Old Kiln Spur

This out-and-back trail follows a former road on the hillside above Lee Hill Drive. While hiking this trail from east to west you'll travel past geologic formations that get older and older the further you go. You'll also see landslides, faults, fossils, fish scales, mudstone layers, etc. For more details about the geology along this trail click here. From the junction of the Old Kiln Trail, hike west on a gentle incline through open fields. Upon entering the canyon, the trail hugs the cliffside and traverses a series of ridges and rock outcroppings. Keep an eye out for the squat limestone kiln that was built here in the 1880's. It is thought to be a fairly poorly constructed example of a kiln which may have made the "lime" plaster and cement for the earliest CU buildings. The grade of the trail steepens and the surface becomes more rocky and rough. The views into the neighboring canyons and foothills improve although traffic noise is still noticeable. The trail ends abruptly at a metal gate next to an old building and water tank. Beyond this point is a private road and private property. Retrace your steps back down to the intersection with the Old Kiln Trail.