AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Dad Clark Natural Area

Badlands

4.3 mi · ▲ 329 ft · 1 hr 36 min

Badlands is a 4.3-mile out-and-back in Dad Clark Natural Area near Highlands Ranch, CO. It climbs 329 ft. It scores 12/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,909 – 6,129 ft4.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.53141, -104.95490
Nearest town Highlands Ranch, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Badlands

4.3 mi · ▲ 329 ft · 1 hr 36 min

Elevation 5,910–6,128 ft

Out & Back · Dad Clark Natural Area

Trailhead: 39.53141, -104.95490

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 90°F / low 63° · precip 15% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:28 PM

No dogs on part of this route

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftBear right onto Dad Clark Trail, heading SW.
  3. 0.8 miSharp right, heading S.
  4. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  5. 350 ftSharp left, heading W.
  6. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  7. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  8. 300 ftBear right, heading W.
  9. 50 ftBear right onto Vista Nation XC 2-mile course, heading W.
  10. 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
  11. 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
  12. 0.6 miTurn right onto Badlands, heading SW.
  13. 0.1 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  15. 0.6 miBear right, heading N.
  16. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Vista Nation XC 2-mile course, heading N.
  17. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  18. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  19. 300 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  21. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  22. 350 ftBear right, heading N.
  23. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  24. 300 ftContinue straight onto Dad Clark Trail, heading NE.
  25. 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
  26. 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
  27. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/badlands-out-back-7-km-8152

Trail surface

35% paved28% dirt37% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 90°F63°
Feels like79°Precip15%Wind7 mphUV7Humidity23%
Rained 0.1″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
90°60° 5 PM: 1% rain6 PM: 4% rain7 PM: 9% rain8 PM: 15% rain9 PM: 7% rain10 PM: 5% rain11 PM: 3% rain
Sunrise 6:32 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:28 PM
Sat 88°67° 15%
Sun 90°61° 34%
Mon 88°67° 29%
Tue 88°60° 33%
Wed 86°59° 35%
Thu 89°61° 32%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~27 min). Leave by 6:41 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:06 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Highlands Ranch, Colorado