| The route bushwacks back to the Ute Trail. Then follow the Ute Trail till it intersects with the Flagstaff Trail. Take the Flagstaff Trail right (east) down to Panorama Point. (Note: This is how we get to Panorama Trail: It helps to know the road
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| and where Panorama Point is located. After maybe 20 minutes of down hiking to the left of Flagstaff Trail is a faint trail that heads northeast on an old road. We do not take this trail although we believe it will connect to the Panorama Point Trail. We continue on down, cross the road then after another few minutes there is another unmarked trail that goes north and down. This trail appears to be well used. Follow this Trail to the Panorama Point Parking Lot.) |
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| Looking back at Green Mtn from the Flagstaff trail |
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Along the Flagstaff trail, the `Saddle' in the background |
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At the north end of the parking lot, pick up the Panorama Point Trail and descend on it down to Eben G. Fine Park. The trail that heads on down is to the north and east of the Ranger Shed. |
| Red Rocks & Mt Sanitas from just below Panorama Pt |
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From Eben G. Fine Park (elevation 5,400 feet, a drop of almost 1,500 feet from the top of Flagstaff Mtn), on west Pearl Street, continue toward Settlers' Park. Head to the northwest corner of the park, where there is a bridge across Boulder Creek and a walkway under Canyon Blvd.
Turn left (north) at the Red Rocks Trail intersection and hike up towards the Red Rocks. Take the left branch near the top, going to the west side of the Red Rocks, to a high point on the trail. (We don't ever plan on stopping to climb any of the Red Rocks,one of which would probably be the true summit. We're not very smart, but we're not crazy.) Follow the trail down, keeping to the right as you intersect several trails, and cross Mapleton Street to Red Rocks Park picnic shelter (elevation 5,725 feet). |
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| The Red Rocks |
| Boulder Ck at Eben G. Fine Park |
Red Rocks in front of Mt Sanitas |
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| From the picnic area, cross the small creek bridge and, shortly beyond, turn left (west) and start up the Mount Sanitas South Ridge Trail. This final leg is 1.3 miles and climbs 1,343 feet to the summit of Mount Sanitas (elevation 6,863 feet). It's a steep hike, but invigorating, if done by itself. As the last leg of our 5 peak adventure, (into the 10th hour, 12th mile and 5,000 feet up and down), however, it is exhausting. People stare at us as they pass us -- two tired, sweaty, smelly ol' farts who can barely drag themselves up a short climb like Sanitas! |
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| Green Mountain from Mt Sanitas summit |
| At the final summit pole on Mt Sanitas |
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