Article Contributed on: 7/18/2007 3:44:39 PM
July 17 my friend and neighbor,
Pam Manion, called to see if my two sons,
Hayden and
Carson, and I wanted to join her and her son,
Brent, for a bike ride in Waterton Canyon.
We were down with that, so Pam swung by to secure our bikes onto her industrial strength bike rack. We jumped into her car and headed out for some summer fun.
My sons and I had never been to Waterton Canyon, which is south of Chatfield Reservoir near Roxborough Park in Douglas County. Pam assured us it was a beautiful place, but her words did not do justice.
The path through Waterton Canyon parallels the South Platte River, which is running spectacularly wide and fast this summer. White water spilling over rocks and breathtaking outcroppings everywhere you look are only the beginning of the wonder of this trail, which, according to internet sources, leads all the way to Durango!
The natural beauty and the wide, flat biking road (much too smooth and well maintained to be a "trail") are enough to affix unwavering smiles on the faces of visitors. But, it's the wildlife that inspires the most awe.
Big, black birds with red on their beaks rest on huge boulders in the middle of the river, diving now and then to snag a fish and swallow it whole. Deer trot along the roadside, almost as if accompanying the humans on bikes.
And then there are the bighorn sheep.
Our group of five was stopped in our tracks by the sight of a male bighorn sheep standing in the middle of the road. I swear he was grinning.
Unfazed by people all around stopping to stare, this huge animal posed, first to the left, then to the right, so Pam could get shots of his best angles. After the photo session, which must have lasted ten minutes, he trotted to the river's edge to get a cool drink, then mosied back to his rocky hillside home.
At another resting spot by the river, two female bighorn sheep mingled with the people, munching grass and sipping from the river.
Waterton Canyon is a crowd pleaser. Serious bicyclists passed us by the dozens headed for what I hear is rough terrain six miles west of the trailhead. Families with young children rode bikes, walkers walked, runners ran making a gay parade of satisfied Coloradoans.
If you do just one hike or bike ride this summer,consider Waterton Canyon. To learn more go to:
http://www.altrec.com/published/cycle/rockymountain/coloradotrailsingletrack/
http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/Mammals/BighornSheep.htm