Hiking Cherry Creek State Park

The park, which is popular with water sports enthusiasts, hikers and bikers, sits right in the middle of the greater metro area, and I’ve drive by it tons of times, but it’s always been a bit elusive for me.

Maybe it’s because, when I’ve been in the mood for a hike, I’ve always gone up to Rocky Mountain National Park or down to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, I’m not sure.

Today though, I finally did it. I finally bought my Colorado Parks pass and went for a nice two hour hike through the park. And really, I think I could’ve spent a whole weekend walking through the park, cooking out, and doing a bit of camping and never once got bored with it.

Too bad I’m on a one-day-weekend.

Some of the trails in the park are paved and others are more of a gravel mixture, but nothing that I walked on today with a friend was terribly difficult. Everything is quite flat and easy to handle. There’s very little stress involved at all.

And while it’s obvious you’re not in the mountains due to the ease of the trails, it’s also hard to believe that you’re in the middle of the city.

Sure, I heard a few planes flying overhead today, and saw an occasional car as we got near a road, but not once to I ever really hear the hustle and bustle of the city…and I loved it. I loved being able to take a quick walk through the park and have my everyday cares and worries easily fade away. I always thought I had to go to the mountains for that to happen, so shame on me for not knowing better the previous nine years.

I’m glad I bought my annual pass for the Colorado State Parks system now, especially since I was a bit hesitant at first, and will definitely be taking full advantage of it over the next twelve months.