In May, 2012, a  very dear friend showed me the way to El Dorado Springs State Park.  We weren’t able to do much more than view the falls area, that day, but I kept the scene in my heart.  On July 29,of this year, I was able to ignore the intermittent rain and take the canyon hike, up to the junction with a longer loop trail, then back again.  It is among the most gorgeous trails I’ve yet seen.

So, meet El Dorado Canyon! 🙂  There are a  lot of photos here, so take your time.

A narrow-gauge rail system goes through El DoradoCanyon, regularly.

Prickly Pear cacti do nicely,at 10,000 feet.

Location, location, location!

So, there you have it.  This was not just any hike; it was the one that led me to overcome a few barriers- both physical and emotional.

Next:  Manitou Springs, Part 1:  The North Side