Hiking – Picket Wire Canyonlands - Dinosaur tracks & Petroglyphs

There will be a Carpool from Denver from the Southmoor Station P&R, 3737 S. Monaco St.  at 9:30 am. Linda Jagger will be in a white Subaru w/ roof rack in the NE corner closest to Monaco Street. Contact Linda if you'd like to carpool, 303-249-0986 or lindajagger@yahoo.com 

On the way down we are visiting the Koshare Museum & Trading Post, Koshare Kiva, 115 W 18th St, La Junta, CO 81050 which is open from 11am -3pm about 3 hour drive from the park and ride.

Also, you can travel separately or as a carpool to meet the group at the KOA at 6pm. Approximately 3 hr drive (if I25 traffic is not terrible)

 Linda has reserved a rustic KOA cabin at KOA campground in LaJunta. Cabin holds 6 people. Front room has double bed, leaders will use. Back room has 2 single size bunk beds. 2 people will need to be able to climb into top bunks. TO SIGN UP, PLEASE CONTACT LEADER, 303-249-0986 text/call to arrange payment of $44 to Linda Jagger for 2 nites in Cabin. You may if you wish tent camp, a regular uncovered site is $33/nite, and premium covered site (provides shade) $37/nite. Or you may stay in local hotel and meet leaders for Dinner Wed eve April 30, 6pm or 6:30am Thurs May 1 to drive to Picketwire canyon. Please contact leader regarding other lodging arrangements.

We will also have a ranger guided tour of the Sand Creek Massacre National Monument on day 3 enroute to home. Read complete itinerary below.

Itinerary:

Day 1 drive to LaJunta CO and stay at KOA Campground in Rustic cabin. Option to go Koshare Indian Museum. We will eat dinner at a local restaurant in LaJunta.

Day 2 Depart 6:30am from KOA Drive 30 mi on moderate dirt road to trailhead for Picketwire Canyon. We will hike at a slow to moderate pace, stop to look for petroglyphs and hike to dinosaur tracks 6 miles in. We could be out in the sun 8+ hr including time to look for petroglyphs. TEMPERATURES COULD BE IN THE 80'S or it could be cooler. Return to KOA and eat dinner at local restaurant.

Day 3 depart at 8am, Drive east & then north to Sand Creek Massacre National Monument for 10am Ranger guided tour. We will casually walk 3 miles to the overlook for the Creek Massacre site.  Upon completion of tour, depart approximate 1pm, drive leisurely home via flat paved back country road to I70 in eastern CO and home to Denver Metro. (or one could backtrack on hwy 50 to LaJunta & Pueblo and take I25 to Denver Metro). Either way should be about 4 hr home. (Taking hwy 50 & I25 could take longer due to I25 traffic.)