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Mount Falcon Open Space Park Jefferson County, CO March 20, 1999
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Mount Falcon is a historical open space park located on 1400 acres between Morrison and Indian Hills, CO. The land was originally owned John Brisben Walker who built a stone mansion (burned in 1918) and began construction (never completed) on a summer home for the Presidents of the United States on a ridge to the east of his mansion. The park has two parking lots - the west parking lot located behind the Indian Hills residential area and an easy hike from the Walker home ruins and the east parking lot located near the town of Morrison. This is a mixed use park and, on our visit, we met many other hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. Maya and I joined a group of friends to visit Mount Falcon on March 20th and hiked up the Castle Trail/Walker's Dream from the west lot (1.6 miles one way) to visit the Walker House ruins and site of the Summer House. Lots of interesting scents for a curious pup's nose! We then headed part way down the 2.7 mile (one way) Castle Trail to the East lot. The trail to the east lot is STEEP and better reserved for those in good physical condition, but the west side Castle Trail is rated easy and provided a comfortable hike for all those in our group. There are several other trails (Parmalee - 2.0 mile loop, Meadow, Tower, Old Ute, and Devil's Elbow) accessable from the west lot as well as the hiker-only Turkey Trot (1.7 miles plus) off of the east lot. Dogs must be leashed.
For more information, please visit the Jeffco Open Space - Mount Falcon web page
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