Cougar Trail–Hidden Star Trail Loop, 5 sights
4.6 mi · ▲ 248 ft · 1 hr 39 min
Cougar Trail–Hidden Star Trail Loop, 5 sights is a 4.6-mile loop near Niwot, CO. It is mostly level, with 248 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Cougar Trail–Hidden Star Trail Loop, 5 sights
4.6 mi · ▲ 248 ft · 1 hr 39 min
Elevation 5,107–5,355 ft
Loop
Trailhead: Niwot Loop Trail · 40.08913, -105.16838
Weather Sep 4: Clear, high 93°F / low 59° · precip 4% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:29 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left onto Niwot Loop Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Somerset Trail, heading E.
- 1 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 150 ftBear left onto Legend Ridge Loop, heading NE.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Niwot Hills Trail, heading E.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Niwot Loop Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftSharp left onto Cougar Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miSharp right onto Niwot Loop Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Hidden Star Trail, heading SE.
- 150 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Niwot Loop Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftThe loop closes back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~42 min). Leave by 6:27 PM for the 7:29 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:21 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Niwot Loop Trail Trailhead
- East Boulder Trail via Longmont-to-Boulder (LOBO) Regional Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 134 ft
- Longmont-to-Boulder (LOBO) Regional Trail 3.1 mi · ▲ 53 ft
- Longmont-to-Boulder (LOBO) Regional Trail 4.6 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Legend Ridge Loop–Niwot Hills Trail, 4 sights 5.2 mi · ▲ 413 ft
- Longmont-to-Boulder (LOBO) Regional Trail 6.3 mi · ▲ 79 ft
- Davis Reservoir Number 2–Davis Reservoir Number 1, 3 lakes 7 mi · ▲ 79 ft
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