When the first sign you see on a hike is “Warning! Mountain Lion Habitat”, you question whether the choices you made that day led you astray.

I knew I wanted to head toward Boulder for a hike. When I did a quick google search and decided that Walker Ranch looked decent, I didn’t think about the road up there. For those of you that don’t know, Walker Ranch is located up Flagstaff Road past the Flatirons. That road is steep and curvy (and icy in the winter).

The last time I was in Boulder was over the summer. It was hot, overcrowded and somewhat touristy. This was a polar opposite experience. First, it was a Monday and second, not many people were about to brave that steep icy incline. After a 7 mile white knuckle ascent, we made it to the trail head (I only thought about bailing out a half a dozen times. I’m very glad I didn’t). I decided to hike the Meyer’s Gulch Trail.

The trail was completely untouched aside from the intermittent deer tracks every few yards. I kept the dogs on the leash for several reasons. Mozzy being the flight risk that he is, would most likely take after a deer and undoubtedly get lost. The second major reason was, well, the MOUNTAIN LIONS. Where was this in the other trail summaries?

When I managed to subside the crippling fear of getting attacked by a mountain lion, it really was quite lovely.

DOGS ALLOWED: YES

TRASH AND RESTROOMS: YES

DRIVE TIME: 50 MINUTES FROM DENVER