Nestled in the foothills just west of the town of Morrison, Colorado, Mt. Falcon gives visitors a glimpse into the ecosystem transitional zone between the plains and the mountains as well as a slice of the region’s human history.
The trees here showcase a greater sense of aridity than higher elevations, seeming to reflect a trend of increasing rainfall as the elevation increases as noted by Colorado State University. We see a high proportion of Ponderosa Pine on the trail, also a common species at lower elevations in the Pine-Oak Scrubland ecoregions that dot the plains near the Denver Metropolitan Area. The hike also travels through grassland meadows where, depending on the time of year, you can observe a few beautiful wildflowers. Look closely and you might find a few ladybugs!
Throughout the hike, there are views towards the mountains to the west, in which alternative pine species that thrive in the higher elevations can be seen. You can tell the difference between Ponderosa and these mountain pines fairly clearly; Ponderosas don’t have the stereotypical “Christmas tree” shape; they tend to look a little more on the gnarly side. They also tend to have tougher needles that are less of a pure green color, with yellow and sometimes brown tones leading to a less vibrant appearance.
On the eastern portion of the hike, there are stunning views of the rain shadow plains the the east that are dominated by human development.
The land was previously owned by John Brisbane Walker, an American entrepreneur from Pennsylvania who previously worked as a magazine publisher for the Cosmopolitan and subsequently worked in the automotive industry. The ruins of his mansion can be seen at the end of the trail, which was destroyed by lightning and never rebuilt. He also attempted to build a summer home for the US president nearby, but ran out of funds and never completed the project. The cornerstone of this project can also be found along the trail. Walker additionally owned the nearby land that encompasses the Red Rocks Amphitheater and is credited with the ideation and initial development of the concert venue.
Take a close look at the trail map before deciding where to start your hike. There is a parking area to the east and well as to the west. I have always used the western trailhead because there is less of an incline and a shorter distance to to reach the mansion, but if you want more of a challenge use the eastern trailhead, which includes a steep 2000 foot elevation gain!
While not anywhere close to the highest altitude in the Colorado Rockies, Mt. Falcon reaches a fairly impressive 7851 feet in elevation. If you are traveling from out of state and coming from a region closer to sea level, be prepared for your body to work harder to gather its necessary intake of oxygen. You will likely feel more out of breath if you are not accustomed to these altitudes, but it’s unlikely you will experience full-blown altitude sickness at this height.
If you’re traveling here in the summer, keep an eye on the forecast and be on the lookout for afternoon thunderstorms (the frequent lightning risk is what caused Walker’s home to burn down, after all). Morning hiking is often preferred to lower the risk of encountering adverse weather. The best way to get to the park is to drive and park in one of the two aforementioned lots.