I had really been jonesing for a hike.

I haven’t gotten out hiking nearly as much as I’d like to this year, so when I finally had the chance to spend a Sunday morning on the trail with my son, daughter-in-law, and 5-year-old grandson, I was ready to get outside.

And for once, I didn’t bring my big girl camera. All of these photos were taken with my phone. As much as I love photography, sometimes I just want to enjoy the hike, take in the scenery, and be present in the moment without carrying all the gear.

We headed to the Anne U. White Trail in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday, September 27, and it turned out to be a great choice for a morning hike.

I specifically wanted something with plenty of shade, especially since we had Matthew with us, and this trail had lots of it. We started around 9:30 a.m. and finished just before 11:30.

The Things I Love About Being Outside

One of my favorite things about hiking is how much there is to experience besides the scenery.

I love the smell of being outside, especially when you’re walking through pine trees. They smell just like Christmas trees, and I could honestly breathe that in all day. Add the fresh air, the leaves just starting to change, and the feeling of being away from everything for a couple of hours, and I was pretty happy to be back on a trail.

We even spotted a beautiful black-billed magpie sitting on the roof of someone’s car in the parking lot. Naturally, I wanted a picture. I started trying to get close enough to photograph it, but Matthew scared it off before I could get the shot. I guess you can’t win them all! 😂

And I definitely needed it.

The Anne U. White Trail is about 3.2 miles round trip with approximately 500 feet of elevation gain. It’s rated moderate, and while it isn’t a particularly long hike, there’s enough climbing to make you feel like you’ve gotten some exercise.

The trail crosses Four Mile Canyon Creek many, many times. Before we went, I’d read that there were numerous creek crossings, which made me wonder if we’d actually be getting our feet wet.

Thankfully, there are some really nice walking boulders across each crossing, so you can easily get across without walking through the creek.

Although, sadly, there wasn’t any water to cross.

Northern Colorado has been so dry this year that there wasn’t even one drop of water in the creek when we visited. I imagine these crossings would be a lot more fun when there’s actually water flowing through them, and I’d love to come back and see the trail when the creek is running.

Still, the crossings were fun, especially with a five-year-old along for the adventure.

And Matthew did great!

A Dog-Friendly Boulder Trail

One thing I noticed right away was how many dogs were out enjoying the trail.

Almost everyone we passed had a dog with them, so if you’re looking for a dog-friendly hike around Boulder, this is definitely one to put on your list.

There is also a pit toilet at the trailhead, which is always a helpful thing to know before you head out.

There is a small parking area at the trailhead as well, with approximately 28 parking spaces.

We Caught the Beginning of Fall

The leaves were just starting to change when we went, so we caught the trail right at the very beginning of fall.

I love this time of year in Colorado. You get those little hints of color without everything being completely changed yet. I’d love to come back later in the season when the leaves are at their peak.

We had a beautiful morning for it.

Mostly, though, I was just happy to be hiking again.

I Need to Make More Time for This

There’s something about getting away from the computer, getting outside, and walking through the trees for a couple of hours that resets me.

As much as I love photography and spending time creating images, sometimes I need to put the camera down, breathe some fresh air, and just enjoy where I live.

I need to make more time for that.

This hike was a pretty good reminder.

And I’m already thinking about where I should go next.