Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint & Bluff Lake via Sand Creek Trail
3.1 mi · ▲ 119 ft · 1 hr 6 min
Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint & Bluff Lake via Sand Creek Trail is a 3.1-mile out-and-back in Prairie Uplands Park near Sandown, CO. The route passes Bluff Lake before reaching Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint at the turnaround, 1.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 119 ft of elevation gain. 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
3.1 mi · ▲ 119 ft · 1 hr 6 min
Elevation 5,240–5,306 ft
Out & Back · Prairie Uplands Park
Trailhead: 39.76739, -104.89020
Weather Sep 4: Clear, high 93°F / low 60° · precip 6% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 7:28 PM
Transit-accessible: stop 277 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Sand Creek Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading E.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 100 ftBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Sand Cr High Water, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 450 ftPass Bluff Lake.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Sand Creek High Water, heading E.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Sand Creek Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading NE.
- 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 ftTurn left onto Sand Cr High Water, heading E.
- 500 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 200 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right onto Sand Creek Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 150 ftBear left, heading W.
- 150 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading NW.
- 0.4 miArrive 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 1.1 mi in (~27 min). Leave by 6:41 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:10 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: stop 277 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Sand Creek Trail 2 mi · ▲ 120 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 119 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 119 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 119 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 120 ft
- Sand Creek Alternate 2.4 mi · ▲ 119 ft
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Hikes near Sandown, Colorado