Meyer Ranch Park
Location |
Website |
Meyer Ranch Park, 10490 S Turkey Creek Rd, Morrison, CO 80465
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PDF Map
Trail Map
Park Fees
Free! Really nice, all of Jefferson County's parks are currently free.
Trailer Parking
The parking lot allows for cars to park along the road and oversized vehicles to park parallel along the rocks. I rode this trail on Columbus day and there were cars parked parallel along the rocks but I was still able to park the trailer along the end. I probably could have pulled a little more to the left to give Sam more room.
Bathrooms
No bathrooms at trail-head but if you walk 0.2 miles down Owl's Perch there are bathrooms by the beginning of the service road.
Water |
Mounting |
No water spigot.
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Lots of big rocks to stand on.
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Footing
Going up Owl's Perch then the service road the footing was packed dirt and we could trot. Going right on Lodge Pole Loop counter-clockwise the first leg of Lodge Pole to Sunny Aspen was less rocky than the 2nd leg of Sunny Aspen. If you want to avoid rocks or tree roots I would stay on the inner Lodge Pole Loop.
Horse Hazards
Every park tends to have the brown trash cans and trail maps that can be scary. At the beginning of the trail there is a dog poop bag dispenser and some signs to walk by. Nothing really caught Sam's attention and the trail itself was fairly mild.
Chosen Trail
We rode Owl's Perch to the restrooms then picked up the service road to take a right at Lodge Pole Loop going counter-clockwise. We went right to continue on Sunny Aspen, went past the fork for Old Ski Run Trail and returned via Sunny Aspen and Owl's Perch. We rode a total of 2.5 miles in a little under an hour with lots of stops for snacks, pictures and talking to hikers.
We started out on Owl's Perch heading away from the highway and past a map and bench.
After 0.2 miles we passed a bathroom with a hitching post out front.
We continued up the service road.
And went right to start counter-clockwise on Lodge Pole Loop.
The trail was really pretty with good footing for trotting.
The trail was well marked, and there were signs clearly marking the trail when there were places that were undergoing regrowth.
We wove in between the pine trees.
Really pretty trail going up to the Sunny Aspen Fork.
We went right to take the Sunny Aspen trail. For a short, easier trail you could continue left on Lodge Pole Loop.
It got a little rockier, nothing terrible, not at all like Doudy Draw or Flatirons Vista, but a steady uphill climb where you have to go a little slower and be careful.
At the next fork I decided to pass on the Old Ski Run Trail, we were having a very nice, pleasant ride and it would have added another 2.4 miles or 30-45 minutes. We continued to the left on Sunny Aspen trail. This was the rockiest part of the trail. If you don't like going down rocks I would do this loop clock-wise in the opposite direction. There was a nice picnic table and pavilion on the left.
Really pretty before it got a little rocky.
Meeting up with Lodge Pole the trail became a lot smoother.
And we are back to the first major fork with Lodge Pole Loop.
We walked back on Owl's Perch past a picnic site to the main trail.
Trail Experience
This is a really pretty park that is not quite as far of a drive into the mountains. You can hear the highway during the whole ride but it is really beautiful despite the location. The aspen and pine trees were really pretty and it was safe, short and peaceful.
Rating
Moderately Easy. If you want to avoid some of the tree roots and rocks you can stay on Lodge Pole Loop. It was a steady uphill climb but the footing and rocks were pretty mild. You can also make this trail longer and more interesting if you continue on Old Ski Run Trail.