Today’s hike is an out-and-back hike on the Narrow Gauge Trail #1432, which runs along the bed of the Denver, South Park, and Pacific Railroad, Chalk Creek Grade, of the line that linked Buena Vista to St. Elmo. It was a narrow-gauge railway used to provide passenger, mining and logging transport within Chalk Creek Canyon.
The line closed in 1926, and was later converted to a trail, variously known as the Chalk Creek Grade Historic Trail, Narrow Gauge Trail, and officially by the U.S. Forest Service as the Narrow Gauge Trail #1432.
I’ve got warm clothes as the trail hugs the southern — shady side of the Canyon. It should be a nice easy hike of around 5 miles, though I might extend that a little by checking out the start of my planned hike for tomorrow on the Colorado Trail.
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