AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Vista Pointe Open Space

Coal Creek Trail

5.8 mi · ▲ 61 ft · 1 hr 58 min

Coal Creek Trail is a 5.8-mile out-and-back in Vista Pointe Open Space near Lafayette, CO. It is mostly level, with 61 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,043 – 5,109 ft6.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.00658, -105.05659
Nearest town Lafayette, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Coal Creek Trail

5.8 mi · ▲ 61 ft · 1 hr 58 min

Elevation 5,041–5,108 ft

Out & Back · Vista Pointe Open Space

Trailhead: 40.00658, -105.05659

Weather Sep 4: Clear, high 94°F / low 57° · precip 4% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:29 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 400 ftTurn left onto Coal Creek Trail, heading NE.
  3. 1.1 miBear left, heading E.
  4. 1.2 miContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading E.
  5. 50 ftTurn left onto Coal Creek Trail, heading E.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto Meadows Trail, heading E.
  7. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Erie Forest Trail, heading N.
  8. 50 ftBear right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading N.
  9. 150 ftContinue straight onto Meadows Trail, heading N.
  10. 150 ftTurn left onto Coal Creek Trail, heading NE.
  11. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  12. 250 ftBear left, heading NE.
  13. 0.2 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  14. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  15. 250 ftBear left, heading N.
  16. 150 ftTurn right onto Meadows Trail, heading N.
  17. 150 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading N.
  18. 150 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading S.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Meadows Trail, heading S.
  20. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Coal Creek Trail, heading NE.
  21. 50 ftTurn right onto Sidewinder Trail, heading NE.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Coal Creek Trail, heading E.
  23. 1.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  24. 1.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
  25. 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-out-back-9-km-5da3

Trail surface

46% paved44% gravel9% dirt1% boardwalk

Weather

ClearTemperature 94°F57°
Precip4%Wind7 mphUV7Humidity31%
Hourly temperature
95°55°
Sunrise 6:32 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:29 PM
Sat 94°64°
Sun 91°63° 28%
Mon 91°70° 28%
Tue 90°66° 25%
Wed 89°61° 22%
Thu 94°61° 20%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.3 mi in (~57 min). Leave by 6:12 PM for the 7:29 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:42 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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