Trip
Hiking – Matthews/Winters Park
Enjoy the geology and paleontology on this 5.2-mile out and back morning urban hike on the Zorro Trail switchbacks, a portion of the rocky Dakota Ridge Trail, and a portion of the paved multi-use Dinosaur Ridge road.
Contacts
- Sun, Oct 1, 2023
- Denver
- Hiking
- Adults
- Easy
- Easy
- Mileage: 5.2 mi
- Elevation Gain: 1,044 ft
- High Point Elevation: 6,582 ft
- Pace: 2 to 2.5 mph as terrain allows
- 4 (7 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
Enjoy fascinating geology and paleontology on this urban hike. Meet at 6:50am and by 7am we will cross South Rooney Road to hike up the rigorous .9-mile Zorro Trail to Dakota Ridge Trail. We will go south on the rocky Dakota Ridge Trail, then down to meet the Dinosaur Ridge multi-use paved road. We will follow the paved Dinosaur Ridge up to the Denver Basin Overlook and Front Range Overlook then down to view labeled fossils on the west side of Dinosaur Ridge. We’ll retrace our tracks back up to the Dakota Ridge Trail, up to the Zorro Trail, and back down to the start. Plan for short rest breaks along the uphill sections, and short breaks at the overlooks and labeled fossils.
View the route in Caltopo: https://caltopo.com/m/R9C02
Meet 6:50am at the Rooney Road Trailhead Parking Lot for William F. Hayden Park on Green Mountain, 1000 S. Rooney Road, Morrison, CO 80465. This is located south of West Colfax Ave and West of I-470 at coordinates 39.696371°N 105.192°W. Vault toilets are located at this parking area. We'll start by 7am.
Matthews/Winters Park
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https://www.jeffco.us/DocumentCenter/View/9376/MatthewsWinters-Park-Map?bid==3DId=3D3D - See full route/place details.
Required Equipment
Bring the 10 essentials, and wear weather appropriate clothing and closed-toe hiking footwear with good traction. This hike has few shaded areas, so remember to wear sun protection.