By Kagel Mountain via Dillon Divide offers a fantastic view of the Kagel Canyon below most of the way to the top. Finding a parking spot was easy on a weekday morning as expected.
On that February morning, 2-3 people we ran into in the parking lot were there to hike the Dagger Flat Trail and everyone had a dog or two. Maybe that trail is more popular with the local dog parents? I don’t know.
We crossed the street and began our climb.
You’ll hike on a fire road the entire time. A fire road is wide and usually has a steady incline.
It got cold and windy at times. Sometimes, it was very windy because the trail is exposed. It was alright with us, though.
However, the sound of gunshots from the nearby shooting range upset Xena near the beginning of the hike. The sound was far enough for me to be bothered but it made Xena anxious. So, we hiked faster.
after we gained some elevation
I love the overcast condition when hiking, especially when the trail is exposed.
We had some amazing cloud formations to admire the entire time. I have to admit, though, at times it felt eerie for being alone on the trail that day. I just kept thinking there could be a bobcat waiting for us around the corner. That was unusual.
Xena showed no hesitance so I trusted her instinct and waved the unpleasant thought away. But still, I kept her on a leash to be safe.
It was too windy for us that day, so we took a short break for snacks and water, but there are benches at the top to sit and enjoy the view.
This hike is more of a workout than a hike, in my opinion. It would be good for trail running. With no shade, I recommend going here early in the morning.
There was no one on the trail that morning except my bestie. If there was a bobcat, it never came out.
Good To Know:
- Hike Date: 2.22.22
- Distance: 6.3 miles RT
- Elevation Gain: 1,293 ft.
- Difficulty Level: Moderately Challenging
- Max Altitude: 3,547 ft,
- Fee/Permit: None
- Trailhead: 34.344541, -118.349555 (copy/paste into your phone GPS)
- Notable: fire road, no shade, out and back, no bathroom
Hiking Girl with Dog 