We made it to the top!

One of my favorite activities we offer guests visiting our slice of heaven on a family ranch vacation is the sunrise hike to Lizard Rock.  This hike is a spectacular way for anyone to start his or her day.  Not only when living the West on a family ranch vacation, but any day throughout the year!  An early morning hike leaves you feeling ready to take on the world!  A few adventurous souls staying with us on family ranch vacations this week joined me to take on Lizard Rock.

We met at the dining room about 5:30am Tuesday morning to fill up water bottles or grab some juice before heading up the mountain.  I loaded the coffee, orange juice and muffins in my pack to enjoy at the summit and we headed out on our adventure!  This hike up Lizard Rock is an absolutely beautiful tour through aspens groves, around giant red granite boulders and across ridges overlooking the entire Tarryall Valley below.  This hike is not for the faint of heart though.  The trail gets a bit steep and requires a sense of adventure and love of the outdoors (and love of a good cardio workout!).

The moon going down as we left on our hike

For all these daring guests who take their chance at Lizard Rock we have a special gift.  The last evening of the week at our Colorado guest ranch, we give out Ranch Rodeo ribbons to the kids, the staff does a skit and shares talents around the bonfire and all our sunrise hikers get a t-shirt saying they conquered Lizard Rock!  These t-shirts are very special and should be worn with pride!  Not everyone has what it takes to get out of bed at 5:30am and climb a mountain.

I tip my hat to you Lizard Rock hikers!  Yehaa!

Kody Tesch