The Serpents Trail At Sunset

I know many of you hike The Serpents Trail just inside The Colorado National Monument. It's convenient and I saw several folks walking and jogging along the many switchbacks. This evening's sunset made for a perfect end to a beautiful late October day.

Called "the crookedest road in the world," this historic trail has 16 switchbacks. The trail climbs steadily from east to west through Wingate Sandstone. Built in the early 1900s, this route was part of the main road until 1950. The fact that it's a former road makes for a nice wide path up the side of The Monument.

I spotted a desert cottontail making my way up. The guy turned and posed nicely for this picture. As I got near the top I stopped to take in the sunset over the valley.

As the sun began to slowly cast a shadow across everything below me, the rocks and mountains began to change colors.

It's a nice workout up and down the 3 mile long trial. If you've not taken the walk in some time, you should. I'd suggest at evening just before the sun goes down.