Wow! We got snow here in Phoenix. Wasn’t that amazing and oh so pretty? Did you get up north to play? We didn’t get a chance this weekend, but if you did, share some pictures! All this winter weather reminded me of a hike we did when we lived in Colorado. It is called Horsetooth Mountain, and it is 4 miles from Fort Collins or 12 miles northwest of Loveland. The address is: 6550 W County Rd 38 E, Fort Collins, CO 80526. It is open all year long.
This 2,711-acre open space offers 29 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding. You can connect to the 
Blue Sky Trail or Lory State Park. We had been to Horsetooth Falls before, but today we would explore Horsetooth Mountain. Be prepared for breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains. Dogs are welcome on leash but are not allowed to swim in the reservoir. Say what? Oh well, we were hiking the mountain today. Your humans will need to bring $9 per vehicle.
It was New Year’s Day, and it snowed! Woo who! In fact, it was threatening to snow more, making everything a winter wonderland. Mom and dad were bundled up, and I was a bundle of energy. Ha! The trail to the top of Horsetooth Mountain or Rock as locals call it is a 2.5-mile trail that takes about 45 minutes to hike. It is moderately difficult with an elevation gain of 1,400 feet from 5,800 to 7,200 at the top.
Because of the cloud cover, we didn’t get the spectacular views, but the pine trees were covered in snow. Other than the crunch, crunch of the snow, it was quiet. Snow has a way of muffling noises. Of course, snow can make trails slick, so humans will need to be careful. If you go in the summer, bring plenty of water.
Just as we got to the top, the sun tried to peak out and allowed us to see some blue sky and the views of the area. The mountains were gorgeous and world below looked so peaceful. And with that, we started our hike back down. Since this was close to home, we didn’t pack a lunch. We’d be home in no time. Should you plan a trip, you could catch lunch in the town of Fort Collins before heading back to Denver or wherever you started.
Since I was born in Colorado, a big part of me misses living there with all the mountains, lakes and snow. However, I’ve adapted and do enjoy life in the desert. Where my family is, that is home. And that is good enough for me!
My mom, Lorraine Bossé-Smith, is kind enough to help me share my Great Adventures, big and small. My mom is a motivational speaker, corporate trainer, executive recruiter, business consultant, coach, fitness expert, and author of nine published books. More importantly, she’s the best doggy mom ever!
Enjoy my blog at https://www.lorrainebosse-smith.com/category/kuma/kumas-great-adventures/
and be sure to follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kumathedog/ and Instagram: kumaitothedog
Get outside! You never know what you’ll discover, and our paths just might cross. Happy tails!
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