The Hogback Trail at Lathrop State Park

The trail follows the crest of the Walsen Dike (the hogback) among eroding magma that solidified eons ago, now seen as rocky outcrops. 

One of my favorite places in Huerfano County is the Hogback Trail at Lathrop State Park. I've hiked it three times, and each time I was the only one on the trail.

The only one, that is, except for the red-tailed hawks circling above me, wishing I was smaller.

Where the trail deviates from the ridge crest, ancient, metamorphized shale is found. The dike was created when an underground crack filled with molten magma. The heat from the magma "baked" the shale, hardening it. But the trail has caused this magma to erode, breaking into small pieces. 

It's an easy hike. I think it's rated at 'moderate' difficulty, but the difficult parts are only a small portion of the trail, the parts that ascend and descend the dike that forms the central piece of the trail.

I know of no other park where visitors can hike along the top of a geological dike.

The trail takes about an hour for me to walk. It offers great views to the north and south, including the park's lakes and the Spanish Peaks, the Sangre de Cristo Range, and the Culebra Range. 

The view from the trail is great, both to the southwest (shown) and to the north, even when the view is obscured by smoke from western fires in the summer. 

Numerous wildflowers dot the trail, blooming on cue at different times of the spring, summer, and fall.

I especially like to hike the trail during the week and in the off-season, when you have virtually the entire park to yourself.