Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint & Bluff Lake via Sand Creek Trail
7.5 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 2 hr 33 min
Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint & Bluff Lake via Sand Creek Trail is a 7.5-mile out-and-back in Prairie Uplands Park near Commerce City, CO. The route passes Bluff Lake before reaching Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint at the turnaround, 3.7 miles in. It is mostly level, with 109 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint & Bluff Lake via Sand Creek Trail
7.5 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 2 hr 33 min
Elevation 5,167–5,306 ft
Out & Back · Prairie Uplands Park
Trailhead: 39.79727, -104.93054
Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:25 PM
Transit-accessible: Vasquez Blvd & E 56th Ave stop 531 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Sand Creek Trail, heading E.
- 1.8 miBear right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 1.2 miBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 100 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftPass Bluff Lake.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Sand Creek Alternate, heading SE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Sand Creek High Water, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Sand Creek Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 0.2 miReach Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Sand Creek High Water, heading E.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Sand Creek Alternate, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Sand Creek Trail, heading NE.
- 100 ftBear right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 200 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear right, heading E.
- 2.7 miSharp right, heading NW.
- 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 3.2 mi in (~79 min). Leave by 5:46 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:57 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Vasquez Blvd & E 56th Ave stop 531 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Bambei-Walker Reservoir via Sand Creek Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 5.4 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 5.4 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 5.7 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 5.8 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 6.3 mi · ▲ 106 ft
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Hikes near Commerce City, Colorado