October heat, peak color, and a Saturday at Apex
Weekend outlook
A warm one. Expect sunny skies on Saturday with highs near 84 along the Front Range and near 69 up in the foothills, then a partly sunny Sunday in the high 70s to low 80s. Wind stays light, southwest at 7 to 9 miles per hour with gusts to 20. No weather alerts are on the books. The aspens are still glowing at elevation, so the high trails are worth the trip. Start early, carry extra water, and plan the biggest efforts for the morning.
Closures
Mostly clear sailing. Meadowlark Trail at Deer Creek Canyon Park is closed weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for culvert work but is open on weekends. The upper tier of Tiers of Zion is open this Sunday under its rotational schedule, and Prairie Falcon at South Valley Park reopened October 7 after boardwalk repairs. In Boulder, Dry Creek Trail and Trailhead remain closed through October for a bridge replacement, Boulder Falls is closed after a rockslide, and Red Rocks Trail segments are closed Monday through Saturday with a detour via the Red Rocks Spur. At Apex Park, Saturday October 10 is an even calendar day, so the designated trails are open to bikes. Sunday is a hiker day there, so plan Apex for Saturday.
Top 3 trails this weekend
1. Apex Park, Golden (Saturday)
October 10 is an even calendar day, which means the designated bike trails at Apex are yours. Climb Apex Trail and drop into Enchanted Forest while the aspens are still at their brightest. Recent Trailforks reports are dry and all clear. Note: Sunday is a hiker day at Apex, so this one is Saturday only.
2. Buffalo Creek
With highs near 84 near town, the shaded ponderosa forest along the Colorado Trail will feel noticeably cooler. Smooth, flowy, and fast, with enough miles for a full day. Recent reports are clear with no issues flagged.
3. White Ranch Park, Golden
Big mileage with big views. Link Belcher Hill to Maverick and the Longhorn loops for a classic Golden foothills day. The park is listed open with recent dry reports, so the trails should be running fast. Go in the morning to stay ahead of the heat.
Trail work and events
COMBA crews are out this weekend with trail work days at the Kal Memorial Pergola project running through the 14th, and the COMTB Coalition Summit happens Friday. If you want to give back before winter, check COMBA's calendar for upcoming work days at Virginia Canyon and Floyd Hill.