AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Coal Creek Open Space

Coal Creek Trail

4.3 mi · ▲ 114 ft · 1 hr 29 min

Coal Creek Trail is a 4.3-mile out-and-back in Coal Creek Open Space near Erie, CO. It is mostly level, with 114 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,007 – 5,148 ft5.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Coal Creek Trail 40.05597, -105.04734
Nearest town Erie, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Coal Creek Trail

4.3 mi · ▲ 114 ft · 1 hr 29 min

Elevation 5,007–5,147 ft

Out & Back · Coal Creek Open Space

Trailhead: Coal Creek Trail · 40.05597, -105.04734

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:29 PM

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

  1. Start on Coal Creek Trail, heading S.
  2. 0.5 miSharp left, heading N.
  3. 350 ftTurn right, heading E.
  4. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  5. 0.4 miSharp right, heading W.
  6. 450 ftTurn right, heading S.
  7. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  8. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  9. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  10. 250 ftBear left, heading S.
  11. 150 ftTurn right onto Meadows Trail, heading S.
  12. 150 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading S.
  13. 200 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading SE.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  15. 50 ftTurn right onto Erie Forest Trail, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftBear right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  18. 50 ftContinue straight onto Erie Forest Trail, heading E.
  19. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading E.
  21. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading E.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading E.
  23. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading E.
  24. 50 ftTurn left onto Sidewinder Trail, heading E.
  25. 50 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  26. 50 ftTurn right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading E.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading E.
  28. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading E.
  29. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading E.
  30. 50 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading E.
  31. 250 ftTurn right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  32. 50 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading SE.
  33. 50 ftTurn left onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  34. 50 ftContinue straight onto Erie Forest Trail, heading SE.
  35. 50 ftBear right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  36. 200 ftContinue straight onto Meadows Trail, heading SE.
  37. 150 ftTurn left onto Coal Creek Trail, heading SE.
  38. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  39. 250 ftBear left, heading SE.
  40. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  41. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  42. 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
  43. 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  44. 150 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  45. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  46. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  47. 0.5 miArrive 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-out-back-7-km-cad4

Trail surface

75% paved25% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 7:29 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~52 min). Leave by 6:17 PM for the 7:29 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:34 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 Coal Creek Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Erie, Colorado