The Burn Canyon Trail System consists of about 14 miles of single-track trail for hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers. The area is located just west of Norwood and can be accessed by a smooth gravel road (AA42 Road/Norwood Burn Road) that should be passible in any vehicle. There are a couple of possible starting points: a small lower trailhead at the bottom of McKee Draw (access to McKee Draw and Flat Iron Loop), the large main upper trailhead a mile past (access to all trails), and roadside access 1.5 mile further (access to Cedar Post and Hideout Canyon Loops, high clearance 4x4 recommended).
The Flatiron Loop can be accessed by either the lower trailhead (via the McKee Draw Trail) or the upper trailhead (via the Redtail Trail). The loop is the most diverse of all the Burn Canyon Trails, featuring terrain that changes from the bottom of McKee Draw, to the top of the Flatiron Mesa. It also passes through an area burned by the 2002 wildfires. Note that the loop is closed to mountain bikers.
If starting from the lower trailhead, follow the McKee Draw Trail to the Flatiron junction. Turn left and begin the climb out of the draw. The trail is a bit overgrown in areas, but eventually you’ll top out on the mesa where it is flat and smooth hiking.
The trail continues along the mesa and eventually through the burned area (the trail is a bit faint through here, pay attention). You’ll then come to a junction where you can continue straight on the mesa, or turn right to head back down into the draw and continue the loop.
You’ll then descend back into the draw. It’s cool to see how much the vegetation changes in such a short distance.
The Flatiron Trail then follows McKee Draw all the way back down to the trailhead. The walking is a bit rocky and overgrown in areas, but nothing too bad.
Comments
Sign In and share them.