Settlers Park was named after the first American prospectors who camped in this area during the 1858-1859 winter. An influx of settlers followed, cabins were built, sawmills erected and Boulder quickly grew into a bona fide mining town. The Red Rocks Trail climbs a steep hill over the original camp to a series of red rock fins born from a turbulent period of uplift and sculpted by water, wind and freeze-thaw cycle erosion. It weaves about the fins and returns to Settlers Park Trailhead to form a .7 mile loop.

The Red Rocks cap a 'hogback', anticline formations found all along the Colorado front range on the edge of the Rocky Mountain uplift

Grasslands, high desert grassland steppes and montane forests span the foothills of Boulder

Geranium are sometimes referred to as 'Cranesbill', a derivative of its Greek-inspired Genus name

During the Quaternary Period there were many active glaciers west of Boulder, but none are thought to have reached this area

A web of trails circle and pass through the Red Rocks of Settlers Park

Sunflowers belong to the Asteraceae family, with up to 19,000 species in the world - only the orchid family has more members

The red rock fins were used by settlers as shelter against strong winds coming off the mountains

White Prickly Poppy seeds have a high oil content that provides important nutrition for birds

Social trails and scrambling routes slip through the spires

Thistle is a member of the Aster family

Once uplifted and exposed, the fins of Settlers Park were shaped by water, wind and freeze-thaw erosion

Spiderwort flowers generally only bloom in the morning, then wilt later in the day

Settlers Park was named after the first American prospectors who camped in this area during the 1858-1859 winter

Salsify is a member of the sunflower family, with edible roots similar to a russet-like carrot

The north side of the Red Rocks Loop provides great views of Mount Sanitas

Most flax flower species have high tolerances for drought and cold winters

Looking south towards Chautauqua Park from the Red Rocks Loop