Greenwood Park

Distance: 4.55 miles
Ascent:  1,433feet
Route: Mt. Cutler trailhead to the saddle, west around Muscoco Mountain to Daniels Pass.  South, following an overgrown trail to the Green Settlement and then to Greenwood Park (aka Sweetwater)
Directions: Up Cheyenne Canyon, Mt Cutler has a well marked trail head and pull off parking.

Description: Today's plan was to head for the Air Force Academy for a family hike up Stanley Canyon.  I was excited to bring the boy up here as its a hike I did at his age, and I thought the raspberries at the top would be a great motivator.  The problem with the Academy is that visitors are not allowed on until eight, so we wouldn't be able to get an early start.   At least I thought that was the problem, turns out visitors are only allowed to enter through the north gate right now and are not permitted to hike for fear of retribution from the killing of Osama Bin Ladin.  
 

We turned around and started brainstorming a backup plan.  Seven Bridges started as the alternative as we had not done that as a family, but the possibility of exploring the Green Settlement quickly took the forefront since none of us had explored it yet.  To clarify, Gretchen and I have done a number of hikes in and around this area, but always circumventing a spot that appeared to have something on it.

Per usual the parking lot for Cutler was filled with cars and broken glass.  We grabbed one of the last spots and made our way up the hill, thankful that our Saturday would not be spent with the crowd for long.  We reached the saddle and cut west along the intersecting trail, working our way up and then around Muscoco to Daniels Pass. Here we turned south onto a trail we have passed several times on other excursions.  The overgrown path drops down the hill and follows a dry creek bed.  We continued along until discovering the remains of the Green Settlement.  Not much left of two cabins near the creek bed.  Only a couple stacked logs indicate that there was ever anything here.  Does seem like an odd place to build, especially when there are a few flat spots up a bit higher on the bank.  Continuing down the trail we started up a bank to the west. When we stopped for a rest and a snack we noticed that the  GPSr indicated that "Sweetwater" was only a thousand feet away.

The trail opens up a bit and a chimney can be seen peeking out of the trees.  A closer look and all that remains of this structure is three separate fireplaces, one of which was constructed using a lot of the local quartz.  Did not take long to realize that there were other structures nearby either.  A cabin, a gazebo, and the foundation of another building that appeared to have burnt down.  Certainly a much bigger find than anticipated, but really did not expect to see appliances, electrical, or plumbing.  Wonder what happened to this place?

We returned back up the hill, but instead of heading back to Cutler we took a trail down the opposite side of where we came and started back for North Cheyenne Canyon.  The trail let out at the water, which we crossed and walked the road back to the Cutler parking lot with the boy on my shoulders. 

Have not been able to find much online about the story behind this place, but did hear that it was a dude ranch.  Another reason to make a trip to the Pioneers museum I suppose.  Also want to mention that this had to be the most difficult hike for Seamus yet.  He plowed through the overgrowth and I think the ruins were a great treat for him that kept his energy up.