Colorado Trail Day 4
June 28, 2026
Julie got up before five while I laid in for a little while longer. We got up and made some hot drinks and then some oatmeal, then we packed up and hit the trail at about 7:15.
We did a little better than we thought on the 4 1/2 mile climb. I guess the cool morning temperatures and resting our legs a bit paid off.
We took a little snack break about midway and I changed the long pants I had started with for shorts as it grew warmer.
We arrived at the Rolling Creek trailhead around 10:00. We put our thumbs out for a few cars with no luck although there was more traffic headed north towards Bailey than we expected at this time of day. After six or seven cars passed we started walking towards Bailey. Then the next car, a sporty Audi coupe, stopped for us. The car has four seats but the driver, who works as a camp counselor at a nearby camp, had his bicycle in the trunk so the seats had to stay folded down. We got the packs in and then Julie jumped in so I sat on top of her in the front seat for the eight mile drive to Bailey. The young man driving had souped up his supercharged six speed manual, and he liked to talk fast and drive quickly. A very memorable first hitchhiking experience!
We stopped at the little outfitters store and got some backpacking breakfasts and sunblock and then walked to a coffee shop to get some hot drinks and check emails. We saw a bridge behind the coffee shop and I thought it might be the bridge we had read about in Waterton Canyon and I was right - it was a railroad bridge that was moved to Bailey after Waterton Canyon was changed from rails to road. Now it’s being used as a pedestrian bridge to access some trails. There was also a small car show back there.
We walked towards the other end of “downtown” Bailey to Craft Mountain Brewing. The beer, food, and staff here were great. We had a sandwich and a couple orders of fries - huge and delicious fries - and a couple beers.
Between the first order and the additional order of fries Julie walked across the street to the Conoco convenience store and picked up some protein bars and a couple of Big Hunks for desserts on trail. Big Hunks don’t melt like chocolate.
Check in time at Two Bridges Lodge is 4:00 but Julie called and the innkeeper said they would prioritize cleaning the hostel room and we could arrive at 2:00. We walked the mile to the Lodge and arrived a little early but they have lots of nice, shady benches along the North Fork of South Platte River.
The Lodge’s hostel room is super luxurious with a kitchen, living room with TV, and free laundry facilities. They even have some “loaner” clothes so that hikers have something to wear while you do all of your laundry. It is incredibly well set up for backpackers - five stars!
After showering and doing laundry we walked the short distance to Two Dads Taphouse and Eatery for another good meal.
Upon our return to the Lodge we met a fellow hiker whose trail name is Bright Side. We watched some of Captain America: The First Avenger.
4.6 miles and 1200 feet elevation gain.