GLACIER VIEW MEADOWS TRAILS

 

Glacier View Meadows (GVM) has many Greenbelts, which are accessible to all Glacier View R&R Association members that are in good standing with their dues payment to the Association.   GVM also borders on US Forest Service land.  The location of these “community facility” areas is shown on the Glacier View Meadows green map that is available at the Association Office.  Many lots in GVM have been platted with easements that allow pedestrian access to the Greenbelts and Forest Service land.  Some of these easements and recreational areas have been defined as trails, and others are awaiting development.  The quality and extent of a   coordinated system of trails    in GVM is largely dependant on volunteer creativity and labor from the community and willingness of the members to provide adequate funding through the Road & Recreation dues structure or contributions.  The Ecology committee has the interest in the development of a trail system.  Please contact the Association Office or Ecology Committee if you are interested.

 

All of the trails covered in this article, and for that matter any remote trails in rugged, wilderness country, are to be used at your own risk.  You must be fully aware of the rugged terrain, altitude, elevation changes, potential slippery conditions due to snow or ice, dangerous wildlife and other hazards that may exist before proceeding.   Children should not be allowed to use the trails without adult supervision and then should be carefully monitored. You should consider having a “buddy” with you if you have a health condition or are unfamiliar with the trails.

 

 

 

A.    Maroon Bells 1 Trail:  Map A   The trailhead for this trail is in filing 7, at the switchback on Maroon Bells Circle.  The trail descends southwest with beautiful panoramic valley views to a point where it offers a spectacular view of the peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park.  It then switches easterly with great valley views and enters more forested areas and at one point passes a connection to the West Crellin Trail.   Finally it descends steeply through pine/ fir forest, with the sound of Crellin Creek becoming more and more prominent until it meets the Crellin Canyon Trail (about 2/3 from its bottom).  At this point you have options.  Left will take you up the Crellin Trail where you can later take a left at the Maroon Bells 2 Trail, which will return you to Maroon Bells Circle for a loop trip.  Right will take you down the Crellin Trail where it will loop and encounter a trailhead for the Sloan Trail. The Sloan Trail goes to the right (East).  If you continue on the Crellin Trail it will take you on a loop which will return to the main Crellin Canyon Trail, heading uphill (Northwest).

 

B.    Maroon Bells 2:  Map A    The trailhead for this trail is in filing 7, just below the switchback on Maroon Bells Circle.  The trail descends down through a forested ravine, crosses an easement driveway that cuts across the Greenbelt and then proceeds down the cool and peaceful ravine.  It crosses the West Crellin Trail and finally meets the Crellin Canyon trail (about 1/3 from its top). Here you have the option of going left, up the Crellin Canyon Trail to return to your starting point via road (Green Mtn. Dr. to Maroon Bells Circle) a right will take you down Crellin Canyon Trail to Maroon Bells 1 Trail (right-West) which will return you to Maroon Bells Circle.

 

C.    West Crellin Trail:  Map A   The trailhead for this trail is just South of the Crellin Canyon Nature Trail and directly across the road from the Crellin Lake Parking Area. It goes down the dam and   immediately veers right and then parallels the Crellin Canyon Trail but stays at a higher elevation while the Crellin descends down following the stream. This trail proceeds about 300 yds until it crosses the Maroon Bells 2 Trail.  It then climbs through a forested area and opens up for a great view of the rock cliff near the Wetterhorn Ct. cul-de-sac and a rambling valley (at this point you are about 500 ft. above Crellin Creek). The trail now turns west and it parallels the Maroon Bells #1 Trail but at a higher elevation.  You pass a rock cliff offering a great view of the valley and you can see to the east for a view of Greyrock Mtn. The trail proceeds through rock formations and passes through two "gates".  The first goes between a very large Ponderosa Pine and an interesting lichen covered rock slab, the second "gate" is a channel through a crack in a huge rock formation.  The trail descends west and then south where it ends at the Maroon Bells 1 Trail. At this junction you can go right, which goes up to the Maroon Bells 1trailhead or left, which goes east and down to the Crellin Canyon Trail which will allow you to loop back to your starting point.

 

D.  Crellin Nature Trail & Loop:   Map A    Brochure    The trailhead for this trail is in filing 7, Green Mountain Dr., east of Crellin Lake, near the Crellin Lake Parking Area.  The trail starts above the outlet of the Crellin Lake Dam and follows Crellin Creek.  It proceeds gradually down through a beautiful, peaceful, shaded canyon lined by steep rock outcroppings, a variety of large trees, wildflowers and bushes.  The stream, vegetation and topography provide an excellent habitat for birds and other wildlife.  The trail splits about 2/3 of the way down, which provides a circle option.  There is a gate at the bottom which accesses private land.  Please ensure that you have owner permission if you plan to proceed beyond the gate.  Near the bottom of the loop on the east side (about 40 yards up from the stream crossing) is the connection to the Sloan Trail.  There are other connections to the Maroon Bells 1, Maroon Bells 2 and Asbury trails.

 

E.   Asbury Trail:  Map A     The trailhead for this trail is in filing 8 on  Mt. Massive Dr. near the intersection of  La Plata Dr.  The trail goes south along an easement on the east side of Lot 85.   After about 100 yards it splits.  If you go west it will take a long path, which parallels the Sloan trail and eventually ends up at the Crellin Canyon Trail.  If you go east it will traverse the open vista and then decend to meet the Sloan Trail.   Like the Sloan Trail it is somewhat rugged and open with great views of the broad valley below.

 

F.   Sloan Trail:  Map A   This trail currently has no trailheads at a road but connects with several other trails.  It connects to the Mt. Moriah trial just east of Mount Moriah.   It is a high, somewhat rugged and mostly open trail, which traverses (sideways) a relatively steep slope.  It offers fantastic views along its full length.  After going southwest from the Mt. Moriah Trail it goes westerly.  At one point it passes a connection to the Asbury Trail and continues west until it connects with the Crellin Canyon Trail near the bottom of the Crellin Loop Trail.   The full trail is .75 miles long but sees an elevation change of about 150 ft.

 

G.   Mount Moriah Trail:  Map A   The trailhead for this trail is in filing 8, at the switchback on Crestone Way.   The trail starts southeast into the large Mount Moriah Greenbelt area.  It follows a heavily used deer trail through a stand of fir and pine trees to a point where you break into the open with a beautiful view of the Gordon Creek Valley, Riddle and Currie Lakes and Greyrock Mtn. on the Poudre.  The trail continues south along the east side of Mt. Moriah where you will encounter a fork.  This marks the starting point of the Sloan Trail (straight south) but right is the Mount Moriah Trail, which goes west up a steep ridge to the summit.  The 360 degree view from the summit is spectacular and well worth the climb.  It is probably not a good place to be in a thunderstorm however! The trail is about .47 miles long and sees a total elevation change of about 430 ft.

 

H.  Batterson Loop: Map A    A few hundred feet from the beginning of the Mount Moriah Trailhead is the Batterson Loop which descends to the grave of Azuba Batterson (the first known marked grave in the area) and brings you back up to the Mount Moriah Trail.

 

I.  Porter Trail:     This trail is a relatively steep traverse, which goes through open field and follows a treed ravine in the Northeast Greenbelt in Filing 12.  It goes down from Horse Mtn. Dr (near Milner Mtn. Way) and connects to Meadow Mtn Dr. (near Greys Peak Ct.). 

 

J.   Castle Court Trail: Map B    This trail starts at the “cul-de-sac” at the end of Castle Ct. in filing 6.  Access to the Greenbelt area is via an easement east of a poorly defined “cul-de-sac”.  The trail makes a loop down the south end of the Greenbelt that winds through dense aspen groves and is roughly outlined by large, unique outcroppings.   It returns through a pass at the east side of the Greenbelt and goes back down through twin aspen groves (beautiful color in the fall) to the point of beginning.  For the more adventurous, the rocks are very inviting.  Please ensure that you stay in the greenbelt area or on an easement, since the greenbelt is surrounded by private properties.

 

K.   Circle View Trail:  Map B   This trail starts at Manhead Mtn. Ct. "cul-de-sac" and follows an old road to the West.  It then proceeds right and up a hill into the filing 2 greenbelt area (which is north of the Forest Service Land). You will climb until you reach a broad summit area. This point provides a beautiful 360-degree view including the high peaks of the Mummy Range and Manhead Mtn.  You can return back along the same route to the starting point.  This trail is also accessible by walking across the Forest Service Land either from  an old road near the intersection of Haystack Dr. and Bierstadt Ct. or from an old road off  Iron Mountain Dr. after the big turn (after Red Hill Ct. and before Mt. Guero Ct.) approximately at the border of filings 2 and filing 6.  After entering the Forest Service land walk diagonally in a northeasterly direction to reach the main trail.