Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint & Bluff Lake via Sand Creek Trail
5.4 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 50 min
Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint & Bluff Lake via Sand Creek Trail is a 5.4-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, 2.6 miles in. It is mostly level, with 53 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
5.4 mi · ▲ 53 ft · 1 hr 50 min
Elevation 5,223–5,306 ft
Out & Back · Prairie Uplands Park
Trailhead: 39.78543, -104.89729
Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:25 PM
Transit-accessible: stop 115 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 100 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Sand Creek Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 100 ftBear left, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 500 ftPass Bluff Lake.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right onto Sand Creek Alternate, heading S.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Sand Creek High Water, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Sand Creek Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miPass Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint.
- 500 ftSharp left, heading NE.
- 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 E.
- 150 ftBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Sand Creek Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 200 ftBear left, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
- 100 ftTurn 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 2.0 mi in (~51 min). Leave by 6:14 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: stop 115 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Sand Creek Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 4 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 4 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 4.1 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 4.2 mi · ▲ 26 ft
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