Route:

Route:

Main Route (see attached**): From the lot (START), head up the trail from the lot. Turn right at the gate and follow the trail along the ridge to the south. Go down the stairs, cross the road (ROAD1), go right, and pick up the trail on the other side. Follow the trail down the east side of the hogback to the road (ROAD2). Cross the road and enter Red Rocks. About 50 yards into Red Rocks (RR1), go right onto the Red Rocks trail. Cross the dirt road and continue right up the trail. Depending on which route you take and how well you handle hills, you are about halfway along this stretch. Cross the paved road (MW1), then follow the trail up to Matthews Winters park. ~2/3 mi up, the trail splits (MS1). Take the Red Rocks trail to the right and continue north. Take either trail at MW2. The right, blue trail takes 1-2 minutes longer. Go up the stairs, right out the lot, cross the road (carefully) back to the Stegosaurus lot. Photo: looking Southsoutheast? along the hogback. click for larger version.

Beginner option 1: At the south entrance to Matthews Winters park (MW1), you can shorten the run by going right on the road. Take it down to the main road. Then go left, up the hill, along the road, for ~1mi to the lot.

Beginner option 2: Skip the Hogback section. From the start, cross the road to Matthews Winters park. Follow the trail to MW2, the MS2. At the MS2 junction, go right and climb the hill. Run across the plateau and down the other side to MS1. At MS1, take a sharp left, then follow the red line back to the start.

Advanced option 1: After entering Red Rocks (RR1), stay straight on the paved road. Go past the dirt road about ~1/3mi, then take a right onto a single track up to the Trading Post (green line). Go right up the hill, to the 3-way junction above the ampitheatre (RR2). Make a sharp right onto the single track and merge back with the main route. This adds about 5 minutes, and a little more climbing.

Adv 2: After entering Matthews Winters park (MS1), go left and climb the Morrison Slide trail. Cross the plateau, come down the north side, and merge back with the main route (MS2). This adds 5-10 minutes and a good climb.

** The main route is in red. The profile at the bottom follows the main route. The yellow line shows beginner option1. The blue and green lines show the advanced options.

	Views going up Dakota Ridge Photos courtesy of Tom Dillion Click each for large version (for faster internet users)

Jefferson County Park Information on Hogback/Matthews Winters Updated May 2, 2007