Mountain Hiking

Niwot Loop

From the trailhead on Monarch Rd., I first walked south along Dry Creek #2, passed through dry grassland, and among low hills and angular gullies. At the southernmost extent of the loop there was a prairie dog colony — scattered mounds of soil, many with a furry sentinel, providing good hawk and coyote food and wild chirping music. 

The trail took me east, across 79th St., and then back to the north. A right fork extends farther east across open range to another small network of trails, but the main loop continues north along the other two irrigation ditches: the Boulder and Lefthand Ditch and the Boulder and Whiterock Ditch. These two waterways run parallel to each other here and in places are only 20–30 feet apart. They were first dug over 100 years ago, so the corridor has had plenty of time to naturalize. There are great cottonwoods, and I passed a squawking magpie. 

At Longview Drive, the loop turns north, and then west on Niwot Rd., and back to Dry Creek again at Sawtooth Lane. In December, Dry Creek was not dry — it flowed nicely. I passed a trio of ponds whose overflow added to the ditch. There were ducks, a white cat crouching on the far bank, a rope swing hanging, and several tree houses high in the "wilderness." 

The trail crosses 79th St. again. Here, we need to bear right and stay on the north side of Dry Creek. About 0.3 mi. more, and I returned to the trailhead.