AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Coal Creek Open Space

Coal Creek Trail

5.2 mi · ▲ 142 ft · 1 hr 48 min

Coal Creek Trail is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in Coal Creek Open Space near Erie, CO. It is mostly level, with 142 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,007 – 5,174 ft6.4 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

5.2 mi · ▲ 142 ft · 1 hr 48 min

Elevation 5,007–5,175 ft

Out & Back · Coal Creek Open Space

Trailhead: Coal Creek Trail · 40.05597, -105.04734

Weather Sep 4: 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. 0.9 miTurn right, heading S.
  3. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  4. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  5. 0.4 miBear left, heading NE.
  6. 250 ftBear left, heading S.
  7. 150 ftTurn right onto Meadows Trail, heading S.
  8. 150 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading S.
  9. 200 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading E.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading E.
  11. 50 ftTurn right onto Erie Forest Trail, heading E.
  12. 50 ftBear right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading E.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Erie Forest Trail, heading NE.
  15. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading E.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading E.
  18. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading E.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading E.
  20. 50 ftTurn left onto Sidewinder Trail, heading E.
  21. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  22. 450 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  23. 500 ftTurn right, heading N.
  24. 0.5 miTurn right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading S.
  25. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading S.
  26. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading S.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading S.
  28. 50 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading W.
  29. 250 ftTurn right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading W.
  30. 50 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading W.
  31. 50 ftTurn left onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading W.
  32. 50 ftContinue straight onto Erie Forest Trail, heading W.
  33. 50 ftBear right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading W.
  34. 150 ftContinue straight onto Meadows Trail, heading W.
  35. 150 ftTurn left onto Coal Creek Trail, heading W.
  36. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  37. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  38. 0.4 miTurn right, heading NE.
  39. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  40. 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
  41. 0.8 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-8-km-5ec4

Trail surface

71% paved10% dirt19% unspecified

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