Lunch Loop  is not just for lunch anymore. If you want to enjoy a special treat, take a hike on lunch loop as the sun prepares to set.

Lunch loop offers several great trails, tons of them as a matter of fact, for walkers, cyclists, dog walkers, and horse riders. One of the consequences of a great trail system would be its tremendous popularity. People love it, and as a result, it tends to be busy.

What about in the evening hours? Now that's a different story. Obviously, you wouldn't want to hang out there in the middle of the night. However, my 6 p.m. hike last evening was nothing short of perfect.

Upon reaching the top of the first climb, you'll be in a perfect location to catch some truly remarkable sunsets. Add to that the cooler temperatures, and you have the makings of a perfect walk.

With the evening hours comes smaller crowds. The trail head just off Monument Road is typically packed during the early hours. Take a look at the photo above. At roughly 6:30 p.m. the parking lot is all but empty. HEADS UP - over the years, there have been a number of vehicle break-ins at this parking lot. Don't leave valuable in your car.

This trail system is awesome 24 hours a day. Evening, however, brings about some special features. First chance you get, set aside about an hour-an-a-half and hit Lunch Loop. It's getting dark earlier and earlier every day, so you'll need to be on the trail by 5:30 p.m. at the latest, unless you don't mind walking in the dark.

More From ESPN Western Colorado