SummitPost.org

I'm going to be in CO in March for work and will have 1 day to kill. I will be with a beginning hiker. Staying in Englewood and looking for a nearby area to go for a hike. 4-5 mile round trip tops and nothing over 10k as will not have much time to acclimate. Easy to moderate hiking. The drive up has to be relatively accommodating as I will have a 30 foot box truck - haha - sometimes you have to make due with what you are given.

Any and all recommendations are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Green Mountainhttp://www.summitpost.org/green-mountain-denver/154021
Mount Morrisonhttp://www.summitpost.org/mount-morrison/790630
Mount Falconhttp://www.summitpost.org/mount-falcon/184021

Deer Creek Canyonhttp://jeffco.us/openspace/openspace_T56_R12.htm
Castlewood Canyonhttp://www.parks.state.co.us/parks/castlewoodcanyon/Pages/CastlewoodCanyonHome.aspx

There's also quite a bit of neat stuff around Boulder. About 45 minutes away.http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3073&Itemid=1922

Just a few ideas. I'll try and see if I can think of some more options.

Matt

Given you have a 30 foot box truck, that makes things a bit difficult getting around parking areas. I would suggest Parking at NCAR Mesa in Boulder. There is a lot of parking and you can find a spot that you can take up as many parking spaces as you need. Access is easy to get in and out of the parking area. There are many choices of hikes you can do from there. Mallory cave is only about 1 mile in and is a beautiful hike. Bear Canyon is a fairly easy hike and you can turn around at any point you feel like it. Fern Canyon to the top of Bear Peak is strenuous. There is also the Mesa Trail which takes you in either direction along the base of the Boulder Mountains. If you don't bag any peak, it's still a great spot to go, providing your allowed to take your truck that far.

Here is a more detailed page for the area with directions to NCAR Mesa.
http://www.summitpost.org/boulder-group/153333

There are a few other things I thought of you might concider.
March is often the snowiest month in Denver. Be sure to be prepaired for the snow and bring instep crampons. I often need them in the foothills.

Whatever suggestions are thrown your way, check out google earth or google maps and follow the roads and check out the parking to see if you really want to take your truck in the area.

There are many people in the Denver area that are here on Summitpost. What day do you have for hiking? Maybe a member can come and pick you up. Then you don't have to take your truck along and there will be more options open to you. If it's a day I have nothing going on, I'd go with you. I live very near Englewood.

Thanks for all the info. My free day will be Saturday March 9th. Let me know if that would work for you.

Roxborough State Park sounds like the perfect match - short drive from Englewood - easy access, large parking spot, easy to mid level hiking , you get your 4 miles together if you do the two lower loops- great scenery

http://www.summitpost.org/roxborough-state-park/477160