AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Drifter–Lower Backside, 10 sights

9.5 mi · ▲ 1,803 ft · 4 hr 4 min

Drifter–Lower Backside, 10 sights is a 9.5-mile out-and-back near Elkdale, CO. It climbs 1,803 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 45/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi8,481 – 9,367 ft · steepest grade: 20%10.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Out of Gas 40.00787, -105.90296
Nearest town Elkdale, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Drifter–Lower Backside, 10 sights

9.5 mi · ▲ 1,803 ft · 4 hr 4 min

Elevation 8,480–9,368 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Out of Gas · 40.00787, -105.90296

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 75°F / low 50° · precip 3% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 7:31 PM

Transit-accessible: US 40 & CR 85/87 stop 774 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Out of Gas, heading NW.
  2. 0.3 miBear left onto Lower Backside, heading NW.
  3. 50 ftBear right onto Out of Gas, heading N.
  4. 2.1 miTurn left onto Two Stroke, heading NE.
  5. 250 ftContinue straight onto Wade's World, heading N.
  6. 0.4 miTurn left, heading E.
  7. 150 ftContinue straight onto Vista Ridge Flow, heading E.
  8. 0.5 miTurn right onto Rabbit Run, heading NE.
  9. 100 ftTurn left, heading N.
  10. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  11. 150 ftTurn right onto Vista Ridge, heading NE.
  12. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Bee Line, heading N.
  13. 250 ftContinue straight onto Silky Johnson, heading N.
  14. 50 ftTurn left onto Moga's Mile, heading NE.
  15. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Tron, heading NW.
  16. 350 ftTurn left onto Cheese-It, heading W.
  17. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Ashy Larry, heading NW.
  18. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Cheese-It, heading NW.
  19. 150 ftContinue straight onto Drifter, heading W.
  20. 250 ftContinue straight onto Stranger, heading NW.
  21. 50 ftReach Out of Gas, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Drifter, heading NW.
  23. 250 ftContinue straight onto Cheese-It, heading NW.
  24. 150 ftContinue straight onto Ashy Larry, heading W.
  25. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Cheese-It, heading SE.
  26. 0.2 miTurn right onto Tron, heading SE.
  27. 350 ftContinue straight onto Moga's Mile, heading E.
  28. 0.1 miTurn right onto Silky Johnson, heading S.
  29. 100 ftContinue straight onto Bee Line, heading SE.
  30. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  31. 50 ftContinue straight onto Vista Ridge, heading E.
  32. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  33. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  34. 0.4 miTurn right onto Rabbit Run, heading SW.
  35. 100 ftTurn left onto Vista Ridge Flow, heading SW.
  36. 0.5 miTurn right onto Wade's World, heading SW.
  37. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Two Stroke, heading SE.
  38. 250 ftTurn right onto Out of Gas, heading W.
  39. 2.1 miBear left onto Lower Backside, heading E.
  40. 50 ftBear right onto Out of Gas, heading E.
  41. 0.3 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/drifter-lower-backside-out-back-10-sights

Trail surface

91% dirt9% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 75°F50°
Precip3%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity39%
Rained 0.1″ 6 days ago
Hourly temperature
75°50°
Sunrise 6:36 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:31 PM
Sun 75°53°
Mon 70°50° 16%
Tue 77°45° 16%
Wed 78°48° 31%
Thu 75°47° 30%
Fri 77°45° 26%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.1 mi in (~121 min). Leave by 5:10 PM for the 7:31 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: US 40 & CR 85/87 stop 774 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Out of Gas Trailhead

Hikes near Elkdale, Colorado