Brilliant hike for warm summer evening: Fountain Creek Regional Trail
- Details
- Created on Monday, 28 June 2010 16:06
- Written by Carmen Boles
The Fountain Creek Regional Trail is the only one in the region offering hikers a fair chance of spotting a firefly or two.
Read Katy Booth's account of firefly hunting at csfreshink.com
The trail is wide and flat, so it’s perfect for the whole family. And it makes for a cool evening escape on sweltering summer days.
To get there: Take I-25 south to exit 132; go east on Colorado Highway 16 for 0.5 mile. Take the Security exit to Colorado Highways 85/87. Turn right onto 85/87 and drive 0.5 mile to Cattail Marsh Road. Turn right and follow the road to the nature center.
Trip log: About 0.75 mile with longer options, negligible elevation gain. One boot.
The hike: Fireflies are active starting at dusk for the next few weeks. By August, the show is over. Park in the dirt lot of the nature center and head south, behind the building, on a trail that is briefly paved and then becomes gravel. Drop down a gentle grade.
At a fork, keep right and go to the edge of the pond. Keep your eye out for deer, raccoons and turtles. The trail hugs the pond. In 0.3 mile, it crosses a neck between two ponds on a short bridge. Just past the bridge is a broad meadow. This is the best place to spot fireflies. Stand quietly until nature forgets you are there, and the glowing beetles will soon appear floating above the grass.
When ready, continue north on the trail. It soon bends around and heads back toward the parking lot.
Details: Don’t forget bug spray; the mosquitoes are out!
Dogs: Not allowed
Information: 520-6745
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