Mt. Falcon
| Park Map |
Starting from the Lower Lot
Difficulty Rating (1-5 scale, 5 being the most difficult)
Physical: 5
Technical: 3
Navigational: 3
There's one word to describe running (biking, hiking) Falcon from the bottom - UP. The initial climb is 2.5mi (via the Castle trail, 0.4mi via Turkey Trot) and 1,400', to the gazebo. We used to do a regular time trial up this climb (times range from 22-50min, via Castle) in DTRs early days. Now we run it more casually, although it's difficult not to run it hard. From the gazebo, there are a variety of options on the flatter, upper trails.
Falcon is popular with mountain bikers. For runners, it can be fun to pass them on the way up. Of course, they go a lot faster coming back down. Please be courteous, and communicate with others when passing or being passed.
Weather and Seasons
Because of the slope and exposure, the Castle trail tends to drain and dry fairly well, until you get into the trees, just below the gazebo. Once into the trees, including the more shaded Turkey Trot trail, the trails can be icy and wet through the winter. When it is wet, the trails are very muddy and sloppy because of the clay in the soil. DTR's policy is to avoid trails when wet.
Driving Directions
From the north & central Denver, take C-470 to the Morrison exit. Go west on hwy 74, through the town of Morrison. At the top end of the town, at the light, go left onto hwy 8. In 0.9mi, at the top of the hill, look for signs to the park. Turn right on Forest, then the next right on Vine, which takes you to the lower lot.
From the S, take hwy 285, 1.8mi SW from C470, to the first exit. Go N on hwy 8 for 1.2mi, and look for signs to the park. Turn left on Forest, then the next right on Vine.
If the lot is filled, park along the W side of Vine
http://g.co/maps/29jes
Running Routes
The start heads over a small rise, then drops down to the first junction, in ~150m. Staying left is the Castle Trail, 2.5mi climb from the start, bikers allowed. To the right is the Turkey Trot trail. Turkey Trot is 0.4mi longer, rejoining Castle midway up the climb. It's initially steeper, then a more gradual climb. Sometimes we'll go up via the shorter Castle, then down via Turkey Trot, or vice-versa.
We usually regroup at the gazebo. From there, depending on time, there are various options. Walker's Dream (aka Summer White House) and Two Dog are each ~1/3mi. Walker Home Ruins is ~1/2mi up the Castle Trail. For faster runners, the Meadow trail loop is ~1.5mi longer than to the Home Ruins. When you have more time, add in the Parmalee Trail loop.
Starting from the Upper Lot
Difficulty Rating (1-5 scale, 5 being the most difficult)
Physical: 3
Technical: 3
Navigational: 3
Running from the upper lot of Falcon gives a nice respite from typical uphill start of most of the front range trails. At 1,800' higher than the lower lot, it is also 10° or so cooler in the summer than the lower lot, and more shaded.
The Parmalee trail starts with a steep, technical drop into the trees. Once you start to climb out of the trees, there are some nice views overlooking hwy 285, Turkey Creek canyon, and E into the city. The Old Ute and Devil's Elbow trails can be rocky, but the rest is fairly moderate.
Weather and Seasons
The upper trails of Falcon are cooler and more shaded than the trails up from Morrison. We typically only run this during the hotter parts of the year. The shaded upper trails hold moisture and snow longer than the lower trails. Meadow trail may still have some deep drifts when Castle trail is clear.
Driving Directions
Take hwy 285, 4.5mi SW from C470, to the second exit, Parmalee Gulch. Go rt, 2.7mi up Parmalee Gulch. Where Parmalee curves 90° left, look for a sign to Falcon and veer rt onto Picutis. Make a quick left and follow the signs for another 1.8mi to Mt. Falcon. Continue through the first lot (mainly for horse trailers) to the upper lot. If filled, park down in the lower lot.
http://g.co/maps/h4ja8
Running Routes
The upper trails can be good for doing intervals on trails. Suggested repeat loops include:
Difficulty Rating (1-5 scale, 5 being the most difficult)
Physical: 5
Technical: 3
Navigational: 3
There's one word to describe running (biking, hiking) Falcon from the bottom - UP. The initial climb is 2.5mi (via the Castle trail, 0.4mi via Turkey Trot) and 1,400', to the gazebo. We used to do a regular time trial up this climb (times range from 22-50min, via Castle) in DTRs early days. Now we run it more casually, although it's difficult not to run it hard. From the gazebo, there are a variety of options on the flatter, upper trails.
Falcon is popular with mountain bikers. For runners, it can be fun to pass them on the way up. Of course, they go a lot faster coming back down. Please be courteous, and communicate with others when passing or being passed.
Weather and Seasons
Because of the slope and exposure, the Castle trail tends to drain and dry fairly well, until you get into the trees, just below the gazebo. Once into the trees, including the more shaded Turkey Trot trail, the trails can be icy and wet through the winter. When it is wet, the trails are very muddy and sloppy because of the clay in the soil. DTR's policy is to avoid trails when wet.
Driving Directions
From the north & central Denver, take C-470 to the Morrison exit. Go west on hwy 74, through the town of Morrison. At the top end of the town, at the light, go left onto hwy 8. In 0.9mi, at the top of the hill, look for signs to the park. Turn right on Forest, then the next right on Vine, which takes you to the lower lot.
From the S, take hwy 285, 1.8mi SW from C470, to the first exit. Go N on hwy 8 for 1.2mi, and look for signs to the park. Turn left on Forest, then the next right on Vine.
If the lot is filled, park along the W side of Vine
http://g.co/maps/29jes
Running Routes
The start heads over a small rise, then drops down to the first junction, in ~150m. Staying left is the Castle Trail, 2.5mi climb from the start, bikers allowed. To the right is the Turkey Trot trail. Turkey Trot is 0.4mi longer, rejoining Castle midway up the climb. It's initially steeper, then a more gradual climb. Sometimes we'll go up via the shorter Castle, then down via Turkey Trot, or vice-versa.
We usually regroup at the gazebo. From there, depending on time, there are various options. Walker's Dream (aka Summer White House) and Two Dog are each ~1/3mi. Walker Home Ruins is ~1/2mi up the Castle Trail. For faster runners, the Meadow trail loop is ~1.5mi longer than to the Home Ruins. When you have more time, add in the Parmalee Trail loop.
Starting from the Upper Lot
Difficulty Rating (1-5 scale, 5 being the most difficult)
Physical: 3
Technical: 3
Navigational: 3
Running from the upper lot of Falcon gives a nice respite from typical uphill start of most of the front range trails. At 1,800' higher than the lower lot, it is also 10° or so cooler in the summer than the lower lot, and more shaded.
The Parmalee trail starts with a steep, technical drop into the trees. Once you start to climb out of the trees, there are some nice views overlooking hwy 285, Turkey Creek canyon, and E into the city. The Old Ute and Devil's Elbow trails can be rocky, but the rest is fairly moderate.
Weather and Seasons
The upper trails of Falcon are cooler and more shaded than the trails up from Morrison. We typically only run this during the hotter parts of the year. The shaded upper trails hold moisture and snow longer than the lower trails. Meadow trail may still have some deep drifts when Castle trail is clear.
Driving Directions
Take hwy 285, 4.5mi SW from C470, to the second exit, Parmalee Gulch. Go rt, 2.7mi up Parmalee Gulch. Where Parmalee curves 90° left, look for a sign to Falcon and veer rt onto Picutis. Make a quick left and follow the signs for another 1.8mi to Mt. Falcon. Continue through the first lot (mainly for horse trailers) to the upper lot. If filled, park down in the lower lot.
http://g.co/maps/h4ja8
Running Routes
The upper trails can be good for doing intervals on trails. Suggested repeat loops include:
- Starting at the jct of Meadow & Parmalee (jct 2 on the map), go hard up Meadow, then left up Tower to the lookout tower. Go easy down the far side of Tower.
- Starting just E of the jct of Meadow & Parmalee (jct 2 on the map), go hard heading N on Meadow, left at Walker Ruins uphill on Castle, then left on Meadow another 0.2mi to Tower. Go easy from there, left down Meadow, not up Tower.