Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint & Bluff Lake via Sand Creek Trail
3.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 7 min
Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint & Bluff Lake via Sand Creek Trail is a 3.3-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, 1.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 27 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
3.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft · 1 hr 7 min
Elevation 5,250–5,306 ft
Out & Back · Prairie Uplands Park
Trailhead: 39.77838, -104.88252
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 248 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading SW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Sand Creek Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 100 ftBear left, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miPass Bluff Lake.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Sand Creek Alternate, heading SE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Sand Creek High Water, heading SE.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Sand Creek Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 0.2 miSharp left, heading SE.
- 500 ftReach Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Sand Creek High Water, heading SE.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Sand Creek Alternate, heading S.
- 200 ftBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Sand Creek Trail, heading E.
- 100 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
- 150 ftBear right, heading S.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 200 ftBear left, heading W.
- 150 ftBear right, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.2 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 1.0 mi in (~26 min). Leave by 6:42 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:09 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: stop 248 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Sand Creek Trail 1.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 1.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 1.9 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft
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