Coal Creek Open Space

Coal Creek Trail

3.3 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 1 hr 9 min

Coal Creek Trail is a 3.3-mile out-and-back in Coal Creek Open Space near Erie, CO. It is mostly level, with 109 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,010 – 5,148 ft4.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.05020, -105.04512
Nearest town Erie, CO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Coal Creek Trail

3.3 mi · ▲ 109 ft · 1 hr 9 min

Elevation 5,012–5,147 ft

Out & Back · Coal Creek Open Space

Trailhead: 40.05020, -105.04512

Weather Sep 5: Clear, high 94°F / low 56° · precip 4% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:29 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  3. 0.4 miSharp right, heading NW.
  4. 150 ftTurn left onto Coal Creek Trail, heading SW.
  5. 350 ftTurn right, heading S.
  6. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  7. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  8. 0.4 miBear left, heading NE.
  9. 250 ftBear left, heading S.
  10. 150 ftTurn right onto Meadows Trail, heading S.
  11. 150 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading S.
  12. 200 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading E.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading E.
  14. 50 ftTurn right onto Erie Forest Trail, heading E.
  15. 50 ftBear right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading E.
  16. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Erie Forest Trail, heading NE.
  18. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading E.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading E.
  21. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading E.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading E.
  23. 50 ftTurn left onto Sidewinder Trail, heading E.
  24. 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  25. 50 ftTurn right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  26. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading NE.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading E.
  28. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading E.
  29. 50 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading E.
  30. 250 ftTurn right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  31. 50 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading S.
  32. 50 ftTurn left onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  33. 50 ftContinue straight onto Erie Forest Trail, heading SE.
  34. 50 ftBear right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  35. 200 ftContinue straight onto Meadows Trail, heading SE.
  36. 150 ftTurn left onto Coal Creek Trail, heading SE.
  37. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  38. 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
  39. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NW.
  40. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  41. 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
  42. 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  43. 150 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  44. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  45. 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

66% paved33% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 94°F56°
Precip4%Wind6 mphUV7Humidity31%
Hourly temperature
95°55°
Sunrise 6:32 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:29 PM
Sat 95°63°
Sun 91°64° 30%
Mon 91°70° 30%
Tue 90°66° 24%
Wed 89°62° 21%
Thu 94°62° 20%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~38 min). Leave by 6:31 PM for the 7:29 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:21 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead