Green Mountain Tour

Dogs Leashed

Features Views · Wildlife

This is a nice place to run without having too long of a drive from town. The west side on this route has nice views of Front Range mountains. The trails here tend to dry out quickly after a rain or snow so you can run here year round. You can see three 14ers from the top of Green Mountain: Mt. Evans to the west, Pike's Peak to the south, and Long's Peak to the north.

Shade and trees are sparse and there can be lots of foot and bike traffic especially on the weekends. The parking lots, especially on the east side, can easily fill up on a busy weekend.

Keep your eyes open for rattlesnakes.

Lots of fist sized rocks on portions of this trail. Plenty of people run the trails here though. Easy to make longer or shorter loops using the many nearby trails and other parking lots.

From the end of the parking lot, you'll see a map display. Take a quick look at that before starting on the trail at your left. At the first fork you'll turn right and head uphill. There will be some steep climbing for a bit. Keep climbing up the trail to the large antenna tower where the trail meets up with a dirt service road where the Summit Loop Trail begins.

Continue left up the service road down the saddle and back up the other side. At the top of the hill, turn off of the service road onto Rooney Valley Trail to reach the summit which is not far away. Enjoy the 360-degree views before continuing west on Rooney Valley Trail to descend. You'll see a hang glider launch point. Another good spot to check out the views.

Continue down the trail and you'll eventually start to traverse the mountain. There is a fork that may be confusing and you'll stay left going toward Green Mountain. There are some nice views of a group of trees on Green Mountain that seem to be missing everywhere else. You'll continue around the mountain past a fenced off area and take a left at an intersection with Green Mountain Trail.

After a steep climb and some more traversing, Green Mountain Trail will pop you out just above the parking area where you started.

Not many trees, but lots of other prairie vegetation. Large herds of deer and also rattlesnakes can be seen from time to time. Wildflowers can be great in spring through June. Conflower, lupine, and many others.