Last year, my roommate and I drove over an incredibly beautiful mountain pass. We were departing from Monarch, CO to drive to Aspen, CO. The road was very popular among bicyclists.

As we followed the GPS, we had no idea we would be going over this magnificent pass. And it just so happened to be Independence Day. How much of a perfect coincidence was that?!

At the top of the pass is a parking lot and hiking trails.

The trail meanders through alpine tundra speckled with wildflowers. Please stay on the trail, as Alpine plants are fragile and grow slowly. Trampling them can cause damage that takes years to recover.

St.Mary's Falls Trail, trail #624, is a moderate hike in North Cheyenne Cañon/Pike National Forest near Colorado Springs, CO.

The trailhead is located just above Helen Hunt Falls. At the end of the trail awaits St. Mary's Falls, a 300ft waterfall. The distance to reach this waterfall is almost 6 miles roundtrip with about a 1,300 foot elevation gain.

Before reaching the trail for St. Mary's Falls, you will hike along Upper Gold Camp Road. Along the way, you will be treated with scenic views of the surrounding canyon and mountains.

The first portion of the trail is fairly easy with gradual elevation gain. A mountain stream runs alongside the trail and there are numerous small waterfalls.

When you are about 0.2 miles away, the trail becomes much steeper and more difficult. After some switchbacks you will reach a sign that says the base of the falls is 500ft away.

I went in the late spring, when the snowmelt was cascading down the side of the mountain. The icy cold water spray was so refreshing.

At the base of the falls, there are benches to rest at. We ate our lunch here and relaxed before heading back. Another option is to continue up the mountain for another 3 miles to reach the summit of Mt. Rosa.

      Pedernales Falls State Park is located Johnson City, TX and 30 miles west of Austin. The park has 19.8 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, 10 miles of equestrian trails, and 14 miles of backpacking trails. The Pedernales River flows over tilted, layered stair steps of limestone and through channels carved by the river.
          There is a short trail from the parking lot to the Pedernales Falls Overlook and a set of steps leading down to the river. Once down at the falls, there is little shade and the sun bounces off the limestone. For this reason, I recommend visiting the falls either in the early morning or late evening.

      Due to the turbulent water and tendency for flash floods, swimming in the falls area is not permitted. However, there are other areas in the park where you are able to swim.

      If you walk up the river, past the limestone slab, you will be rewarded with another group of waterfalls. Do not cross the river in this area, as the other side of the river is private property.

      There are several small creeks that flow through the park. The creeks are spring-fed and the cold water flows over slick limestone.

      This is a 584-acre open space located behind The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. It consists of the Pulpit Rock area, University Park, and Austin Bluffs. During my summer in Colorado Springs, I hiked to the top of the bluffs nearly every evening.

      This quiet park is uncrowded and offers great views of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak, and the front range. I found it to be an exceptional place to watch the sunset.

      Throughout the park you will find interesting rock formations.  This open space has been ranked as "unique" by the United States Forest Service for its distinctive rock formations.

      Aside from the Pulpit Rock area, most of the park lacks developed trails. However, well established social trails wind through the entire open space. Additional developed trails have been planned by the city. Both these planned trails as well as the developed trails can be viewed on the trail map.

To get there:
From I-25 take the Garden of the Gods exit, which turns into Austin Bluffs Parkway. Turn left onto Union Boulevard. Turn left on Ranch and left on Montebello. Turn right at University Road and park near the intersection of University Park and Rockhurst. Trail map.