Crags Trail Pike Peak Forest

The Crags are rock formations located south of Divide, facing the northwest slope of Pikes Peak. We chose this trail down by Colorado Springs to hike with our guests and we didn't have a choice of date (rain in forecast) This is a very wooded area and the drive in was an adventure- through a campground. It was Memorial Day weekend and we could see many campers enjoying the day. (some with dogs) This bridge crosses four mile creek and you will follow this all the way.

This was our first view of Pikes Peak- still had snow. The trail was a little wet but no snow to worry about.

You will get to a fork in the trail where you have the choice to go Devils Playground. This trail takes you up to pikes peak 7 miles one way.

As you continue along the trail , enjoy the beautiful rock formations on either side of the trail.

Further along more views of the mountains.

Here you can see the clouds rolling in, doesn't take long. 

Lots of aspens

It started raining and lightning, thunder so this was as far as we got. I had been before snowshoeing. The last part gets steeper but the views are awesome at the top. Total 4 miles out and back. Elevation gain 630 ft start at 10,150 ft.

Chilnualna Falls Yosemite

This hike is located south in the park near the Wawona Hotel. You drive through a small town to get to the trailhead on Chilnualna Falls Road.  At about .3 miles you come to the lower cascade.  This is pretty all by itself.

The trail was so green it really didn't seem like Yosemite. Lots of trees and moss.

Now the trail begins to climb up and up. The total elevation gain is 2,347 ft.

The trees are so tall...

and so wide.

The trail levels off at times to give a break to the steep climb.

Unfortunately, the higher we climbed we began to climb into a cloud.

Here we are at the top having lunch at the falls. It was hard to see much here. I read later that it is hard to get a good view anyway of the falls and it is impossible to build anything to see it either.
It was very cold and started raining so we didn't last long at the top. It was a great workout at 8.4 miles.