Fountain Valley

Fountain Valley

Located adjacent to Pike National Forest, Roxborough State Park nestles at the base of the Front Range foothills southwest of Denver. The Fountain Valley Loop, once an old ranch road, allows companionable side-by-side travel. The 2.2-mile loop ambles down a grassy valley to a historic stone house and returns through a lush basin flanked by upthrust fins of red sandstone. Options include two spur trails: a brief one to an overlook of the park’s unique geology, and a second one to an observation deck with a grand view. The wildflower scene features golden wintercress in a moist meadow in the spring. The wildflower roster changes weekly. Before starting out on the Fountain Valley Trail, consider picking up an interpretive guide at the visitor center, which correlates to numbered posts along the trail. The center’s rock garden is especially colorful in spring and early summer. Wildflower alert: A wet meadow filled with golden wintercress and, later, golden banner.

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