Horsetooth Rock, Loveland Colorado, 10/30/11

This was our Denver fall hike. We took Soderberg trail to Horsetooth Rock and returned via Audra and Southridge trails, about 5 miles round trip.

Horsetooth Rock is located in the Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, west of Fort Collins. Legend has it that the rock is the remains of the heart of an evil giant, cut in two by the powerful Native American Chief Maununmoku, protecting his people from the giant's wrath. Settler's however thought it looked more like horse teeth and is the name that stuck.

We had the good luck of finding two deer just on the side of the trail, enjoying the last of the fall's greenery.

No, I did not rotate this picture. That is how the tree grew.

It was only October and the snows had already fallen.

This was a very busy trail with lots of hikers and their dogs.

The ascent to the rock required a climb...

... and as we reached the top we were rewarded by fabulous views with Pikes Peak to the south, Longs Peak and Rocky Mountain National Park to the west, Wyoming to the north and the Great Plains to the east. Altogether a great hike and well worth the effort.