Colorado delivered its annual promise of gold on Friday for my daughter Laurel and me. She asked to do a trail run in the aspen trees, so I chose the trail to Pancake Rocks on the ragged western shoulder of Pikes Peak.
We measured about 3.2 miles one way on Strava. The trail there didn't have a lot of aspen trees, but the last half mile, and the view from the Pancake Rocks area ... absolutely beautiful.
Get there: Drive west on Hwy 24 to Divide. South on Hwy 67 for 9.3 miles (approx.) The trail head begins on the southeast side of an old tunnel. Follow the signs and stay right where the trail forks. The left goes to Horsethief Falls, which is also very pretty.
After the Gold Rush, we drove back to Colorado Springs for pancakes at Adam's Mountain Cafe.
Laurel commented that it felt like a "perfect day." And with that it indeed was perfect, at least for this proud dad.