Highlands Ranch Historic Park

Badlands

4.3 mi · ▲ 390 ft · 1 hr 38 min

Badlands is a 4.3-mile out-and-back in Highlands Ranch Historic Park near Kistler Park, CO. It climbs 390 ft. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,899 – 6,129 ft4.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.52774, -104.97750
Nearest town Kistler Park, CO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Badlands

4.3 mi · ▲ 390 ft · 1 hr 38 min

Elevation 5,898–6,128 ft

Out & Back · Highlands Ranch Historic Park

Trailhead: 39.52774, -104.97750

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 91°F / low 66° · precip 7% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:28 PM

No dogs on part of this route

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  3. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Marcy Gulch Trail, heading E.
  4. 0.6 miTurn left, heading SW.
  5. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  6. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  7. 300 ftBear right, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftBear right onto Vista Nation XC 2-mile course, heading S.
  9. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  10. 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
  11. 0.6 miTurn right onto Badlands, heading SW.
  12. 0.1 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  13. 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
  14. 0.6 miBear right, heading N.
  15. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Vista Nation XC 2-mile course, heading N.
  16. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  17. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  18. 300 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  19. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  20. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  21. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Marcy Gulch Trail, heading E.
  22. 0.7 miTurn right, heading W.
  23. 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 surface

40% paved25% dirt35% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 91°F66°
Precip7%Wind10 mphUV7Humidity39%
Rained 0.1″ 6 days ago
Hourly temperature
95°65°
Sunrise 6:32 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:28 PM
Sun 88°61° 17%
Mon 89°65° 31%
Tue 87°61° 46%
Wed 89°60° 46%
Thu 87°60° 27%
Fri 87°59° 18%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~7 min). Leave by 7:01 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:50 PM — 6 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route

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