain Trail (8.5 miles, 3,251 ft. gain) and Shelf Lake Trail (7.1 miles, 1,968 ft. gain). Saint Vrain Mountain Trail zig zags a boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park. The trailhead has a small parking lot with some extra space available along the dirt road leading in. It’s a lesser known trail which only adds to its appeal. I didn’t see another hiker until I was on my way back down. The views looking toward Rocky Mountain National Park are stunning and the morning I went, the coolest cloud inversion covered the ground below.
Shelf Lake Trail has been on my list to hike for a while. It has a three mile dirt road leading in to the trailhead where four wheel drive is recommended. My friend was in town visiting and had a four wheel drive rental car perfect for the bumpy road. It was a gorgeous hike and the wildflowers were at peak.
I’ve been fortunate this year to spend a lot of quality time with family and friends. Living in different states, I feel so grateful when I get to share experiences with them, especially when they’re outdoors! My heart has been feeling really full.
Trail snack of the week
I love a slice of homemade banana bread on the trail so I’m sharing my favorite banana bread recipe here. It’s a mix of my two favorite food groups: carbs and sweets. I skip the chocolate chips and always add walnuts! Enjoy.
Until next week… Happy trails!
-Hannah
Tales of My Trails 