14 mile loop hike SW of Denver

Hadn't done much dayhiking this summer, being gone for a month in coastal British Columbia, etc., so decided to head out Highway 285 to trails I have hiked many times in the Mt. Evans Wilderness, although I had only done this entire loop once before.  Started at around elevation 9000 feet at Three mile creek trail on the Guanella Pass Road about 3 miles up from Grant, CO; hiked up about three thousand feet to 11,900 feet, where you have good views of Mt. Bierstad and Evans, connected with the Rosalie trail, hiked for several miles until it crosses the Abyss Lake trail, hike down the Abyss Lake trail to the trailhead, and then hike about three miles along the Guanella Pass Road back to the car.  The trailhead is only about 45-50 miles from home, and it was weekday, but I saw exactly one other person all day (not counting the road walk).  The scenery, although not as spectacular as some other locations, is still pretty nice, and to get such great solitude so close to home is wonderful.  Trusty Addie accompanied me  - I've seen elk here before, but not this time.  No rain or even a threat of rain, so all in all a great outing.

I did do a day hike back in June, also in the Mt. Evans Wilderness, so I'll include some of those pics along with the loop hike pics.

 Tanglewood Creek trail, Mt. Evans Wilderness

 Tanglewood Creek trail, Mt. Evans Wilderness

 Tanglewood Creek trail, Mt. Evans Wilderness

 Tanglewood Creek trail, Mt. Evans Wilderness

 Tanglewood Creek trail, Mt. Evans Wilderness

 Tanglewood Creek trail, Mt. Evans Wilderness

 Tanglewood Creek trail, Mt. Evans Wilderness

 Tanglewood Creek trail, Mt. Evans Wilderness, Addie

 Tanglewood Creek trail, Mt. Evans Wilderness

 Tanglewood Creek trail, Mt. Evans Wilderness

 Tanglewood Creek trail, Mt. Evans Wilderness

 Tanglewood Creek trail, Mt. Evans Wilderness

 Tanglewood Creek trail, Mt. Evans Wilderness

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike, Addie

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

 Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike

Mt. Evans Wilderness loop hike