Up on the border of Colorado and Wyoming is Soapstone Prairie , I think it is part of the National Park system, whereas the neighboring Red mountain park is Larimer county open space, and the northern part is Wyoming - Big Hole open space.
A herd of Bison are re-establishing there.
The Cheyenne rim trail was what attracted me up there, though there are a couple of other canyon trails I'd like to go explore more.
The Aspens have been spectacularly bright this Autumn. I managed to get a couple of rides in. First one from Pierson park, through Homestead meadows.
and up onto Kenny Mountain. 
I turned around just below the top, on a rock outcropping in the middle of a beautiful aspen grove. A couple of days later, I took a day off and rode West Magnolia just about as the first significant weather rolled in that I assumed would likely knock the leaves down.
For Labor Day weekend, we headed off to Granby Ranch to see if Maddy would enjoy some downhill mountain biking. We found a hotel with a nice pool and off we went.
The biking was a sucess, I think Maddy managed 5 runs, 900feet vertical each run. I'm claiming success. We also did a nice hike around Monarch Lake.
I started my ride by Echo Lake, at about 10,600ft MSL.
I started there because that is where the road is closed to motor vehicles. With COVID happening and parking at the top being limited and trails narrow, the road has remained closed all season, which makes it a dream to ride up. 
Looking north, the Williams Fork fire continues to burn. 
Bighorn sheep I think?, just the females.
Looking south and getting higher
Summit lake just below 13k.
Some snow that must spend most of its time in the shade.
Finally the parking lot at 14,160ft. Not so bad really, a pretty easy grade most of the way and I must be well adjusted to the elevation.
Meyer-Wobble Observatory soon to be decommissioned. 
I didn't realize this road is the highest paved road in the US. Since I'd ridden my bike, I was wearing my road shoes which are rubbish to walk in. I decided to bare foot the remaining 105ft to the real summit. It was worth it for the views, the high light of the ride really, I imagine a regular summers day would be crowded. 
Mountain goats just walking around, they are a wild species, but introduced from Montana in 1947. 
Jefferson Valley to the South. Virga was starting to fall and the temperature was dropping rapidly, time to get off the mountain. The ride down was surprisingly unfun with ruts every 40 feet or so. 
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| A big turn-out! ~160 pilots I think I heard. From the LZ looking up at launch and the Sangre de Cristo Range |
I didn't have sufficient time to do my homework for this trip. I thought the swifts fly in was a Hang Gliding class5 event -Ha Nope! Anyway I had decided to take it easy and not be too ambitious since I've barely flown in 16 months. Over launch looking south ~13k.
Over launch looking down at Villa Grove.
Over launch about 15k looking north toward Salida.
Over Villa Grove looking down on the LZ and Launch. A place I've heard about for years, but hadn't managed to visit until now.
Valley is around 8k feet MSL Peaks around 13.5k, previous day I flew down to the corner and back, flying the Freedom as I'm really out-of-practice. This glider is much easier to land and more forgiving of mistakes.
Looking south down toward the Great Sand Dunes National Park. What a great fun weekend, so nice to see (at a distance) so many friendly faces I've not seen in months/years. Somehow I was so busy catching up I didn't take a single group shot.
