Golden Gate Canyon State Park

Golden Gate Canyon State Park was a very nice hiking area.  Stopped at the Visitors Center to purchase a permit.  The rangers were happy to answer any questions and the restrooms were clean.

We had attempted this hike last May, but after several instances of rolling thunder we came back down.  By the time we got back to the car, snow was beginning to fall.  This was such a nice area we wanted to try it again.  We chose Horseshoe Trail again.  The water in the little creek along the trail had dried up quite a bit since May, but still plenty of water to keep the vegetation nice and green!  The hike starts at over 8,100 feet so we were not expecting any snakes, we saw 2 on the lower portions of the trail.  Just harmless garter snakes, nothing exotic.  

 

 

We continued on the trail to Greenfield and Frazer Meadows.  We made it to the backcountry campsites and found them unoccupied so we stopped for a snack.  Larry looks like he is imitating a chipmunk, but really I just snapped the picture when he was eating a banana.

We really did not have an endpoint in mind for this hike, but we went a little farther after our snack and decided that we probably needed to start down soon.

The aspen grove and the wildflowers were beautiful!  Glad we came back to try this one again!

The next stop was Panorama Point.  What a difference a few months made!  May was cold, windy, snowy and what a messy road!  By early August, perfect weather for sitting in the sun enjoying the view!

On the drive out of the park we looked for a trailhead at Starr Peak and Thorodin Mountain.  Did not find it, but think we need to save this hike for another day.