Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint–Bluff Lake, 3 sights
5 mi · ▲ 150 ft · 1 hr 45 min
Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint–Bluff Lake, 3 sights is a 5-mile out-and-back in Sand Creek Park near Hillcrest, CO. The route passes Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint before reaching Bluff Lake at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 150 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, 3 sights
5 mi · ▲ 150 ft · 1 hr 45 min
Elevation 5,290–5,413 ft
Out & Back · Sand Creek Park
Trailhead: 39.75203, -104.80987
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 92°F / low 60° · precip 7% · wind 13 mph · sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 7:28 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Sand Creek Trail, heading W.
- 1.4 miContinue straight onto Sand Creek Regional Greenway, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Sand Creek Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.2 miPass Bluff Lake.
- 250 ftReach Bluff Lake Nature Center Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 200 ftSharp left, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sand Creek Regional Greenway, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Sand Creek Trail, heading E.
- 0.8 miBear right, heading E.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
- 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 2.2 mi in (~54 min). Leave by 6:13 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:40 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Sand Creek Trail 3 mi · ▲ 83 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 3 mi · ▲ 83 ft
- Sand Creek Trail 3.8 mi · ▲ 109 ft
- Tollgate Creek Trail via Sand Creek Trail 4.5 mi · ▲ 85 ft
- Bluff Lake & Sand Creek Regional Greenway via Sand Creek Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 136 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Hillcrest, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Hillcrest, Colorado