Tanglewood Trail

Tanglewood Creek

In preparation for some bigger hikes, the family and I decided to spend a few hours this week exploring the Tanglewood trail, which is one of the main entrances to the Mt. Evans Wilderness Area from this part of the 285 corridor. We were pleasantly surprised to find this lush, green hike nestled in so close to home. The trail follows Tanglewood Creek for the first three miles or so, and the well fed plants and constant trickle of the stream provided one of the nicest hikes I've been on in some time. You begin the hike well below treeline at a clean bright parking lot, and immediately see some great camping spots right off the beaten path--they're close-in, but feel secluded and private. As you head up the hill, there are tons of little hidden escapes like these, which are perfect for picnicking or a longer overnight stay.

We immediately began noticing the great variety of flora along the path, and topping the list were countless mushroom and toadstool varietals. It was fun getting the kids to pick out all the different types of fungi along the path--we turned it into a fun little naming game, in fact. My favorites were the ones that looked like new red potatoes, but I think my daughter liked the burnt marshmallows the best. For mid-August, the number of flowers still in bloom was quite impressive, and the kids found a ton of wild strawberries and raspberries along the way.

Brightly Colored Toadstool

We did pack a lunch on this trip, but really only planned to be out there for a few hours. It turned into a great 4-hour excursion, and the kids (who are 4 and 9) actually wanted to just keep going all afternoon. This was meant to be a scouting excursion for the upcoming Rosalie Peak trip I have planned with some friends for later this month; but, as serendipity would have it, it turned out to be a great full-day family excursion. The trail ultimately branches off, after treeline, to offer day trips to either the summit of Rosalie or to Roosevelt Lakes, both of which I plan to do this Autumn.

To get there: Heading South on 285 before Bailey, you take a right at the "Loaf'n'Jug" on Co RD 43 (Deer Creek Road). You take 43 all the way to the end (be careful where it intersects with 47--you want to stay to the left), where you'll see a "Fee Area" national forest campground. Pass the campground to the left, and stay on that road until it ends at the parking lot, which is the "Deer Creek Trail Head."