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 Reporter |
Summary: The trail progresses in a westerly direction up a narrow and scenic gulch. There are several bridges and log crossings on this trail. The third bridge is about a mile from the trailhead after you go about 2.5 miles you will start to enter the meadows, where the trails follow old logging roads that are fairly level. There are eight homesteads in the area, four are to the South, two are in the vicinity of the main meadows and the other two are to the North and North East. The Irvin Homestead accesed by trail 1004 is worth the extra walk, there are some awesome views of the Mummy Range in that area. If you visit the homesteads that are located to the South you will traverse thru the remnants of the Big Elk Fire, which destroyed the Engert Homestead in 2002. The Laycook Homestead is about a mile South of the trail junction and sits at the head of a large meadow where Elk can be seen. There is a wonderful pamphlet available about the homesteads at the RMNP gift shop Trailhead: Trailhead is located at mile marker 8 on CO Rt. 36 between Estes Park and Lyons. There are facilities available at the trailhead. (Lat:40.315 Lon:-105.40535) Trail Guides for Homestead Meadows: Route Finding by Gregory Couch (Falcon Publishing) Map and Compass by Cliff Jacobson (Globe Pequot Press) Best Seasons: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Bikes, Horses, Ranger Contact: Canyon Lakes Ranger District (970)498-1375 Trail Reviews Submit your own review 
Reviewed by AN on 6/11/2004 My husband and I hiked this trail last year after discovering it in a hiking book. We went in early September on a chilly day and encountered rain and snow at the top of the trail. I rate the trail between easy and moderately difficult and recommend it for its history, location, and the fact that there's no fee. The trail is fairly kid-friendly, but little kids might tire out before they reach the meadows. The open meadows were breathtaking. There was an old burned out car, some machinery, an old stove, and other remnants scattered between the homestead sites along the trail for us to discover. We spent about an hour at the top and only saw about 2/3 of the cabin sites. We're going again this month (June) and anticipate much warmer weathe Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Colorado Hiking, Colorado Trails, Colorado Hikes, Larimer County Hiking, Larimer County Trails, Larimer County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
