Hiking in Staunton and Pine Valley Ranch

There are infinite choices for hiking within an hour of the Denver Metro area. One of my favorite new places I’ve seen this year (on the 4th of July, no less) is Staunton State Park, a beautiful scenic park about 40 miles southwest of Denver. It’s got great shade, plenty of wildlife, a variety of trails, and it’s easy to get to. Did you see the bird photos? I need more of that.

Next stop, Pine Valley Ranch Park, is a great Jefferson County Open Space park with 881 acres of recreational opportunities. We hiked on the Strawberry Jack Trail and only ran into a group of mountain bikers, but otherwise it was a quiet and beautiful hike. Just beware, it’s got some moderate climbs up and over a large hill (those aerial views are from near the apex).

So, next time you’re in the area and hankerin’ for a couple outdoorsy experiences, drop on by these excellent scenic parks.