Livermore, Colorado, Сједињене Државе
Set on 3 acres at 7700' elevation with pine groves, wildflowers, perennials and pastures. We have horses, chickens, a turkey, ducks, & cuddly cats, We daily see deer, marmots, pica, foxes and many species of wild birds who visit our feeders on the deck.
Our property is in Roosevelt National Forest with direct access to many private trails that connect all the way to Grey Rock and Hewlett Gulch. Many additional State & Federal trail heads are within a 15 minute drive. We are just 8 miles from several mountain lakes for swimming, fishing and canoeing/kayaking & paddle boarding. There are two horseback riding facilities within 10-20 minutes with trail rides into the mountains.
Beautiful photographic opportunities of flowers, pastures, farm animals, wildflower fields, rock formations, amazing birds and wildlife are available on-site.
For places to see and things to do, I recommend Soapstone Prairie for the earliest spring wildflowers (May 15-Jun15); Molly Moon Trail for Summer Wildflowers(July 15-Aug 15) and Crellin Nature Trail (see the Glacier View website for private maps) for early summer wildflowers (June 5-July 15). For waterfalls, I recommend Crellin nature trail very early in the spring (not tall, but it follows the creek, so lovely) and Mount Margaret for summer (very pretty - check out pictures on alltrails).
For stunning day drives, I recommend (from our place) taking 74e west from us about 5 miles, then turn left on CR69 (signs for the boy scout ranch and Shambala Center). Then take 69 all the way over to Rustic and County Highway 14. If you turn West there, you can explore Big South and some incredible high lake trails just over the pass toward Steamboat Springs. There are many more, but these are the ones that are just to die for. If you have a disabled/or shortwinded person -this is worth a drive and they can stop at the reservoir and several campgrounds just before and just over the pass for incredible photo opportunities within just 100 yards or less of the car. Same for Big South - but serious hikers will not want to ignore the opportunity to experience it at it's fullest. It is my favorite place to hike outside RMNP.
If the driver turns left (east) at Hwy 14, they'll be heading downriver and through some of the most incredible canyons and photo ops outside of the grand canyon. There are also many incredibly beautiful car-campgrounds and short hike-in sites between Rustic and Fort Collins - but either book way ahead (some sites are reservable) or get there by 10am or don't expect to get a site. My favorite hike along this route is Young's Gulch. It very gently climbs about 3.5 miles along a year-round creek - it covers all the most lovely parts of low-elevation poudre canyon flora and fauna, including shady waterflows with rock crossings, unique rock outcroppings, photo-ops galore, early summer - early autumn wildflowers (mid- August, and more towards the top) and lots of family-friendly mini log-balance and rock climbing opportunities that won't scare parents. I also like that it's a gentle climb up, and by the time you're really tired, it's all downhill on the way back. Visitors are likely to see lots of butterflies and tadpoles on this trail.
Visitors can do both the west to the pass and back again all the way to 287 in one day, but must have to choose between Young's Gulch and Big South for their real hike. Further east past Young's Gulch, visitors will get to Mishawaka - the first real stop for food - but it is a very popular nightlife area with live bands almost every night, so I recommend if you have kids, to get there by 3pm. Some more kid-friendly features driving back to 287 include often sights of rafters on the rivers, and a bona fide cut tunnel through the mountain.
