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
Getting there
Directions
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
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Marcy Gulch Trail, heading E.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 300 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Vista Nation XC 2-mile course, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Badlands, heading SW.
- 0.1 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.6 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Vista Nation XC 2-mile course, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 300 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Marcy Gulch Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miTurn right, heading W.
- 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
Weather
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.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
More from this trailhead
- Marcy Gulch Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 167 ft
- Marcy Gulch Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 167 ft
- Marcy Gulch Trail 2.8 mi · ▲ 225 ft
- Marcy Gulch Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 334 ft
- East/West Regional Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 334 ft
- Outlaw 3.5 mi · ▲ 278 ft
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Hikes near Kistler Park, Colorado