Deer Creek Canyon Park

Hogback and Denver Metro

Overview

Deer Creek Canyon Park is a great all-season area to go hiking, running or biking. I have been to this park many times to tramp along its trails, with this blog having two posted trip reports—Bill Couch Mountain and Plymouth Mountain. I typically try and get out on a family Christmas hike in the local foothills every year, but with sickness kicking the family’s butt this year that didn’t happen. I was glad to be able to get out on one last hike before the end of 2018. I hope you enjoy this trip report and find it helpful in planning your next adventure in the hills.

Directions/TH Information

Deer Creek Canyon Park Trailhead is located at the coordinate’s—latitude 39.543220°, longitude -105.152062°. This is a Jefferson County Open Space Park, where more information such as additional trails and park regulations can be found at—Deer Creek Canyon Park. From your location make your way along CO-470 W to S Kipling Pkwy in Ken Caryl. Head south following S Kipling Pkwy onto W Ute Ave, which will eventually merge into W Deer Creek Canyon Rd. Follow this road past the South Valley Park which you will see on your right (north side of road), continuing to the intersection of Grizzly Dr, take a left (south) following the road for about a quarter mile to the Deer Creek Canyon Park Trailhead. There is a large parking lot with restrooms, and an information booth with printed maps of the park. Although the parking lot is quite large, this is a heavily trafficked area and I would expect the lot to be full on weekend days at an early hour.

The Climb

Bill Couch Mountain

Today’s objective was to get outside and with any luck climb both Plymouth and Bill Couch Mountains. I have done these separately but never together. I wasn’t in a rush today, so I dropped Alexa off at day care and was ready to start my hike about 10 AM. I headed up Plymouth Creek Trail, which as expected was snow/ice covered. The use of micro spikes was necessary to hike safely up the draw. I took the Plymouth Mountain Trail to the south after about 1.5 miles on the Plymouth Creek Trail. This trail had some snow patches here and there, but it was relatively free of ice since it was out of the draw and mostly south facing. The big loop around the mountain leads to the Scenic View Trail which is a little less than half mile to the summit of Plymouth Mountain. After a brief scramble to the high point of the monolith bolder I was off on the trail to make my way over to Bill Couch Mountain.

After reconnecting to the Plymouth Mountain Trail, I continued on my path around the mountain heading into a draw towards the Plymouth Creek Trail. I kept my spikes on for a few minutes down some snow-covered ice, but soon found myself ditching my spikes and making better time along the rubble covered path. The trail opened up as I made my way onto the Red Mesa Loop Trail. The time on this trail is short as it quickly connects to the Golden Eagle Trail. This is about a half mile hike to the summit of Bill Couch Mountain. From the summit one could bushwhack down the mountain connecting to the Meadowlark Trail, but I was in for getting some more mileage in so I headed back on the established trail.

Me on the summit of Bill Couch Mountain

Backtracking the Golden Eagle Trail, Red Mesa Loop and Plymouth Creek Trail to where I joined from the Plymouth Mountain Trail had me back to where I was maybe an hour ago. My next plan was to follow the Plymouth Creek Trail to the intersection of the Meadowlark Trail which would lead me back to the trailhead. The Meadowlark Trail is a nice cut around the east ridge of Bill Couch Mountain, but this is perhaps the busiest trail in the park. The views of the hogback are pretty impressive and I would vote on this being my favorite trail of the park for that reason alone. A spike free tramp along this trail brought me back the trailhead in no time at all.

Parting Notes

This is a great hike in all seasons, though I prefer it in the winter with some ice and snow of the trail. It was nice to get back into the swing of a long hike. I think people should take advantage of these open space parks especially in the winter when the weather in the high country is severe and not to mention dealing with the ski traffic. Until next time, cheers!

GPS Track

Date: December 27, 2018

Trailhead Elevation: 6,096 feet

Plymouth Mountain: 7,274 feet

Bill Couch Mountain: 7,057 feet

Total Elevation Gain: 1,581 feet

Class: 1

Distance: 8.4 miles

Moving Time: 3 hr 16 min

Stopped Time: 0 hr 12 min

Climbing Partner: Solo

GAIA GPS Link: Deer Creek Canyon (2018-12-27)

Jefferson County Open Space Map Link: Deer Creek Canyon Park