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In all likelihood, anywhere in the US that has red soil has a Red Mountain as well. Glenwood Springs, CO, has its own Red Mountain right on the outskirts of town with a great trail that goes up to its ridge. This is where paragliders take off to float far above the town during the warmer months, and also where what the locals simply name “the cross” is--it’s a gently glowing not overwhelmingly large one, turned on at the big Christian holidays.
The hike to the top of Red Mountain can be quite challenging, but you can always take a break by using the somewhat less steeply sloping road that repeatedly cuts across the trail, or you could be ambitious and go for an even more strenuous adventure by staying on the fantastically--at least in my book--steep and unconventionallylong cuts up the switchbacks, which by now are pretty much part of the main trail too.
Give yourself one to three hours to go up and come back on this hike, considering how in shape you are and how often you like to stop and admire the view. There are several inspiring overlooks of Glenwood that often beckon me to take time to visually explore the surrounding mountains, and particularly in the spring and summer the coquettish little blooming plants can call you to stop and admire them.
To find the Red Mountain trailhead, turn off of Midland Ave onto Red Mountain Dr. This is midway between the Glenwood Meadows shopping center (with Target and PetSmart) and 8th St, which also goes over the Roaring Fork to the Grand Avenue shops. Take a right off of Red Mountain Dr at the first street, onto 9th St. Hiker parking is on your left, and there’s a stout hardy wooden billboard with a sketch of the trail to help you on your way.
I love this trail no matter what the season. On fair weather days, largely in summer, if you’re lucky you can enjoy the sight of a few paragliders running off the edge of the mountain and letting the wind catch their chutes. In the summer, be sure to bring lots of water and begin hiking at least by 9 a.m., since the trail is unsheltered and the sun gets rather aggressive just about 11 a.m. In the cooler seasons, the low sun tends to drop behind the mountain suddenly, so you’ll want lots of warm layers if you’ll be on the trail after about 3 p.m. In the winter, just be sure to have ski poles--or, why not?--some cross-country skis. In fact, a great adventure on this trail when it’s cold is to lug some portable sleds up the mountain and then zip down the windy, unplowed road back to the beginning. It’s a nice long ride, and the road is just the right grade for some good--but not reckless--speed.
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