Golden Gate Canyon Park (Windy Peak)

From Hiking

[edit] Finding the Trail Head

From Golden, go north on US-93, turn left onto Golden Gate Canyon Road, and turn right into the Park at the Visitors Center (there's a $6 fee for day use). Follow the road and park at the Bridge Creek picnic ground.

[edit] Description

The Burro trail from Bridge Creek to the Windy Peak summit.

The trails goes up over a ridge, down into an aspen grove, up across mountain meadows, and winds through a lodgepole pine forest around Windy Peak. For our hike, we followed the Burro Trail, which is hiker only in the upper reaches. The wild flowers through the aspen grove and across the meadow are spectacular. The grove is alive with Wild Roses, Wild Geraniums, and White Geraniums as well as dozens of others. The meadow and lower reaches of the peak are peppered with Blanket Flowers and white Fairy Trumpets.

[edit] Experience

Golden Gate Park is high enough to provide some relief from the summer heat. The official state map lists the Burro trail as being 4.5 miles. However, it appears that this is just the loop around Windy Peak. From the Bridge Creek picnic ground it's another mile to the loop (and, of course, another tough mile back over the ridge when you're tired). In addition, from the loop to the peak is another 0.7 miles each way (though the view is worth the effort).

The trails are well marked, but maze-like. The first time we hiked it, we got confused at the easternmost point of the loop where the trail forked, but was labeled as the Burro trail in both directions. This takes you well out of your way on the Mountain Lion trail.

Wild roses in the aspen grove.

Almost to the summit!