Darby's Reason's to Love this Hike:

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1. A winding drive away, just outside of Boulder towards Nederland and up Magnolia Road, is a short hike totally worth the steep mountain roads to get there.

2. This moderately rocky trail will take you to the northern inlet at Gross Reservoir, about 1.2 miles away. The woods will hug you with its lush forest of trees, boulders, wild flowers, and birds.

3. The creek runs along the trail the entire way, so the sounds and smells of the water entice this little four-legged (me, I'm Darby!) into the stream for a little taste. Scramble up some rocks, travel over tree roots, and work your way to the steep rocks towards the end of the trail over looking the waterfall. I (Darby) couldn't make it over the rock scramble to the lake without being carried (I'm 14 years old!).

4. CR 359, from the parking lot, will take you down a dirt road to Gross Reservoir and camping sites about a 2.7 mile trip. This open only in the summer months.

5. Other hiking routes around Gross Reservoir are Rocky Point by the North Shore Picnic Area,  South Side Dam, and Inlet Trail at Osprey Point   ----map of Gross Reservoir. To get to these trails at Gross Reservoir: go west from Baseline Road in Boulder up Flagstaff Mountain 8 miles to Gross Dam Road, or west highway 72 (south of Boulder), up Coal Creek Canyon toward Pinecliff, to CR 77 Gross Dam Road. Fun Fact: Gross Reservoir is operated by Denver Water, and the 11 miles of shoreline allow non-motorized boating. The entire reservoir is free.

County:Boulder

Elevation: Starting around 7500' and slowly descending to about 7200'.

Skill Level: Moderate, parts are easier, but there are boulders and roots to scramble over

Bikes and Horses: Yes

Dog Leash: Yes, on leash

Restrooms: In the parking lot

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Directions: West on Canyon Drive (119) from Boulder towards Nederland. Left on Magnolia Road for 6.5 miles (the road turns to dirt about 4 miles in), left on CR 68 for 2 miles. The parking lot is on the right.

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