With a free night off over the week, I decided to look up some info on Santa Fe Mountain. The topo shows a road from Idaho Springs leading to the summit. I even found a few online advertisements for Arapaho Campground with mention of going to the top of Santa Fe Mountain for great views. I had a hard time initially finding the right road (goes under I-70 and up "Montane Park"). I reached a locked gate at 9,300' (photo on right). I bushwhacked south from here until I met the road again at about 9,600'. I tried to stay inconspicuous, but oddly, there was no sign of recent traffic on the road. I kept on to 9,900', where I was just about straight north of the summit by ½ a mile. From here, there were remnants of an old road leading toward the summit. I hurried as daylight was dwindling. At the summit, there was a predictable Mike Garratt register. I didn't waste too much time as it was 8:00 pm already. I jogged down with less precaution this time, and it turned out there were no visible inhabitants, leading me to conclude the area is more purposeful during hunting season.
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