Pole Hill
This was our group's first time on Pole Hill, and we had a great time. It ended up being a fun yet confusing trail filled with rocky climbs and descents. It was also a fantastic place for lunch.
The trailhead was easy to find because we had it on the GPS. The whole day would have been very difficult without the track on the GPS. As it was, we still made a wrong turn once.
We aired down and got started, and right away we were enjoying the first big, rocky climb. We took a few pictures of everyone climbing rocks, and then we moved on.
The first intersection had us confused and we took 247A by mistake. When we intersected with 247 we decided to go back out 247A the way we came down it so we could run the trail the right way. It was worth it, because 247 had another fun hill climb. It was really green in the trees, and everyone was enjoying themselves.
When we got to 247C we were treated to the best hill climb yet. It would have been difficult for a stock vehicle without sway bars disconnected, but it was doable. We found that out when we discovered a stock truck at the top of the hill.
We went by the parked truck and found the gate to Panorama Peak, but we weren't into hiking on that day. We kept going, heading downhill on 247. It wasn't long before we were at the intersection with 247A and then 247C, where we turned again.
We headed across the bottom of the valley on 122A and then we were going up to Pole Hill. The hill climb there was also a good one. We were looking for the overlook so we could stop for lunch. We turned down the wrong spur at first, but the second try found it.
There were some other people having lunch at the very end of the parking to the overlook, so we stopped a little earlier at the first turnout. We walked a bit back into the trees and set up for a great lunch. The weather was perfect, and everyone enjoyed their break.
A few of us walked up to the overlook after lunch. The other people were gone, and we noted how nice the area was and how you could really fit a lot of people back there. The overlook itself was really spectacular, too. We had a great view of Estes Park below us.
We chatted for a bit, and then we were off again. We checked out The Notch but we didn't hike up to the top. The trail through the tight section wasn't that tight, and it wasn't a concern for anyone.
We were soon back down to the confusing area of intersections, but we made it out without any more wrong turns. It wasn't long before we were back out to the trailhead.
We didn't stop. Instead, we kept going toward Estes Park and turned to go to Pierson Park Road. We'll have to do Pole Hill again -- it was a fun trail!
Reports from Other Days: 2
Use the arrows or dots to flip through the previews of the other reports for Pole Hill. Click one of them to read more and see all of the photos from that day.
