Staunton State Park, CO: Colorado Front Range Chapter, Annual Hike in Staunton State Park

Sep 07, 2019 9:00AM

Location

Staunton State Park 12102 S. Elk Creek Road, Pine, CO

Cost Cost: Colorado State Park admission $8/vehicle or annual State Park Pass

Event Contact Chris at 563-505-6105 or Gene at 303-999-5179 | Email

Categories

Advisement: Mark notes that this weekend is Living History Days at the park. A *lot* going on! Note the meeting time and place: Introduction to the Park at 8:45 and the hike starts promptly at 0900 from the fire pit area alongside the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center lot is likely to be full by 8:30 but the Mason Creek lot will be a good second choice. Carpooling is recommended!

Staunton State Park is Colorado’s newest state park and this is our seventh (!) foray into this beautiful area. This will be a true training hike with gradients representative of parts of the Camino — although the altitude certainly won’t be!

Our outing will be led by Mark and Sandy Fisher, chapter members and Park volunteers. Following an introduction to the Park by Mark and Sandy at 8:45 we will start the hike promptly at 0900 from the fire pit area alongside the Visitor Center. We will travel on Davis Ponds Trail to the fishing ponds, then back to Chase Meadow Trail. We will take CM uphill to Historic Cabin Trail. We will walk along the trail through the Park’s historic area and discuss the significance of the cabins, etc. We then connect to Staunton Ranch Trail for a short distance to the intersection of Scout Line Trail. SL is hiker only, narrower and rocky. It’s a “thinker’s trail” as you must watch where you put your feet! We’ll climb a heart pumping 15 switchbacks to a rocky outcrop overlooking the Park’s meadows with Pikes Peak in the distance. We then continue on SL to the T-intersection of Marmot Passage where we take a right and hike downhill on MP to the intersection of Staunton Ranch. From there it’s downhill on SR, past the rocky Staunton Rocks climbing walls to the intersection of Dines Meadow Trail. For the endgame, we will take DM downhill back to the Visitor Center parking lot. Whew! You’ve just walked 10 miles!

The Park’s new visitor center will be open at 8:00 if you’d like to do a quick look at the interpretative displays and pictorials on the park’s history, flora and fauna.

In the interest of saving on the entrance fee ($8 per vehicle or Colorado State Park Pass) and the number of cars, we’re suggesting meeting off of Morrison Rd just north of where US-285 intersects C‑470. Gather there at 7:45 and depart at 8:00. We’re not organizing this! Just show up and look around! To get to Staunton State Park, take US‑285 to Conifer, continue about an additional 5 miles and turn north into South Elk Creek Road. If you’ll be using GPS to get to the park, this address will get you very close to the entrance: 12102 S. Elk Creek Road, Pine,CO 80470 (Denver residents: Did you know that the Denver Public Library has State Park passes that can be checked out?!)

This is in the mountains and so the appropriate items should be in your pack:
Map and compass; Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat; Extra clothing and rain gear; Headlamp/flashlight; First-aid supplies; Repair kit; Food for the day; Water for the day.

If you have definite plans to walk or cycle on the Camino for the first time later in 2019 and would like to receive a scallop shell and a blessing, just let us know through ColoradoFrontRange@americanpilgrims.org.

Although not necessary, you may let us know that you’ll be attending by e-mailing to ColoradoFrontRange@americanpilgrims.org. Event day contact will be Chris at 563-505-6105 or Gene at 303-999-5179 although coverage in the mountains may be sketchy that morning.

Park website

What you need to know:
What: Rigorous hike in Staunton State Park
When: Saturday, September 7th, 8:45 AM
Where: Staunton State Park, near Conifer
Cost: Colorado State Park admission $8/vehicle or annual State Park Pass