We love hiking in Colorado Springs. The best part is every hike is totally unique. Each region has its own character and special features. Sometimes within a short distance of each other, you can find completely different environments from dry deserts to wooded forests.
Earlier this summer, I talked about how my family likes to get out and enjoy nature by making a game of our hikes. We explore each area and slowly prod along, sometimes at “preschool pace” looking for “nature finds.” We make each hike a scavenger hunt and we pick up trash as we go.
Depending on where we are, there are different things to be on the lookout for based on the specific area we are visiting. Last week we checked out Fox Run Regional Park. First, we met some friends for a playdate at the great playgrounds located inside the park and then took stroll around the ponds. Later, our family trekked around the trails looking for unique nature finds.
If you are ever up in the Black Forest area, make sure you don’t miss out on this great park and maybe see if you, too, can find some interesting things.
Animals
Animals were easy at this location. We saw a lot of birds like robins, a woodpecker and ducks on the pond!
We saw fish, including koi, in the pond and a turtle sunning himself on a rock.
And we saw rabbits, deer and squirrels.
Plants
While walking through the beautiful Ponderosa pine forest at Fox Run, we spotted lots of different types of plants like wildflowers and berries. Here are a few you might spot along the trail.
Polemonium
Mouse-Ear Chickweed
Chokecherry
Despite the lack of recent rains, we also found a funnel cap mushroom. (Note: I usually ask my kids not to touch mushrooms until I get a chance to identify them, but this kid is both very fast and still learning!) There are some amazing mushrooms to be found and eaten in Colorado, but a few dangerous ones, too!)
I think my favorite part of this hike was the trees!
We counted tree rings, learned how to tell the age of trees that are still standing
and we learned that the bark of Ponderosa Pines smells like butterscotch or vanilla!
Can you spot these treasures too?
Happy hiking!