Big Meadows

Big Meadows

Some folks in turn-of-the-twentieth-century Grand Lake thought Sam Stone was crazy. Perhaps he would seem less so today, since Colorado has attracted a population with a higher-than-average percentage of eccentrics. In any case, Sam tried to produce hay in marshy Big Meadows, which he hauled by wagon down what now is the Green Mountain Trail. How well his idea worked is difficult to determine because he gave it up when a woman spiritualist informed him that she had divined the presence of gold in Paradise Park on Rocky Mountain National Park’s southern boundary. Together they went off to strike it rich, but no sign of them or gold can be found in Paradise Park today. The ruins of Sam’s log cabin and barn, however, still remain in Big Meadows. Hiking northeast on the Green Mountain Trail, you will find that the approach to Sam’s old ranch is relatively wide, free of rocks, and gentle of grade. The trail follows a well-watered gully that is full of a greater than usual variety of plants. In winter, good snow accumulation and a comparatively easy grade make this an excellent trail for ski touring and snowshoeing. Highlights: Circle hike, Big Meadows, log building ruins in Big Meadows.

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