Legault Mountain (9,074) & Mt Lindo (7,814) by Brian Schultz Wednesday Sept 2, 2020

Legault Mountain:
Roundtrip mileage: 5 miles
Elevation gain: 1,195'
Start to finish: 2 hours 35 minutes

This is a gem of a hike and a popular one at that. I parked at the Meyer Ranch Open Space parking lot at Hwy 285 and South Turkey Creek Road and began at 8:50 AM. Lots of people and their dogs were coming and going on this weekday, I can only imagine how busy this place is on a weekend.

It was another beautiful sunny day in the forecast as I headed up the excellent trail. People were social distancing and wearing masks for the most part due to Covid 19. I took a left turn at every trail junction as suggested in trip reports, and when I neared the summit I exited the trail onto an unmarked trail.

The trail faded at times but it was easy to get to the summit and I arrived on top (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3) at 10:00. The views were quite nice considering the low elevation of the peak. I departed after ten minutes and got back to the parking lot at 11:25. I wanted to get one more peak in before heading back home.

Mt Lindo:
Roundtrip mileage: 2.5 miles
Elevation gain: 975'
Start to finish: 1 hour 55 minutes

This peak is off South Turkey Creek Road on the way to Denver and the unmarked trailhead is in Tiny Town. I asked in the restaurant adjoining the trailhead if I could park at the end of their parking area and they said it wouldn't be a problem. There's a sign indicating private property shortly up the trail but this peak is within Mt Lindo Open Space land and it's all on public land.

I began at 12:45 PM after reading Paul Stratmoen's handy trip report. The excellent trail goes to the wide grassy saddle south of the summit and I turned north toward the summit from there.

The terrain ahead was full of steep rock and dense trees so I had to trend left to avoid the worst of it. The better way is to immediately head up the ridge on the left before the trail reaches the open grassy saddle. I eventually reached the road above and followed it until exiting it for the short hike to the summit. I arrived on top (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4, photo 5) at 1:40 and stayed ten minutes.

I took the much easier route down the ridge to the trail, a bushwhack but very easy, and pulled into the parking lot at 2:40. This was a nice finish to my August Colorado climbing trip.