I began my trek from the west, right off of Highway 65 Grand Mesa Scenic Byway, allowing for a more gradual incline to the crest. It was windy, making it feel colder than the nearly 70 degrees it was.

With a backpack filled with water, snacks, and camera equipment, I felt warm enough to explore the woods of Grand Mesa. There were few people on site, and the colorful grounds reminded me how lucky I am to live in a place that feels like a painting.

Within the first quarter of a mile, I spotted deer gracing the meadow. Clouds danced across the sky as I began hearing myself huffing and puffing, stopping only to take a photo of what I found inspiring and didn’t want to risk forgetting. Glimpses of sunshine made the waterscapes shimmer.

Not quite two miles into my hike, a silence took over the forest. I can’t explain it, but it was as if everything stood still, even though the wind blew. I felt such an enormous sense of peace a part of me briefly questioned if I had died.

The Crag Crest Trail (CCT) is a 10.3- mile loop located in the Grand Mesa National Forest, which is worthy of its own story and will be in one of this year’s Discovery Colorado columns. For now, we’ll focus solely on this spectacular trail.

The trail offers countless views of various landscapes, from lakes to multicolored cliffs and slopes. If you plan on trekking the entire trail, it’s important to note that sections take you on narrow ridges with steep drop-offs on both sides, with the trail’s lowest elevation being 10,150 feet.

The trail’s narrow ridges make it unsafe for travelers other than hikers. During July and August, mosquito repellent is highly recommended due to the number of lakes in the area. It’s also best to start this hike early in the morning, so preparing with proper layering is key.

Suddenly, for unexplainable reasons, I quickly swapped my landscape camera for my wildlife one. Not one moment later, a wild creature walked toward me on the trail: a Colorado red fox.

It was as if it knew me, and I knew it. It didn’t shudder at the sight of me, and all I could do was say, “Well, hello,” as I pulled my camera in front of me and watched it gracefully pose for me.

Noticing the fox was heading in the opposite direction, I decided to turn around and see what would happen. I continued taking photos, and for a brief moment, the sun shone on its face, allowing me to capture some of the best fox photos I’ve ever taken.

After several minutes, it proceeded between the trees, where I followed nearby on the trail, hearing it say things I didn’t understand. I wish I spoke Fox. Once it heard other hikers approaching, it took off at nearly 30 miles per hour.

I’m not sure what the experience meant. What I do know is we live in a stunning and magical place.

To learn more about Crag Crest Trail visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gmug/ specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5193018. To learn more about Colorado Red Foxes visit https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/ LivingwithWildlifeRedFox.aspx.