AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Coal Creek Open Space

Coal Creek Trail

5.7 mi · ▲ 249 ft · 2 hr 1 min

Coal Creek Trail is a 5.7-mile out-and-back in Coal Creek Open Space near Erie, CO. It is mostly level, with 249 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,017 – 5,174 ft7.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.04732, -105.02099
Nearest town Erie, CO
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Coal Creek Trail

5.7 mi · ▲ 249 ft · 2 hr 1 min

Elevation 5,017–5,175 ft

Out & Back · Coal Creek Open Space

Trailhead: 40.04732, -105.02099

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:25 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading N.
  2. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  3. 0.8 miBear right, heading SW.
  4. 350 ftBear right, heading W.
  5. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  6. 500 ftTurn left onto Coal Creek Trail, heading S.
  7. 300 ftTurn right, heading W.
  8. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SE.
  9. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  10. 0.4 miBear left, heading NE.
  11. 250 ftBear left, heading NE.
  12. 150 ftTurn right onto Meadows Trail, heading N.
  13. 150 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading N.
  14. 200 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading NE.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  16. 50 ftTurn right onto Erie Forest Trail, heading NE.
  17. 50 ftBear right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Erie Forest Trail, heading S.
  20. 150 ftBear right, heading S.
  21. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading S.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading S.
  23. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading S.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading S.
  25. 50 ftTurn left onto Sidewinder Trail, heading S.
  26. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SW.
  27. 450 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  28. 500 ftTurn right, heading E.
  29. 0.5 miTurn right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading N.
  30. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading N.
  31. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading NE.
  32. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading NE.
  33. 50 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading NE.
  34. 250 ftTurn right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading N.
  35. 50 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading N.
  36. 50 ftTurn left onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading N.
  37. 50 ftContinue straight onto Erie Forest Trail, heading SW.
  38. 50 ftBear right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading S.
  39. 150 ftContinue straight onto Meadows Trail, heading S.
  40. 150 ftTurn left onto Coal Creek Trail, heading S.
  41. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  42. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  43. 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  44. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  45. 0.4 miBear right, heading W.
  46. 350 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  47. 500 ftTurn left, heading N.
  48. 0.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  49. 350 ftBear left, heading N.
  50. 0.8 miTurn right, heading E.
  51. 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-5f14

Trail surface

73% paved9% dirt18% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:33 AMSunset 7:25 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~59 min). Leave by 6:07 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:42 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Erie, Colorado