CO Springs best aspen spots...?
Hi, we wanted to take the family out Sunday to look at the changing leaves. The first choices were around Breckenridge or Estes but both are expecting snow and rain, not ideal sight-seeing weather. Colorado Springs looks like a better location weather-wise but I don't know the area.
Suggestions?
Re: CO Springs best aspen spots...?
Old Stage Rd - Goes behind Broadmor and you can take it all the way to Cripple Creek
Rampart Range Rd - Starts in Garden of the Gods and you can follow it out to Woodland Park
Gold Camp Rd - Starts around Seven Falls area and takes you up to a high Drive. A short drive but a lot of great hikes!
If you are coming from north start in Sedela (er whatever that is) and take Mt. Herman Road to Rampart. Come out in Garden of Gods and go over to Old Stage to cripple creek, that would make a great loop!
Re: CO Springs best aspen spots...?
Re: CO Springs best aspen spots...?
Yeah it's all real easy, you will have a fun day! You can catch Mt. Herman in Monument.. and in Sedalia
Re: CO Springs best aspen spots...?
Hey Pathrat
We have done a lot of exploring and putting up new rock climbs in the North, South Monument Creek drainages and also Ice Cave Creek areas over the years. Sometimes we go in the back way via Woodland Park/Rampart Range Road and sometimes from I25/Monument/Mt Herman.
Balanced Rock Road access via Mt Herman is discussed in Wells book. Still interesting getting from point A to B, though. There is a bit of 'follow your nose' like a lot of his directions...At any rate, Mt Herman is the biggest 'mountain' in the area and the road you need to get on is on the southern (or left as you are looking at it) side.
Finding Mt Herman Road is a bit of a challenge. Take the Monument exit off of 25. There is a 'frontage road' of sorts that heads back the direction that you just came from (if I remember correctly). There is going to be a service station on your left as you face north. Take a left turn here going west. Drive down until you have to turn left. Turn left, then take the a right turn at a stop sign. You will cross over some railroad tracks and then come to another stop sign. Take a left turn here. Mt Herman is now the biggest peak on the skyline to your right. Follow the road south, turning a few corners, and look for a sign that says Mt Herman Road on you right. Take it.
If you miss the gas station (they have changed this road a bit) turn, just continue to the King Soopers/Safeway/Starbucks, grab some coffee, get back on the main road a and take the first right.
You won't be disappointed in the fall colors around Colorado Springs. Aaron's suggestions are all good. I'll add one more:
Highway 24 out of Colorado Springs to Divide. Take a left turn and follow towards Cripple Creek. Or...continue on 24 to Florrisant, then take a left...follow towards Cripple Creek. Return via Woodland Park and 126/67 to Hwy285.
Re: CO Springs best aspen spots...?
Last year we did a big loop.
From Co Springs take Hwy 24 west through Woodland Park to Divide. Take Hwy 67 south from divide. There are a ton of Aspen groves between Divide and Cripple creek / Victor. From Victor take Gold camp back west into the springs.
Great drive
Re: CO Springs best aspen spots...?
thank you everyone!This is great info to store away since we DON'T get to go anywhere tomorrow unless my kids magically get their homework and chores done in two hours. :lol: They have been gone since Friday and not much has been accomplished as far as necessary tasks.
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