Lovely hike but probably wouldn't do again. 2500' of gain in 4 miles, and the views were pretty but not worth the drive (2 hrs for me)/ the elevation. The plus side was a lovely drive in, great weather, and not a single other person on the trail Friday April 24 2020. Saw some deer, and maybe halfway in some small aspen groves. We made it to the meeting of the Ute Creek Trail and the Brookside McCurdy trail. There was icy snow only at the very top, maybe 1-2 feet deep, but the trail was completely dry otherwise and I could have done it in sneakers.