Omayra Acevedo,  Peak to Peak.  I recall the first time I hiked the Walker Ranch Loop in Boulder County. It was hot. My first mistake was not getting there early enough. My second mistake was running out of water before finishing the 7.6-mile loop, but boy, was it a beautiful hike! I can still close my eyes and remember the distant sound of the train passing by, the sound of leaves as they danced with the wind, and the smell of Colorado warmth. The kind of warmth that you can only feel and smell when you’re in the middle of a forest in the Rocky Mountains.

Walker Ranch offers an array of views, wildlife, wild flowers, overlooks and of course, an up close and personal experience with the South Boulder Creek. Bring a small picnic, sit by the river and enjoy the perfection that is Colorado nature. Just remember to clean up after yourself. The wildlife and other nature lovers will thank you deeply. As the saying goes, “Leave only footprints, and take only pictures.”

Here’s some extra advice from an avid hiker: bring layers. The weather can change at any moment, during any time of the year. Especially in higher altitudes. Pack a first aid kit, extra socks and underwear (I’ll explain this one a little later), bear spray, some sort of noise maker, really good hiking shoes, plenty of high energy foods, and whenever possible, bring a hiking partner. Yes, in my opinion, you need a lot more than this, but if you’re out for the first time or just on a day hike, this should make your outdoor experience a little more pleasant.

Now back to the underwear and socks… Sometimes having an extra pair can be the difference between chaffing, blisters or avoiding it altogether. I’ve been on hikes when my foot has fallen through a pile of snow or slipped on a rock into a river and I’ve regretted not having something to change into. So, trust me, you can be as careful as you possibly can, but that won’t guarantee the possibility of taking a sudden plunge into a body of water.

That’s the beauty about our state. The adventures never end. You don’t even have to travel far to get your dose of nature’s medicine. Walker Ranch, and many other hikes, can be reached in roughly under an hour from Denver and less than 30 minutes from Boulder. I recently found myself back at Walker Ranch. This time, I got there before eight in the morning, brought plenty of water, and of course my camera. I took only photos and left only footprints.

(Originally published in the June 21, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)