In just a little over three miles, the Goshawk Ridge Trail makes a lollipop loop through a variety of terrains. We enjoyed hiking through its steep canyons, broad meadows, and dark forests today. The varied environment showed us an abundance birds and mammals, butterflies, bees, and wildflowers.

This is one of my favorite trails, as much as for its variety as for its nearby location. The trailhead in Eldorado Canyon State Park is just seven miles from my apartment in south Boulder.

Starting in January 2009, even before signs marked the way, I have hiked the Goshawk Ridge Trail many times. I raved about the trail so much that Sharon let me introduce it to her today.

We made sure to get an early start. Good thing, since by noon the weather was hot and cloudy. But we had ideal hiking weather this morning.

We hadn’t hiked long before we saw two colorful birds that I had never seen before.

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A Lazuli Bunting

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A Spotted Towhee

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Then, we saw one of the most common birds. Still, it was so close that I just had to capture its image.

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A Common Crow

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In the meadows particularly were thousands of spring wildflowers still in full bloom. They attracted innumerable butterflies and bees.

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A Butterfly and Its Thistles in the Sun

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A Bee and a Flower that I Can't Identify

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A Sunflower in the Sun

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Near the end of our hike Sharon spotted this buck resting from the heat of the day.

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A Mule Deer Buck

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Then it was our turn to rest.

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