4 Mile Out/Back 8000-9000 Elevation

The old rocky trails of Green Mountain Falls have been upgraded in recient years and this one is now a stunning hike up the mountain side to a beautiful valley called the Garden of Eden.

There is no parking near the trailhead so this hike is best done by parking at the lake and riding the bike a mile to the trail. This is fun idea anyhow in this scenic mountain town. Park on the west side of the lake and ride west on Ute Pass Avenue.

Ride a half mile to Belvidere then another half to the end of the road. Turn left at the big gate then up the utility road to the tank. Lock the bike to a tree and start up the trail.

The first few hundred yards of the trail is through the big boulders that also make up the creek. Trees are sporadically marked with big blue dots in case the trail looks a little vague. The creek is a wild frenzy, pouring over and under the car-sized rocks. The hillside is so steep that the creek is a waterfall in places, giving Green Mountain Falls its name back in the days before Catamount Reservoir blocked the flow.

Before long, the trail veers away from the creek and zig zags up the hillside in the trees. An occasional overlook provides great views the Valley below. After a while the trail crests a grassy saddle at the entrance to the Garden of Eden with rock formations to either side like a giant gateway.

The Garden is a quarter mile courtyard of lush grass and trees. A creek snakes along its length with the towering cliffs of Mount Rebecca to the south and a big wall of rock formations to the north. A quick hike up the rocks provide great views of the Ute Pass Corridor below. Bring a lunch and stay a while, there's a lot of exploring in this secluded Garden.