Mike’s Hikes is a series of year-round hikes throughout Western Colorado’s public lands that WSCC is actively working to protect. We offer hikes for all abilities and interests, with the goal of connecting our community to local public lands. Check back regularly for updates and to sign up for our free hikes!
May 9, 7:30 AM- Join us for a bird watching outing at the Paonia River Park on Saturday, May 9. The group will meet in the parking area at the River Park at 7:30 AM (birds don’t sleep in!). It is an easy, flat walk of around 2 miles. Bring binoculars and download the Merlin phone app, if possible. The leader will have bird books the group can reference. Possible birds include Mallard, Canada Goose, Belted Kingfisher, American Crow, Raven, Scrub Jay, House Wren, Hairy Woodpecker, Cedar Waxwing, Western Bluebird, Evening Grosbeak, Spotted Towhee, Yellow-breasted Chat, House Finch, assorted Warbler species, Western Tanager, American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, and many more. To sign up for the hike, click here.
April 18, 10 AM- Join Mike Burkley at Batelle Darby Creek Metro Park in Galloway, Ohio for a nature walk hike! This hike is considered “easy” and will include a walk from the Nature Center to the Prairie Bison Pasture, with an optional extension to the viewpoint of Big Darby Creek. Topics discussed will include: safety in the outdoors, the mental and physical health benefits of exercise, finding solitude and quietness in the outdoors, the joy of sharing experiences in nature with loved ones, and enjoying wildlife in their natural habitat. Battelle Darby Creek features 7,358 acres of forest, prairies and wetlands. It stretches along 13 miles of the Big and Little Darby Creeks, both State and National Scenic Rivers. Besides the areas surrounding the creeks, there are also over 1,600 acres of restored wetlands and prairies. Bison have been reintroduced to the park and roam freely within two enclosed pastures.
April 4, 9 AM- Join us on a dog-friendly hike in the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (DE-NCA) along the Big Dominguez Creek in the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area. The moderate, six mile round-trip hike is mostly flat and offers the opportunity to explore diverse landscapes and ecosystems with frequent bighorn sheep sightings as well as petroglyphs and the Dominguez waterfall. The trailhead is about one hour from Paonia. To learn more about the DE-NCA, visit here. To sign up for the hike, click here. Well-behaved, friendly dogs on leash only, please.
March 29, 9 AM- Join us for a 3.7 mile hike in the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area on the Bobcat Loop Trail. This moderately difficult hike will explore the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Area and provide views along the rim of the gorge. The group will meet at 9 AM at Peach Valley and Duncan Roads and will plan to be out for four hours including lunch with an amazing view. There is a $3 per person day-use fee (or $15 for the annual pass). Carpooling options will be arranged from Paonia. To sign up, click here. Space is limited to 10 participants.
January 31, 5 PM- Join us at Ward Trailhead on Grand Mesa for a Full Moon Snowshoe Hike to experience the splendor and awe of the National Forest by moonlight! Guided by the full Snow Moon, we will traverse the Ward Creek Trail and loop around to the Staircase Trail to head back to our cars. Located on the south side of Grand Mesa just shy of 10,000 feet in elevation, this route is about 3.3 km (2.1 miles) in length with some elevation change. Snowshoe rental is available through the Cedaredge Library and the Nature Connection.
Full moon hikes offer a unique and enchanting way to experience the outdoors. Coupled with the radiant glow of a snow-covered landscape, the experience is nothing short of magical. Interested in experiencing the splendor and awe of full moon hiking for yourself? Join Western Slope Conservation Center for its first Mike’s Hike of 2026 on a Full Moon Snowshoe Hike on Grand Mesa, an area renown for its unique geological features and regarded as the
Overview: This hike has tremendous views, with vistas of Mt. Gunnison and Mt. Lamborn along the way and, at the end, views of mountains to the east and southeast, including the gorgeous ruby range. You can also look directly across Dark Canyon at Marcellina Peak and see a long waterfall coming down one of its gullies. This area is rich in aspens and fir trees as well as an abundance of wildlife such as Spruce
Overview: This hike begins on a jeep road, though 4wd vehicles could drive up and park farther up the trail. The hike is briefly on Interpretive Ocean Trail before taking the turn to the east onto Little Elk Basin Trail, and offers views of the south side of Mt. Lamborn as well as impressive wilderness. This area is considered to be one of the best habitats in the state of Colorado for bears. It is
