Cherry Creek State Park

Cottonwood Creek Trail

2.7 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 56 min

Cottonwood Creek Trail is a 2.7-mile out-and-back in Cherry Creek State Park near Sundown, CO. It is mostly level, with 55 ft of elevation gain, and mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,561 – 5,627 ft3.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.62409, -104.82857
Nearest town Sundown, CO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Cottonwood Creek Trail

2.7 mi · ▲ 55 ft · 56 min

Elevation 5,563–5,627 ft

Out & Back · Cherry Creek State Park

Trailhead: 39.62409, -104.82857

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 7:28 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  3. 100 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  4. 150 ftTurn right onto 12 Mile Trail, heading NW.
  5. 450 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  6. 50 ftTurn right onto 12-Mile North, heading W.
  7. 0.5 miSharp left onto Pipeline Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SW.
  9. 0.1 miBear right onto Cherry Creek Trail, heading SW.
  10. 300 ftTurn left onto Cottonwood Creek Trail, heading SW.
  11. 0.3 miReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  12. 0.2 miTurn right onto Cherry Creek Trail, heading SW.
  13. 350 ftBear left onto Pipeline Trail, heading SE.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  15. 0.3 miSharp right, heading E.
  16. 0.5 miTurn left, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftTurn right onto 12 Mile Trail, heading S.
  18. 450 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  19. 150 ftSharp right, heading S.
  20. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  21. 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

60% dirt14% gravel12% paved14% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:31 AMSunset 7:28 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 7:04 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:46 PM — 9 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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