Bats and bogies at Cheyenne Mountain

Sounds like a fun evening with the kiddies:

Cheyenne Mountain State Park is offering a Halloween program, Creatures of the Night, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 26 - that's a Friday.

You can learn about owls, bats, and other creatures of the night, enjoy a snack and some games and take a hike in the moonlight. We aren't talking tough trails - guests are encouraged to wear costumes. Hikes are scheduled at 7 and 8:15 p.m.

Entry is the same, unless you have a State Parks pass: $6 per vehicle.

Progress at Cheyenne Mtn.

Dropped by Cheyenne Mountain State Park yesterday to hike a few more miles and see how construction is progressing. This top photo is the north end of Blackmer Loop. The trail quickly drops into the trees on the far side of this meadow. Winds and dips among oak and pine.


Definitely looks like camping could open later this summer, as projected. Other facilites are a ways off. But they sure look nice. This is a typical picnic site. Tent sites look similar, with a designated pad for your tent.

The park is still open weekends only. There were crews up there working Sunday. It's worth visiting, but call ahead or check the Web site to make sure it's open.

Rangers/naturalists were packing up a presentation on animals - like the skins and skulls hands-on display we've touted up at Mueller. Only a dozen cars in the lot, but I was told visits were steady all weekend.

We took Coyote Run to Boulder Run to Raccoon Ridge and the start of Acorn Alley back to Boulder and then returned to the lot via Blackmer Loop and Medicine Wheel. Boulder Run lives up to its name - a rocky trail. Blackmer is a beaut and Medicine Wheel looks like it'd be a kick on a mountain bike. It was fun to hike, too. This photo is from the west end of Medicine Wheel, before it becomes more of a singletrack trail.

Next time we'll head out Talon to North and South Talon trails.

Cheyenne Mtn State Park may get namesake

Guess I should have gone to Wednesday's afternoon budget meeting. Then I could have told you yesterday that officials think they've come up with the winning plan to make Cheyenne Mountain part of Cheyenne Mountain State Park.

Dave reported on negotiations and a looming sale deadline a few weeks ago.

Gaz reporter Scott Rappold picked up the story yesterday, in Dave's absence. Here's the latest.