May 25, 2026

In the midst of our house-hunting a couple weeks ago, we took an afternoon off and drove northwest toward Boulder. Destination: Eldorado Canyon State Park. To prevent overcrowding, timed-entry reservations are required on weekends and holidays (like today) from May 1 to October 1. But on a weekday afternoon, we glided right in.

Rocky Mountain raspberry along the trail

And purple penstemon

I’ve blogged about Eldorado Canyon before; you can read those here and here. No matter how many times I walk here, the tilted sandstone crags along the trail awe me with a sense of the earth’s epic, non-human-centered timeline.

I always spot rock climbers picking their way up the cliff face.

Human time vs. geologic time — it helps clear your mind and put things in perspective.

Fowler Trail sights include a tree trunk with a U-bend.

Sea urchin-like Yucca glauca and scaly ponderosa pine

Signs advise you to be bear-aware. No grizzlies live in Coloradoonly black bears. Back in Texas, people often think grizzly bears are roaming around Colorado. It’s wild but not that wild.

Yucca getting ready to bloom. See the ladybugs on it? They were noshing on other bugs. Go, ladybugs, go!

Sumacs — I admired these in blazing fall color a couple years ago.

More trail scenery — pine cones and rocks

Looking up, the view gets grander.

A passage of craggy, tilted sandstone is my usual turnaround point.

Just beyond, you look out over a plain, but it’s time to head back.

A few years of earth’s history can be read here by those who know the language.

It’s a peaceful place.

South Boulder Creek runs through the canyon. I’ve never walked down to it. Maybe next time.

We noticed some trailhead advisories only after getting back to our car. Watch out for mountain lions…

…and aggressive grouse — ha!

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