South Rim / Willow Creek

South Rim / Willow Creek

Inspiring Roxborough State Park is in the transition zone between the plains and the foothills. Plants from the two life zones overlap here, creating an area rich in wildflower species. The park’s approximately 3,400 acres are anchored by an intriguing series of rock formations, including the Fountain Formation’s imposing red fins; the petrified sand dunes of the Lyons Formation; the sharp-ridged Dakota Hogback, and the dinosaur-footprinted shale of the Morrison Formation. The park’s high point, Carpenter Peak, is granite. The South Rim Trail can be accessed from the visitor center or, for a shorter loop, from the east trailhead located just after passing through the Dakota Hogback where a parking area on the left has room for a few vehicles. The 2.7-mile loop of South Rim takes the hiker through a changing parade of seasonal wildflowers by heading leisurely upslope to reach a view from the ridge. The trail then traverses a shady stretch before returning along open ground. Wildflower alert: Wildflowers found in the plains/foothills transition zone, including larkspur, paintbrush, and scarlet gilia.

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