It has been one of those years in which, if I didn't have any photographs,…

Roxborough State Park – My Shot of the Day – July 21, 2014
This picture is of Colorado’s Front Range looking north from Roxborough State Park in a light rain just a few days ago. I was driving north again to the Keystone and Lake Dillon areas for a few days of hiking.
Roxborough State Park is a Colorado Natural Area and a National Natural Landmark for good reason. The park, with close to 4000-acres, is filled with dramatic red-rock formations, distinct plant communities, and a host of wildlife ranging from black bears to mule deer.
Visitors can take in all of Roxborough’s geological wonders via a series of trails for every level of hiker. The Fountain Valley Overlook is only 100 yards from the Visitor Center and provides spectacular views of several beautiful rock formations, including the Fountain Formation, Lyons Formation, and the Dakota Hogback. Many visitors tote their cameras to capture one of the many beautiful views or animal sightings such as red fox from one of the park’s overlooks.
Last summer I included Roxborough State Park in my list of 10 must-see Colorado archaeological sites:
Humans have been on this land for 20,000 years or more to be sure but the earliest evidence for people at Roxborough State Park dates to about 9,000 years ago. Archaic (6,000-3000BC) and Woodland (500-1000AD) left behind a lot of evidence of their lives here in the form of lithic scatters, campsites and quarries. Later the Apaches, Utes, Comanches, Arapahoes and Cheyennes all utilized this area.
In the 19th Century, Euro-Americans homesteaded the area. Located near Denver, 3,300-acre Roxborough is very popular with weekend urban refugees. In addition to its archaeological resrouces the area is geologically unique with a remarkable landscape the a healthy and diverse plant and animal community. How to get there: Roxborough is just 28 miles from the center of Denver. From Denver go south on US Highway 85 through Littleton. Then go west on highway 470 to Highway 121 (S. Wadsworth Blvd) and go south. The road curves east and meets with N. Rampart Range Rd. Go south to the park entrance.
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