GC2JVAX Queensgate
Type: Traditional | Size: Regular | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: ernie66 @ | Hide Date: 11/26/2010 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N38° 55.718 W104° 56.166 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
         

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At the far western fringes of Queen's Canyon lies Queensgate, an imposing rock fortress with just one narrow gap through which all travelers must pass. Waters flowing down from the mountains beyond pause here, waiting to get through, trickling from pool to pool as crisp mountain air and minerals in the rock imbue it with legendary healing powers. Some say they've seen water sprites darting in and out of the falls and insist that these beings are the source of the water's special qualities. Either way, Queensgate stands firm, unchanged for millenia, luring travelers from the west to experience the magic of Queen's Canyon.

General William Jackson Palmer was a wise man who recognized the special qualities of the water. He built his Glen Eyrie castle at the mouth of the canyon, perfectly situated to take full advantage of the waters. He named the canyon after his wife, whom he affectionately called "Queen."

While walking along the stream, inhale deeply and experience the effect of the combination of fresh mountain air and vapors from the water. Deer are a common sight here and you may encounter evidence of a cougar, the legendary overseer of Queensgate whose earthly form none have ever seen.

Additional Waypoints

PK2JVAX - Parking
N 38° 55.168 W 104° 57.548
Pop's Gulch - Forest Service designated parking area

04/28/2019 By CVA64
Stats from today: 9.20+ mi RT, 6 hrs 7 min, 2,000' elevation loss and gain from up top at CCC parking

Great day to be outside. Saw no cats but did see cat scat quite a bit.  Cache is good for another few years before being found again. Thanks Ernie for this one on the west end of Queen's canyon.

10/22/2016 By GoMRT
No cache at her Majesty's gate today. Spent an hour looking high and low, here and there, across the creek twice, all with no success. That stinks! Been over a year since last find and there has been some wicked weather roll through here. GPS bounce was as bad as a kickball game on the playground! Had to get out as sun was setting behind the hills west where the cache mobile was hitched for the afternoon.

See the attached falls photo though. Nice and cool in the valley of the rocks and water.

06/08/2015 By COpackrat
Nice loop hike in a beautiful area. This one was tricky as I had a lot of GPS bounce - but figured out where it wouldn't be after climbing up there... Thanks for the cache!

11/27/2014 By hartsdale
Out early this morning for some hiking and fresh air, making room for the feast later this afternoon.

You are right on about the air down in here and I grabbed all I could get.

Another great hide!

Thanks again!

I turned around here and headed out because I was running out of time to get back home.

HD

10/11/2014 By ernie66
The Forest Service opened up this area this week following the Waldo Canyon fire. We made the hike today to check on this cache and found that it survived the fire intact. In fact, the trail through the bottom of the canyon is largely unchanged from before the fire and is still one of my favorite hikes. Note that the Forest Service now allows parking only in designated areas - the closest of these is listed in the Additional Waypoints.

07/01/2012 By ernie66
Cache likely affected by Waldo Canyon Fire.