Rocky Mountain National Park

Black Canyon Trail

16 mi · ▲ 3,769 ft · 7 hr 13 min

Black Canyon Trail is a 16-mile out-and-back in Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, CO. It climbs 3,769 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 57/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi7,618 – 11,018 ft · steepest grade: 20%16.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.38849, -105.52305
Nearest town Estes Park, CO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Black Canyon Trail

16 mi · ▲ 3,769 ft · 7 hr 13 min

Elevation 7,618–11,018 ft

Out & Back · Rocky Mountain National Park

Trailhead: 40.38849, -105.52305

Weather Sep 4: Light rain, high 79°F / low 55° · precip 9% · wind 13 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:31 PM

No dogs on part of this route

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  3. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  4. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
  6. 1.1 miSharp right, heading NW.
  7. 150 ftSharp left onto Black Canyon Trail, heading W.
  8. 6.4 miReach Black Canyon Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 6.4 miSharp right, heading E.
  10. 150 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  11. 1.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  12. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  13. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  14. 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
  15. 450 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

82% dirt18% unspecified

Weather

Light rainTemperature 79°F55°
Precip9%Wind13 mphUV7Humidity27%
Hourly temperature
80°55°
Sunrise 6:33 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:31 PM
Sat 79°57°
Sun 81°57° 27%
Mon 77°59° 19%
Tue 78°55° 23%
Wed 77°54° 34%
Thu 83°57° 41%

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route

More from this trailhead