July 7 – 10, 2024

The Uranium Mind Trail near Steamboat Springs is a moderately challenging hike that offers scenic views and historic significance Here are some of the key information about the trail;

Length: approximately 3.2 miles long round trip
Elevation Gain: Around 850 feet.
Difficulty: Moderate
The trail leads to an old Uranium mine that was operational in the 1950’s

OUR VRBO home for our time in Steamboat Springs

Restaurants –

Weather: it was cool upper 50’s in the morning – then low 90’s in the afternoon.

Strawberry Park Natural Springs

Strawberry Park Hot Springs blends the pure natural beauty of the environment with the unique stone masonry of there thermal pools.

We went back to Denver after 3 nights in Steamboat Springs where the temperature reached the low 100’s so we canceled our hiking trips and found some cooler local activities. One day we walked two of the parks that had big shady trees, went to a movie, saw Fly me to the Moon, it was entertaining but the theater wasn’t that cool, another day we went to a museum. We made best of the extreme heat’

Sela flew back home to Portland on Saturday, the next day, Sunday, Greta, Isle and I stopped by the Garden of the Gods on our way to Monument Co. to see Chris, Cristy’s and Donna’s new house – it was great day.

Date: September 3 – 6, 2024.
The Virginia Creeper trail is a popular trail that runs through southwest Virginia, extending 34.3 miles from Abingdon to Whitetop Station, near the North Carolina border. Originally a railroad line, the trail was converted in the 1980s into a scenic route for hiking, biking and horse back riding. The trail is named after Virginia Creeper vine, which grows abundantly in the region and also the after the nickname of the original steam engines that “crept” up the mountains.

Abingdon to Damascus
This section of the trail is gentler, spanning about 15 miles and featuring rolling hills and farmland. Its a great spot for a more leisurely bike ride with plenty of scenic views, wildlife and historic markers.

Damascus to Whitetop Station
This is a more challenging but also more popular section, spanning 17 miles and leading up to the highest point on the trail at Whitetop Mountain. The route involves a gradual ascent and passes through lush forests, creeks and bridges.

I brought my RV and stayed at the Creeper Trail Campground a popular campground located on Whitetop mountain near the Virginia Creeper Trail head. I was distracted by a women, Esther, who I had just started dating and did not take the time to look at the directions on the campground website but followed Google Maps instead. Google maps had me high in the mountains on a gravel, one lane road with hair pin curves – hundred foot cliffs on one side and sheer rock on the other side. Was so glad I didn’t meet anyone driving the other way because I didn’t know what I would do.

Camping at the Creeper Trail Campground allows visitors to full immerse themselves in the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains while having easy access to both the trail and nearby attractions in Damascus.