Swallow Trail, South Valley Park

The weather was absolutely beautiful this weekend, so my husband and I decided to take a hike in South Valley Park, located in Littleton, Colorado.  I blogged about the Coyote Song Trail we last took in the park on this link, but today we decided to take another trail called the Swallow Trail.

This trail is a relatively easy, meandering 1.2-mile trail that is for hikers only.

As you can see in the photo above, when I look back I can see the fringes of my community, located in the Ken Caryl Valley up on the ridge. I am fortunate enough to live only a mile away from this beautiful park!

On one side of the Swallow Trail, you will see large red sandstone cliffs.

Placards along the trail describe the importance of these sheltering cliffs over the millennium, for both animals...

....and humans. There is evidence that "hunter-gatherer' people inhabited South Valley Park 7,500 years before the pyramids of Egypt were built! (Double click on any photo to enlarge it for easier viewing)

Native Americans used the cliffs as protective areas against which to build their homes and to use the natural resources they found here.

On the other side of Swallow Trail, you will see the valley--now a verdant green color after late spring snow and afternoon rainstorms.

South Valley Park is a geologist's dream as it displays Lyons, Fountain, and Dakota formations.

Park placards that describe the varied rock formations and how they were formed millions of years ago. (Double click photo to enlarge)

In the distance, you can also see one of the headquarters for Lockheed Martin. I will blog more about their headquarters in a future blog post. In 1995 there was a growing movement to prevent this corporation from developing this area further. Jefferson Open Space had the opportunity to purchase a large portion of the land in 1997, and in 2002 created South Valley Park for natural preservation and the enjoyment of park goers. There are many restrictions in the park to help preserve the nesting areas of birds, as well as seasonal closures of some areas to allow Elk and Mule Deer to migrate.

South Valley Park is also a photographer's dream! The red rock formations are large, varied, and visually interesting.

A balancing act!

A cottonwood tree growing alongside a large boulder.

A "candy kiss" is resting on top of this rock formation?

Fountain Rocks towering over the trail.

In the distance, you can see what would have happened if the parkland had not been preserved, as large houses were being constructed near fountain rocks on the outlying fringes of the park.

I was fascinated to see spring flowers of all kinds blooming in the park this weekend.

I can identify the cacti and ubiquitous yellow dandelion wildflowers among these photos,  but I will have to purchase a good Colorado wildflower book to begin to identify the rest.

At both ends of Swallow Trail, there is a parking lot with park trail information...

...as well as its history and information on what to do if you come across a wild animal that lives in the area.

Going back we took the more rigorous 1.5-mile Coyote Song Trail, which climbs higher in the park.

The views from the trail are also magnificent!

South Valley Park is a wonderful oasis to enjoy for hikers, mountain bikers, and residents and visitors of the greater Denver area to enjoy! I feel so happy to be able to show you its beauty!