Cheyenne Mountain - Lodge Ruins

Distance: 7.6 miles
Ascent:   1,941 feet
Route: the MacNeil trail to the Horns and back
Description: Rain the day before made for a foggy morning.  As we started our hike we watched the fog roll out of the canyon and burn off over the city.  The Mac Neil trail runs fairly parallel with the mountain for some time while the elevation drops away below you.  Based on the number of spider webs that cross the trail, I am not sure if its not well traveled or if its just that this trail is on the leeward side.  After passing the Swisher trail intersection and the old water pump the switch backs are not far off.  Once your reach the top the trail snakes through saddles until you come out near the horns.  

I have heard that the ruins of the lodge are on private property, but also that its just that the road beyond the shrine is closed.  From the MacNeil trail I figured we would just travel until finding a private property or no trespassing sign.  We saw neither and so continued to explore and photograph the remnants of what was called the Honeymoon Lodge.

The area itself is divided up into three sections the main area is the old parking lot and lodge foundation.  Several sets of stairs and patch work concrete.  Second is the look out tower with a sketchy first few steps, but phenomenal views.  Third, a couple what I assume were some kind of utility buildings located at the peak elevation point of 9,212 feet.

Its unfortunate that the structure was bulldozed over the side, but definitely happy to get a look at what remains.  On our previous attempt we turned back rather than share the experience with another group of hikers that could not keep quiet, in retrospect that was the right choice.  This is a very unique spot and worth experiencing without distraction.  Very happy to mark off our half way point of the yearly mileage goal along this route.  Thanks to Noel Black and KRCC for posting the old film, I'll share it out on our FB page, but you can find the original link here, plus some additional information, pictures, and links.