LONGMONT - There is so much I wish to confess to you, my dear reader. However, all shall be revealed in due course.

In the meantime, let’s clear our heads at the Rabbit Mountain Open Space at the easternmost point of the foothills in the underrated city of Longmont, Colorado.

It was a Thursday afternoon. I had just finished taking care of a few things in Longmont. Driving on Highway 66, I passed a sign: “Rabbit Mountain Open Space.” I said to myself, “Don’t mind if I do.”

After finding a safe place to turn around, I turned onto North 55th Street. Immediately, I felt I had left the vortex along the excruciatingly busy Highway 66, seemingly never having been among a million other humans while running errands,

I heard myself exhale as my shoulders relaxed. I smiled and followed the curving road as it swayed me from left to right and right to left. Three miles later, I located my destination on the right. Excitement set in.

I jumped out of my truck, waved at the park ranger sitting in his vehicle, and took photos. I greeted fellow hikers and their dogs, and a few bikers loading their mountain bikes. Dogs are allowed on most trails at Rabbit Mountain, which is great news for Coloradoans.

There are four main trails on the open space, ranging from two miles to over five miles. The trails aren’t too difficult to connect if you want to embark on an all-day adventure. Remember to be prepared for the Colorado terrain and weather.

Boulder County manages elk at the Ron Stewart Preserve, limiting hunting to help protect some of the state’s wildlife. As of the 2025-26 season, the County’s management objectives have been met, and hunting at Ron Stewart Preserve is halted for the foreseeable future.

The County also assists agricultural landholders in adjacent areas experiencing elk damage to their crops. “Staff are proposing an extension to the management plan that will allow hunting in the event of a sudden elk population increase,” according to Boulder County.

I keep a hat, sunblock, snacks, water, and a small first aid kit in my truck, so I was good for a short hike. I stood for a while, reading the map. I took the most obvious trail and only hiked for a short time.

It was quiet for a Thursday afternoon; not even the dogs were barking. There was a sense of peace in the air. The herd of deer across the road wasn’t bothered by anything. They grazed. I watched in amusement. I never tire of watching wildlife.

Roughly half an hour into my hike, I stopped to look up. I intended to enjoy the cloud formations dancing across the sky, but instead, I focused more on thanking the heavens for the recent changes in my life.

Things seldom work out the way you want or plan them. This fact sometimes frustrates me. That Thursday, however, I couldn’t have been more grateful for life’s unanswered prayers.

The Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain is at 15140 N 55th Street, Longmont. To learn more, visit https://bouldercounty.gov/open-space/parks-and-trails/ron-stewart-preserve-rabbit-mountain/. Please note: Any resumption of hunting at Ron Stewart Preserve requires approval from the Board of County Commissioners. Check out more information here: https://bouldercounty.gov/open-space/management/elk/.