Walker Ranch Loop Hike

My last hike was a fairly easy 6.5 miles. During which, my foot did really well and the arch pain that had plagued me 2 weeks, seemed resolved. Time to put that to a bigger test!

Walker Ranch is a beautiful 30 min drive from home. The Walker Ranch Loop, supposedly 7.9 miles long, was going to be more like 8.5 miles... cause all the hikes are .5 - 1 mile longer than All Trails claims. (I guess pee breaks, photo detours and walking a crooked line up the steep parts takes its toll.)

The day was warm and clear... well, it promised to be for the first half anyway. 

Downhill to the river... 

Through the woods and into Eldorado State Park for a bit. Up and over...

Back down to the river - which included a steep staircase and let me tell you, I was delighted not to be the guy with the mountain bike lugging it up stairs past me!

Then up the hill (which was apparently never-ending by mile 7) to return to the car back at Walker Ranch.

Walker Ranch trailhead reached just as the sky clouded over, rain threatened and the wind picked up. That's apparently how I roll!

I was impressed my foot was doing just fine and even more impressed that I knocked out 8.5 miles in well under 4 hours - with stops. 

Ooh... oooh.... almost forgot! On the way out of Walker Ranch on Flagstaff Rd, I came upon a herd. So sweet. The icing on the cake.