Eastern Mojave Vegetation Peaks to Plains Trail, Clear Creek and Jefferson Counties, Colorado  
 

Tom Schweich  

Home Page  The vision of the Peaks to Plains Trail is a 65-mile trail of statewide significance that will serve the 3 million residents of the Denver metro area. The goal is that the Peaks to Plains Trail will one day connect the South Platte Trail in Denver to the headwaters of Clear Creek at Loveland Pass. Once completed, it will connect four counties and seven cities, with a total elevation gain of more than 1 mile. This legacy trail project will offer visitors a truly quintessential Colorado experience. That is why it was chosen as one of former Governor Hickenlooper’s 16 highest priority trail projects in the state as part of the Colorado the Beautiful Initiative. The first portions of the Peaks to Plains Trail in Clear Creek Canyon Park opened in 2016 and 2017, offering four miles of 10-foot-wide paved surface right along Clear Creek. The next step will be continuing the trail east to Golden with the Mouth of the Canyon segment.
 

Junction: Continental Divide to Glenwood Springs Route

 

Summit County above …


Continental Divide
Clear Creek County Below …
 

Clear Creek County above …


Jefferson County below …
 

Welch ditch head gate

 

Proposed bridge to south side of Clear Creek

Other articles:
• Welch Ditch:   at sus. br.;
• Field Notes:   14 Sep 2021;

Locations: Clear Creek Canyon. Welch Ditch.
Full Size ImageView of Clear Creek upstream of the Welch Ditch Suspension Bridge.  

Welch Ditch Suspension Bridge

Peaks to Plains Trail to Welch Ditch.

Full Size Image
View of Clear Creek downstream of the Welch Ditch Suspension Bridge.
Full Size Image
Welch Ditch Bridge

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  29 Mar 2024;
Full Size ImageWelch Ditch suspension bridge.  

 

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  29 May 2022;
Full Size ImageField trip waits out a shower.  

Waiting out a shower. What is actually here are two common trees: Acer glabrum “Rocky Mountain Maple” and A. negundo “Box Elder” growing next to each other for comparison.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   23 Sep 2021;
Full Size ImageRock climbing class.  

Rock climbing area, often used by classes for young and disabled people.

Other articles:
• U. S. Highway 6:   e of Tunnel 1;  

Tunnel 1 Trailhead

Up a short spur trail to the Tunnel 1 Trailhead. Restrooms at this location.

 

Tough Cuss Bridge

Other articles:
• Golden Checklist Flora:  Jamesia americana;
• Field Notes:  29 Mar 2024;   24 May 2024;

Locations: Clear Creek Canyon Park.
Full Size ImageJamesia americana on the cliff by the Tough Cuss Bridge.  

Cliffs on south bank of Tough Cuss Bridge.

Full Size Image
Jamesia americana on the Peaks to Plains Trail.

Other articles:
• Welch Ditch:   at stairs;
• Field Notes:  29 Mar 2024;
Full Size ImageStairs between Peaks to Plains Trail and the Welch Ditch.  

Stairs up to the Welch Ditch.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   3 June 2024;
Full Size ImageWild New Mexican Hops (Humulus neomexicanus) beside the Peaks to Plains Trail.  

New Mexican Hops beside the trail.

Other articles:
• Golden Checklist Flora:  Gray, 1853, Plantæ Wrightianæ, Part II;
• Field Notes:   7 Aug 2024;   24 Aug 2024;
Full Size ImageView of Goltra Fire from Peaks to Plains Trail.
Full Size ImagePericome caudata A. Gray “Mountain Tail-Leaf” along the Peaks to Plains Trail.  

Low dry-stacked boulder wall at base of talus, below the Canal Zone climbing area.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  29 Mar 2024;
Full Size ImageHead gate of the Church Ditch.  

Headgate of the Church Ditch across Clear Creek.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  29 Mar 2024;
Full Size ImageFlat on the west side of the Grant Terry Bridge.  

Little flat on west side of Grant Terry Bridge often with a good display of wildflowers.

Other articles:
• Climbing Access Trail:  at Peaks to Plains;  

Junction: Climbing Access Trail, to Welch Ditch Trail.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  29 Mar 2024;
Full Size ImageWest end of Grant Terry Bridge.  

West end of the Grant Terry Bridge.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   9 Mar 2021;   24 Aug 2024;
Full Size ImagePedestrian bridge over Clear Creek.
Full Size ImageView of Goltra Fire from Grant Terry Bridge.  

Cross Clear Creek on Grant Terry Bridge.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  29 Mar 2024;
Full Size ImageThe east end of the Grant Terry Bridge.  

East end of Grant Terry Bridge

Other articles:
• Clear Creek Trail:   at Grany Terry bridge.;
• Peaks to Plains Spur Trail:   at Clr Ck Trl;  

Junction:

  • Grant Terry Trail, Creek-level joining, or becoming, the City of Golden Clear Creek Trail.
  • Peaks to Plains Spur Trail, to the Gateway Trailhead.

    To the east, through the City of Golden, the Peaks to Plains Trail shares the route with the City of Golden Clear Creek Trail

Other articles:
• Clear Creek Trail:   near US 6;  

Junction: Shared use with City of Golden Clear Creek Trail

To the east, through the City of Golden, the Peaks to Plains Trail shares the route with the City of Golden Clear Creek Trail

Other articles:
• Clear Creek Trail:   bridge over 44th Ave;  

Cross over 44th Avenue, from this point west to US Hwy 6, follow the route of the City of Golden Clear Creek Trail.

 

Jefferson County above …


Denver County below …
 

Junction: South Platte Trail

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 4:41:10 PM