Hey, I guess people do read this blog.  I got a letter from Marty Genereux who had read the blog from July 21 about floating the rivers around here.  You can check out local outfitters right on this website. Then, come on over and beat the heat on the river!

Speaking of beating the heat, if you want to hike in the valley right now, you'd better be an early riser, or a late evening hiker. It's just too hot in the daytime right now. But early morning and late evening hikes are great.  One of my favorites is Serpent's Trail.  It's just inside the Colorado National Boundary's east entrance, so it's very close to town, it's somewhat strenuous, so you can get a great early morning workout, and it's pretty quick, so you won't get stuck in the desert in the heat of the day.

The trailhead for Serpent's Trail is easy to find. First, find the east entrance of the Colorado National Monument, located at the end of Monument Road (take a left off Broadway after you cross the Colorado River). From the entrance gate, travel .3 miles. Park on the left. The trail is on the right-hand side of the road.

Once dubbed the "Crookedest Road in the World," this trail is now on the National Register of Historic Structures. John Otto himself laid it out in the early 1900s. Otto was the main man responsible for creating the Colorado National Monument in 1911. As the “founding father” of this National Monument, he single-handedly built many of its trails and was its first custodian.

Serpents Trail was used as the main road onto Glade Park and Pinyon Mesa until 1950. The trail is 1.75 miles one way with 14 switch-backs. It climbs steadily from east to west. The National Park Service suggests it will take the average hiker 90 minutes up and 45 minutes down this steep dirt road.

It is a strenuous hike on the way up. It’s normally a cakewalk on the way down, unless you have weak knees. Many hikers prefer to start at the top of the trail, which is located just above the tunnel on Rim Rock Drive (before you get to Cold Shivers Point). They hike down to begin. Then, once they’re warmed up, they hike back for a good aerobic workout.

Views overlooking the Grand Valley from this trail are great but watch your step and your children at overlooks and steep drop offs. Occasionally, a hiker will stumble across a coyote, bobcat or mountain lion track. Sometimes, near the trail head or trails' end, it's just someone's dog prints, even though pets are not allowed on trails within the National Monument.

Bicycles and motorized vehicles also are not allowed on this trail, leaving it to foot-powered pedestrians only, which makes it nice for hikers and runners alike. No one ever gets in anyone else’s way on this trail. It’s wide and smooth.

So, beat a path to Serpent's Trail early in the morning or late in the evening. Catch the sunrise and/or sunset over the Grand Valley. It's worth the trip!