There are a great number of trails around Beaver Creek, but one starts near the Hyatt Resort at the base of the mountain. The overlook trail goes straight up the mountain for about 3.5 miles. If you reach the top, you can take a gondola or ski lift back down the mountain. However, the last gondola leaves around 4 pm. so you need to take care of your time. Also, on all of these trails, you need to take plenty of water. The air is quite thin and it is easy to get dizzy if you are not acclimated. It can take five days to get used to the altitude. Water is essential.
I ended up passing on the gondola in favor of hiking back down the mountain. It made for some long hikes, but it was rejuvenating.
One of the things that I look forward to on Colorado trails is the aspen forests. My hikes around Beaver Creek offered an abundance of such spots. It was wonderful to just sit among the aspen and listen to the wind.
There were also fields of wild flowers. Locals explained that the abundance of wild flowers was due to increase in rain fall this year and warmer temperatures. The flowers were a second blooming that offered a surprise bonus.
I saw plenty of bear signs but never was able to spot any. However, after complaining to my driver on the way to the small airport in Eagle that I had not seen any bear, a young bear ran in front of our car.
Another surprise was to see burn piles on one side of the mountain. The piles are meant to clear the undergrowth to reduce wild fires.
Here are a few pictures from the two days of hiking that I was able to fit into the trip:
