Eastern Mojave Vegetation Kinney Run Trail, Golden, Jefferson County, Colorado  
 

Tom Schweich  

Home Page  Follows Kinney Run

Other articles:
• Illinois Street:   for Kinney Run field trip;  

If you are following the Kinney Run Field Trip, make a sharp right turn (southeast) onto the 6th Avenue Trail, cross the creek, then make a sharp left turn (north) onto the Illinois Avenue Trail.

Other articles:
• 6th Avenue Trail:   at Kinney Run;  

Junction: 6th Avenue Trail, near Illinois Avenue Trail.

   

Field Trip Stop 9

Typha latifolia “Cattails”

  Pass under 6th Avenue.
 

Dam across Deadman Gulch, reconstructed in late 2016.

 

Other articles:
• Golden Checklist Flora:  Hesperis matronalis;
• Field Notes:   Coll. No. 1441, 15 Jun 2016;
Full Size ImageColl. No. 1441, Hesperis matronalis  

Field Trip Stop 8

Location of Coll. No. 1441, Hesperis matronalis.

 

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   8 May 2021;
Full Size ImageBedrock habitat above Kinney Run Trail.  

Field Trip Stop 7

 

 

Other articles:
• Golden Checklist Flora:  Clematis ligusticifolia;  Notes on Clematis ligusticifolia/i>;
• Field Notes:  Coll. No. 1970, 6 Jul 2018;
Full Size ImageColl. No. 1970, Clematis ligustifolia  

Field Trip Stop 6

The shrub to the right (east) is Crataegus succulenta “Fleshy Hawthorn” The vine growing on it is Clematis ligusticifolia “Western White Clematis”

Other articles:
• Golden Checklist Flora:  city limits;
• Field Notes:  Friday, October 9th;
Full Size ImageSurvey Field from southeast.  

Pass the north end of “Eagle Ridge.”

Other articles:
• Eagle Ridge Drive:   at bicycle trail;  

Spur to: Eagle Ridge Drive

 

Other articles:
• Golden Checklist Flora:  names for Kinney Run;  Barbarea vulgaris;  Draba nemorosa;
• Field Notes:   Coll. No. 1818, 16 May 2018;   Coll. No. 1819, 16 May 2018;  Coll. No. 1820, 12 May 2018;  Coll. No. 1821, 12 May 2018;
• Glossary:   dentate;  lyrate;

Locations: Deadman Gulch. Kinney Run.
Full Size ImageHabitat of Coll. No. 1818, Barbarea vulgaris  

Field Trip Stop 5

The stream from the west comes from Lookout Mountain by way of Deadman Gulch. It passes under the Kinney Run Trail and joins Kinney Run behind us. The little wet lowland is one place that Ribes aureum “Golden Currant” and R. cereum “Wax Currant” can be seen side-by-side. The shrub is Prunus americana “American Plum&rdquo. I have also found three non-native plants from the Brassicaceae, Mustard Family, here:

  • Barbarea vulgaris “Garden Yellowrocket,“ down in the bed of the creek.
  • Thlaspi arvense “Field Penny Cress,” on the banks of the creek.
  • Draba nemorosa “Woodland Whitlow Grass,” hidden along deep grasses, forbs, and a few shrubs.
Full Size Image
Lyrate lower leaf of Coll. No. 1818, Barbarea vulgaris
Full Size Image
Coarsely dentate leaves of Coll. No. 1820, Thlaspi arvense
Full Size Image
Inflorescence of Coll. No. 1821, Draba nemorosa
Full Size Image
Coll. No. 1821, Draba nemorosa
Full Size Image
Overview of Coll. No. 1821, Draba nemorosa
  Creek crosses under trail.

Other articles:
• Golden Checklist Flora:  Kinney Run;
• Field Notes:   Coll. No. 1783, 12 Apr 2018;
Full Size ImageHabitat of Lithospermum arvense in Kinney Run.
Full Size ImageView of Kinney Run in early Spring.  

Small hill, probably part of a hogback. Location of Coll. No. 1783, unknown Boraginaceae (?).

 

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   24 October;   14 Feb 2015;

Locations: Cambria Lime Kiln.
Full Size ImageHistoric industrial site in Kinny Run  

Field Trip Stop 4

Cambria Lime Kiln.

The Golden Civic Foundation interpretive panel at the Cambria Lime Kiln reads as follows:

The Cambria Lime Kiln stands as one of the few remaining historic facilities of Goldens industrial legacy. It is the only known surviving man-made industrial component of Golden's brick-making operations and is likely the only historic industrial kiln of any kind remaining in the Golden region and possibly in all of Jefferson County. The company and the individuals behind it had a tremendous influence on the development of the Golden area during the 1880s and 1890s when Golden was a booming town.

The Cambria Lime Kiln was constructed in 1879 and was made from native sandstone that was quarried from its vicinity. The fact that is was built from stone and not from brick is a rather unusual feature for an industrial kiln of this region. The Cambria Brick and Tile Company which operated in Golden from 1879 to the mid-1890s, built this kiln to serve its commercial and residential interests. Through its plant, kilns, and lime and clay quarries, the Cambria Company became one of the most diverse and productive industrial plants in Jefferson County and was responsible for much of the building materials used to develop Golden in the late 19th century. The Cambria Lime Kiln is the final remaining structure of the Cambria Company's operations.

Look across Kinney Run to the northwest to a small hill with rocks that are white in color. This dry little hill might be a failed hogback. There are a couple of interesting collections from this hill.

  • Lithospermum arvense “Corn Gromwell.” This unusual non-native is not often collected in Colorado. It is most often collected in central Jefferson County and around Boulder. Noxious in Kentucky and New England States.
Full Size Image
Cambria Lime Kiln

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   12 Apr 2018;
Full Size ImageLight-phase Red-Tailed Hawk seen in Kinney Run.
Full Size ImageGeneral view north on Kinney Run.  

Hawk seen west of trail.

Literature Cited:
- Taylor, Audrey R., and Rickard L. Knight, 2003.
- Wisdom, Michael J., Haiganoush K. Preisler, Leslie M. Naylor, Robert G. Anthony, Bruce K. Johnson, Mary M. Rowland, 2018.  

Video of coyote flushed from shrubby vegetation on east slope of Kinney Run

Also attached are two references to disturbance of wildlife by hikers and other references.

 

Other articles:
• Golden Checklist Flora:  deadman gl;
• Field Notes:   Coll. No. 1828, 16 May 2018;   16 May 2018;
Full Size ImageYard waste disposal on the ridge above Kinney Run.
Full Size ImageView generally north of Kinney Run.  

Field Trip Stop 3

Knob of rock east of Kinney Run Trail.

There is an old trail or road up the slope and across the top of the knob of sandstone. At our feet are little mops of very fine leaved grass. I believe this will be Festuca saximontana “Rocky Mountain Fescue.” It is not native to Golden, but instead often used in revegetation.

Nestled in the Rocky Mountain Fescue at our feet is one Astragalus shortianus “Short's Milkvetch.” This is a foothills native. It seems unlikely that it was planted here. Instead, it was naturally seeded here.

The sandstone is named the Lykens(?) Sandstone and is Permian-Triassic in age. (Check this!) It is quite soft and easily eroded, so the field ftip will not go up onto the outcrop. Growing in the sandstone are numerous Physaria vitulifera.

Full Size Image
View generally south of Kinney Run.
Full Size Image
View of knob where some Physaria vitulifera grow.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   Coll. No. 1782, 12 Apr 2018;
Full Size ImageHabitat of Coll. No. 1782, Berberis repens.  

Small cove in hogback, possibly a mine or other digging. Has small wetland. Location of Coll. No. 1782, Berberis repens.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   Coll. No. 1781, 12 Apr 2018;  

Hogback outcrop curves to expose southwest slope. Location of many Physaria vitulifera Rydb. Roundtip Twinpod.

Other articles:
• Golden Checklist Flora:  Kinney Run;
• Field Notes:  Coll. No. 1780, 12 Apr 2018;  Coll. No. 1780.1, 12 Apr 2018;
Full Size ImageColl. No. 1780, Viola nuttallii
Full Size ImageKinney Run in early Spring.  

Full Size Image
Kinney Run in early Spring.
Thin soils on hogback outcrop, location of Coll. No. 1780, Viola nuttallii, and Coll. No. 1780.1, Cerastium arvense.

 

Other articles:
• Golden Checklist Flora:  Euphorbia myrsinites;
• Field Notes:   Coll. No. 1779, 12 Apr 2018;
Full Size ImageColl. No. 1779, Euphorbia myrsinites in Kinney Run.
Full Size ImageHabitat of Coll. No. 1779, Euphorbia myrsinites in Kinney Run.  

Field Trip Stop 2

Noxious plants:

  • Cynoglossum officinale “Gypsy Flower” or “Hounds Tongue”
  • Euphorbia myrsinites “Myrtle Spurge”

West-facing slope below hogback outcrop, location of Coll. No. 1779, Euphorbia myrsinites.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   4 Sep 2024;
Full Size ImageWild Hops — Humulus neomexicanus ? in Kinney Run
Full Size ImageWild Hops — Humulus neomexicanus ? in Kinney Run  

Occurrence of “Wild Hops” — Humulus neomexicanus (A. Nelson & Cockerell) Rydb.

 

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   Coll. No. 1777, 12 Apr 2018;  

Field Trip Stop 1

We have crossed the creek of Kinney Run. Above and to the east is the sandstone outcrop that defines Kinney Run. Plants that have been collected here are:

  • Physaria vitulifera
  • Rubus deliciosus
  • Allium textile
  • Zigadenus paniculatus

Coll. No. 1778, Chorispora tenella, at a small waste place between the trail and the creek, just north of Tripp Ranch.

Literature Cited:
- Tripp, Ralph, 2009.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   24 October;   14 Feb 2015;

Locations: Tripp Ranch.  

Full Size Image
Tripp Ranch
Junction: Tripp Road. The Kinney Run trail follows Tripp Road west to Crawford Street.

 

Other articles:
• Crawford Street:   at TrippRd;
Full Size ImageCrawford Street and Tripp Road.
Full Size ImageMap of Kinney Run Botanic Field Trip.  

Start of Field Trip

The Kinney Run Botanic Field Trip starts at the intersection of Tripp Road and Crawford Street. From there, it runs generally north (downhill) to the end of Illinois Street.

Do not try to park on Tripp Road. There is no parking. Instead park on Crawford Street. Or, better yet, park at Shelton School and walk down to the start.

From Crawford Street, walk east on Tripp Road to the intersection with Kinney Run Trail and Stop 1.

Junction: Crawford Street, Kinney Run Trail follows Crawford Street from Tripp Road south to Tripp Drive.

Other articles:
• Crawford Street:   at TrippDr;  

Junction: Tripp Drive, Kinney Run Trail turns southwest onto Tripp Drive, this intersection is not signed.
  End of Tripp Drive, trail continues up Kinney Run.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  Friday, May 15, 2020;
Full Size ImageSignage  

 

Full Size ImageSignage  
 

Literature Cited:
- Hellmund Associates, 1998.

Other articles:
• Golden Checklist Flora:  near Heritage Dells Park;
• Field Notes:  Sunday, August 8th;
Full Size ImageThe southern part of proposed mountain bike trail, Segment 4.  

 
  Trail Intersection: Trail to the west goes to Shelton School and Crawford Street. Trail to the east goes up the hill to 4th Avenue.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   24 October;

Locations: Heritage Dells.
Full Size ImageHeritage Dells Park on Kinny Run  

Heritage Dells Park.

Other articles:
• Kimball Avenue:   at trail;  

Intersection: Kimball Avenue

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   18 Apr 2018;
Full Size ImageBurgess Avenue.  

Intersection: Burgess Avenue

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   18 Apr 2018;

Locations: Magic Mountain.
Full Size ImageLooking south on the Kinney Run Trail.  

Full Size Image
Looking north on the Kinney Run Trail.
Top of hill, views to the north and south, rock wall to the east.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   14 Feb 2015;

Locations: Hogback Valley.
Full Size ImageWinter View north through “Hogback Valley”  

Rock outcrop to the east.

 

   

Apex Park

Junction: Apex Trail
  Unplaced collections.
If you have a question or a comment you may write to me at: tomas@schweich.com I sometimes post interesting questions in my FAQ, but I never disclose your full name or address.  


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Date and time this article was prepared: 9/22/2024 4:40:32 PM