Holzwarth Trout Lodge
by Lynn Sprowl
Title
Holzwarth Trout Lodge
Artist
Lynn Sprowl
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The Holzwarth Historic Site is an entire historical site, located in the Kawuneeche Valley.
The parking and lot and trailhead feature a large sign to identify the historic site, as well as an old miner’s cabin that still stands after all these years. This particular cabin was built in 1902, though the owner abandoned the homestead in 1911 and was never heard from again.
The actual Holzwarth Historic Site is a quick hike from the trailhead and across the valley, just over a half-mile each way. The hike is an easy one, with wide smooth trails and relatively no elevation change.
About halfway across the valley, the trail crosses a bridge over the Colorado River. This river is the largest in the southwest, and provides water to millions of Americans. In the high elevations of Rocky Mountain National Park, however, the river is still only a small headwaters stream.
The trail rounds a corner into a wooded area on the edge of the valley, where the Holzwarth Historic Site stands.
The site began as a homestead and cattle ranch in 1917 by one John Holzwarth, Sr. Holzwarth was a saloonkeeper in Denver until prohibition was enacted, at which point he decided to move his family to the mountains.
Holzwarth selected a prime homestead location along the river in the Kawuneeche Valley, which was right on the western edge of the newly established Rocky Mountain National Park. The ranch increasingly attracted park visitors as well as old guests from Holzwarth’s saloon days. Soon, the family began operating the ranch as more of a guest lodge, eventually coming to be known as the Holzwarth Trout Lodge.
Uploaded
August 12th, 2023
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