Caribou Ranch and Blue Bird Mine - 5 miles and 450 EG

Let's hike the easy Delonde and Bluebird Loop at the historic Caribou Ranch Open Space close to Nederland (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/caribou-ranch-trail). We will explore the Blue Bird Mine complex which produced silver ore in the 1870s and became a tourist attraction on the Eldora Line of the Switzerland Trail of America in 1905. In 1936, the ranch was home to the first Arabian horse breeding operation in America, and in 1966, portions of the film Stagecoach were filmed at Caribou Ranch. The area was frequented by musicians when in 1971 a barn was converted to a recording studio on a property near the Open Space. Artists such as U2, Billy Joel, Elton John and Rod Stewart came to Nederland to produce their albums until the studio was destroyed in a fire in 1985. Please bring layers, water, and a snack for a break at a small waterfall above the mine. There are restrooms at the trailhead. By signing up for this hike you acknowledge that you participate at your own risk and are solely responsible for your safety.