AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Coal Creek Open Space

Erie Loop Trail–Return to Top - Red, 3 sights

5.2 mi · ▲ 221 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Erie Loop Trail–Return to Top - Red, 3 sights is a 5.2-mile out-and-back in Coal Creek Open Space near Erie, CO. It is mostly level, with 221 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,017 – 5,227 ft6.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.03981, -105.05088
Nearest town Erie, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Erie Loop Trail–Return to Top - Red, 3 sights

5.2 mi · ▲ 221 ft · 1 hr 51 min

Elevation 5,017–5,228 ft

Out & Back · Coal Creek Open Space

Trailhead: 40.03981, -105.05088

Weather Sep 4: Clear, high 94°F / low 56° · precip 5% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:29 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  3. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  5. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  6. 150 ftTurn right onto Erie Loop Trail, heading E.
  7. 0.4 miSharp right onto Coal Creek Trail, heading NE.
  8. 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  9. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  10. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  11. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  12. 250 ftBear left, heading S.
  13. 200 ftTurn right onto Meadows Trail, heading S.
  14. 150 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading S.
  15. 150 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading S.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading S.
  17. 50 ftTurn right onto Erie Forest Trail, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftBear right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Erie Forest Trail, heading SE.
  21. 150 ftBear right, heading E.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading E.
  23. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading NE.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading NE.
  25. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading E.
  26. 50 ftTurn left onto Sidewinder Trail, heading E.
  27. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  28. 500 ftTurn right onto Sage - Green, heading E.
  29. 400 ftSharp left, heading N.
  30. 50 ftSharp right onto Return to Top - Red, heading N.
  31. 250 ftBear left onto Sage - Green, heading N.
  32. 50 ftBear right onto Return to Top - Red, heading N.
  33. 250 ftContinue straight onto Sage - Green, heading N.
  34. 50 ftBear right onto Return to Top - Red, heading N.
  35. 250 ftReach Erie Loop Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  36. 250 ftBear left onto Sage - Green, heading N.
  37. 50 ftContinue straight onto Return to Top - Red, heading N.
  38. 300 ftBear left onto Sage - Green, heading N.
  39. 50 ftBear right onto Return to Top - Red, heading N.
  40. 250 ftSharp left, heading N.
  41. 50 ftSharp right onto Sage - Green, heading N.
  42. 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  43. 500 ftTurn right, heading N.
  44. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading SW.
  45. 50 ftTurn right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SW.
  46. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading SW.
  47. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading SW.
  48. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading SW.
  49. 50 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading W.
  50. 200 ftTurn right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading W.
  51. 50 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading W.
  52. 50 ftTurn left onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading W.
  53. 50 ftContinue straight onto Erie Forest Trail, heading W.
  54. 50 ftBear right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading W.
  55. 200 ftContinue straight onto Meadows Trail, heading S.
  56. 150 ftTurn left onto Coal Creek Trail, heading SE.
  57. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  58. 250 ftBear left, heading S.
  59. 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  60. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  61. 0.4 miBear right, heading NW.
  62. 250 ftSharp left onto Erie Loop Trail, heading SW.
  63. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  64. 150 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  65. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  66. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  67. 250 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  68. 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/erie-loop-trail-return-to-top-red-out-back-3-sights-8-km

Trail surface

59% paved21% dirt1% gravel19% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 94°F56°
Feels like79°Precip5%Wind6 mphUV7Humidity21%
Hourly temperature
95°55°
Sunrise 6:32 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:29 PM
Sat 95°64°
Sun 91°64° 29%
Mon 91°70° 29%
Tue 90°66° 25%
Wed 89°61° 21%
Thu 94°62° 20%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.9 mi in (~46 min). Leave by 6:22 PM for the 7:29 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Erie, Colorado