Distance: We did 3.25 miles, you may do more or less
Location: Broomfield (specific directions below)
Trailhead: Bathrooms, sign board, trail maps, picnic benches, trash cans
Price: Free
Dogs: Must be leashed
Hiking partner: Bill

This is a good trail to bring the kids, seniors or to take a run. If you're looking for a serious hike, look at my other hikes at the bottom of the page. The Carolyn Homberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm is a place for a stroll with the family, an easy walk or maybe a winter run.

The trailhead is about 1.7 miles from Northwest Parkway, Dillon Road and Highway 287/Wadsworth. Boulder County bought part of the farm in 1980 for agricutural preservation and for open space.

There are maps at the trailhead explaining the trails and the history of the land. If you have children with you, pick up a brochure for "nature detectives." It encourages children 11 and under to look for red-tailed hawks, raptor nests and even to spend some time sitting quietly in the grass looking at the insects, birds and wildlife.

The trail is wide and made of crushed rock. We saw hikers, bikers and even people on horseback. As you start walking, watch for signs about closed areas to protect wildlife habitat.

The trail begins close to Stearns Lake. Fishing is allowed from the bank of the lake. Even the lake is historic. The lake has been storing water for livestock and irrigation since 1873. It now covers 23 acres. Depending on the time of year, you may see a pumpkin field in the distance. The farm runs a u-pick-it operation in October with a corn maze and other activities.

There are benches along the Stearns Lake which are a good spot to sit and read the trail brochure. It tells the story of Rock Creek Farm and it's beginning as a hotel, tavern and stage station for the Overland Mail Stage route in the 1870s. In 1888, owner Mary Miller founded the town of Lafayette. She named it after her husband Lafayette Miller.

As you pass the lake, you'll see a split for two trails. The Mary Miller trail is 1.5 miles each way. The trail goes around part of Stearns Lake and ends at Highway 287. (It will eventually link to a trail on the other side of the highway.)

The 1.3 mile Cradleboard trail turns south and goes toward a wetland preserve and Josh's Pond.

We saw the highway coming in, so we turned on the Cradleboard trail. The trail brochure says the Cradleboard trail was named after the craftwork of the Plains Indians. Mothers carried extravagantly ornamented cradleboards on the backs to transport their babies.

As you walk, look for birds and other wildlife. Over 90 species of birds have been found at the preserve. Some of the birds, like the Swainson's hawk travel between North America and Argentina every year.

The Cradleboard trail winds through several fields. We passed another lake with several ducks and we walked by dozens of prairie dogs that live at the preserve. Don't let your children touch the animals, they can bite and carry disease.

At the trail split to Josh's Pond, we decided to visit the pond. The trail climbs slightly to a gate where you exit Boulder County Open Space and join Broomfield's trail system. I was surprised to find railroad tracks here. The tracks are part of the Colorado and Southern Railroad. There's a sign saying you can cross the track, but do not walk along the tracks.

After the tracks crossing, we turned right at the sign for the Lake Link trail. We found several social and single track bike trails in this area. Use your map to find Josh's Pond or do what we did. After the tracks, we turned right at the first trail split and left at the next wide trail split.

Josh's Pond is near a neighborhood, but there was no one else there when we visited on a Saturday afternoon in November. The pond has several benches, a covered picnic area, a platform to look at the pond and even a unique bench children will love. It features four fish on top. One reading a book to the others. The book says on one page:

Little Fishies
three, two, one.
In Josh's Pond
They have so much fun!

The pond is named for Josh Cassell. A sign at the pond says this park was the place he enjoyed the most.

From the trailhead to the pond is about 1.5 miles. We walked around the pond and headed back to the trailhead. If you want a little more walking, you can follow the Cradleboard Trail to its end or turn on the Mary Miller trail when you get back near Stearns Lake.

I normally don't hike much in the fall and winter, so I'm looking for advice on nice trails at low elevation. Email me at: deb_stanley@kmgh.com. If you have questions about this walk or hiking in Colorado, please email me.

Directions:From the Boulder turnpike, exit Highway 287/Wadsworth and drive North. At Northwest Parkway/Dillon Road, turn left or west. Follow the signs for Dillon Road. Turn lefyt or south on 104th Street. Drive .8 of a mile to the trailhead on your left.

Previous hiking reports:(low elevation hikes have a star)
Boulder:

2008: Get Outside! Hiking Caribou Ranch*

2008: Get Outside! Hiking Mallory Cave*

2008: Get Outside! Circling Heil Valley Ranch*

2008: Get Outside! Hiking Forsythe Canyon To Waterfall*

2008: Get Outside! Climbing South Boulder Peak*

2008: Get Outside! Hiking The Boulder Flatirons*

2007: Get Outside! Hiking Walker Ranch*

2007: Get Outside! To The Top Of Bear Peak*

2007: Get Outside! Hiking Rabbit Mountain*

2007: Get Outside! Hiking Bald Mountain*

2007: Get Outside! Hiking Betasso Preserve*

2007: Get Outside! Circling Wonderland Lake*

Golden area:

2008: Get Outside! Hiking To Forgotten Valley

2008: Get Outside! Hiking Chimney Gulch*

2007: Get Outside! Hiking Apex Park*

Jefferson County:

2008: Get Outside! Hiking Mt. Falcon*

2008: Get Outside! Hiking Elk Meadow*

I-70 area:

2008: Get Outside! Hiking Herman Gulch

2008: Get Outside! Hiking Chicago Lakes

2008: Get Outside! Climbing Chief Mountain

Rocky Mountain National Park:

2008: Get Outside! Hiking Granite Falls

2008: Get Outside! Climbing Twin Sisters

2008: Get Outside! Hiking Bierstadt Lake

2007: Get Outside! Hiking to Chasm Lake

2007: Get Outside! Lulu City & Little Yellowstone

2007: Get Outside! Hiking The Loch, Andrew's Glacier

2007: Get Outside! Hiking to Sandbeach Lake

Indian Peaks/James Peak Wilderness:

2008: Get Outside! Hiking King, Bob & Betty Lakes

2008: Get Outside! Hiking Forest Lakes

2007: Get Outside! Hiking Arapaho Lakes

2007: Get Outside! Hiking to Mitchell & Blue Lakes

2007: Get Outside! Hiking The James Peak Area

2007: Get Outside! Hiking to Heart Lake

Northern Colorado:

2008: Get Outside! Hiking To Homestead Meadows

2008: Get Outside! Hiking Devil's Backbone*

2007: Get Outside! Hiking Lake Agnes

Summit & Eagle Counties:

2008: Get Outside! Hiking Booth Falls

2008: Get Outside! Hiking Missouri Lakes

2007: Get Outside! Hiking Mohawk Lakes & Continental Falls

Grand County:

2008: Get Outside! Hiking St Louis Lake

2008: Get Outside! Hiking To A Waterfall At Snow Mountain Ranch

2008: Get Outside! Hiking Granby Ranch

Other:

2008: Get Outside! Exploring Fulford Cave

2007: Get Outside! Our Favorite Hikes

2007: Get Outside! Our Favorite Bike Rides