AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Vista Pointe Open Space

Coal Creek Trail–Return to Top - Red, 5 sights

9.7 mi · ▲ 298 ft · 3 hr 23 min

Coal Creek Trail–Return to Top - Red, 5 sights is a 9.7-mile out-and-back in Vista Pointe Open Space near Lafayette, CO. It climbs 298 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,053 – 5,250 ft11.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.99156, -105.06105
Nearest town Lafayette, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Coal Creek Trail–Return to Top - Red, 5 sights

9.7 mi · ▲ 298 ft · 3 hr 23 min

Elevation 5,054–5,251 ft

Out & Back · Vista Pointe Open Space

Trailhead: 39.99156, -105.06105

Weather Sep 4: Clear, high 93°F / low 58° · precip 4% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:29 PM

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftSharp right onto Coal Creek Trailhead access, heading SE.
  3. 0.1 miBear left, heading E.
  4. 50 ftBear left onto Coal Creek Trail, heading E.
  5. 3.8 miSharp right onto Sidewinder Trail, heading E.
  6. 0.2 miContinue straight onto River Trail, heading SE.
  7. 0.5 miTurn left, heading N.
  8. 500 ftTurn right onto Sage - Green, heading N.
  9. 400 ftSharp left, heading N.
  10. 50 ftSharp right onto Return to Top - Red, heading N.
  11. 250 ftBear left onto Sage - Green, heading N.
  12. 50 ftBear right onto Return to Top - Red, heading N.
  13. 250 ftContinue straight onto Sage - Green, heading NW.
  14. 50 ftBear right onto Return to Top - Red, heading NW.
  15. 250 ftBear right onto Yucca - Black, heading E.
  16. 50 ftTurn right onto Blue Gramma, heading E.
  17. 50 ftTurn right onto Yucca - Black, heading E.
  18. 50 ftContinue straight onto Blue Gramma, heading E.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Yucca - Black, heading E.
  20. 50 ftTurn left onto Blue Gramma, heading E.
  21. 50 ftBear right onto Return to Top - Red Trail, heading SE.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Blue Gramma, heading E.
  23. 100 ftBear left onto Yucca - Black, heading E.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Blue Gramma, heading E.
  25. 50 ftReach Coal Creek Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  26. 50 ftContinue straight onto Yucca - Black, heading NE.
  27. 50 ftBear right onto Blue Gramma, heading NE.
  28. 100 ftContinue straight onto Return to Top - Red Trail, heading E.
  29. 50 ftBear left onto Blue Gramma, heading E.
  30. 50 ftTurn right onto Yucca - Black, heading E.
  31. 50 ftContinue straight onto Blue Gramma, heading E.
  32. 50 ftContinue straight onto Yucca - Black, heading E.
  33. 50 ftTurn left onto Blue Gramma, heading E.
  34. 50 ftTurn left onto Yucca - Black, heading E.
  35. 50 ftBear left onto Return to Top - Red, heading E.
  36. 300 ftBear left onto Sage - Green, heading E.
  37. 50 ftContinue straight onto Return to Top - Red, heading E.
  38. 250 ftBear left onto Sage - Green, heading E.
  39. 50 ftBear right onto Return to Top - Red, heading E.
  40. 200 ftSharp left, heading E.
  41. 50 ftSharp right onto Sage - Green, heading SE.
  42. 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  43. 500 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  44. 0.5 miContinue straight onto River Trail, heading SW.
  45. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading SW.
  46. 0.2 miSharp left onto Coal Creek Trail, heading S.
  47. 3.8 miBear right, heading E.
  48. 50 ftBear right onto Coal Creek Trailhead access, heading S.
  49. 0.2 miSharp left, heading SE.
  50. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/coal-creek-trail-coal-creek-trail-out-back-6-sights-16-km-358a

Trail surface

57% gravel20% paved12% dirt1% boardwalk10% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 93°F58°
Precip4%Wind7 mphUV7Humidity30%
Hourly temperature
95°55°
Sunrise 6:32 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:29 PM
Sat 93°64°
Sun 91°63° 25%
Mon 91°70° 26%
Tue 89°65° 25%
Wed 88°61° 23%
Thu 94°62° 21%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.8 mi in (~93 min). Leave by 5:36 PM for the 7:29 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Lafayette, Colorado