AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Coal Creek Open Space

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

5.7 mi · ▲ 230 ft · 2 hr 1 min

Erie Loop Trail–Return to Top - Red, 3 sights is a 5.7-mile out-and-back in Coal Creek Open Space near Erie, CO. It is mostly level, with 230 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,017 – 5,259 ft7.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.04903, -105.05574
Nearest town Erie, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

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

5.7 mi · ▲ 230 ft · 2 hr 1 min

Elevation 5,017–5,261 ft

Out & Back · Coal Creek Open Space

Trailhead: 40.04903, -105.05574

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:29 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left onto Erie Loop Trail, heading SE.
  3. 0.7 miSharp right onto Coal Creek Trail, heading NE.
  4. 200 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  5. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  6. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  7. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  8. 250 ftBear left, heading S.
  9. 200 ftTurn right onto Meadows Trail, heading S.
  10. 150 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading S.
  11. 150 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading S.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftTurn right onto Erie Forest Trail, heading SE.
  14. 50 ftBear right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Erie Forest Trail, heading E.
  17. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  18. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading NE.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading NE.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading E.
  21. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading E.
  22. 50 ftTurn left onto Sidewinder Trail, heading E.
  23. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  24. 500 ftTurn right onto Sage - Green, heading E.
  25. 400 ftSharp left, heading N.
  26. 50 ftSharp right onto Return to Top - Red, heading N.
  27. 250 ftBear left onto Sage - Green, heading N.
  28. 50 ftBear right onto Return to Top - Red, heading N.
  29. 250 ftContinue straight onto Sage - Green, heading N.
  30. 50 ftBear right onto Return to Top - Red, heading N.
  31. 250 ftBear right onto Yucca - Black, heading N.
  32. 50 ftTurn right onto Blue Gramma, heading N.
  33. 50 ftTurn right onto Yucca - Black, heading N.
  34. 50 ftContinue straight onto Blue Gramma, heading N.
  35. 50 ftContinue straight onto Yucca - Black, heading N.
  36. 50 ftTurn left onto Blue Gramma, heading N.
  37. 50 ftBear right onto Return to Top - Red Trail, heading N.
  38. 100 ftBear left onto Sage - Green, heading N.
  39. 50 ftReach Erie Loop Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  40. 50 ftBear right onto Return to Top - Red Trail, heading N.
  41. 50 ftBear left onto Blue Gramma, heading N.
  42. 50 ftTurn right onto Yucca - Black, heading N.
  43. 50 ftContinue straight onto Blue Gramma, heading N.
  44. 50 ftContinue straight onto Yucca - Black, heading N.
  45. 50 ftTurn left onto Blue Gramma, heading N.
  46. 50 ftTurn left onto Yucca - Black, heading N.
  47. 50 ftBear left onto Return to Top - Red, heading N.
  48. 250 ftBear left onto Sage - Green, heading N.
  49. 50 ftContinue straight onto Return to Top - Red, heading N.
  50. 250 ftBear left onto Sage - Green, heading N.
  51. 50 ftBear right onto Return to Top - Red, heading N.
  52. 200 ftSharp left, heading E.
  53. 50 ftSharp right onto Sage - Green, heading E.
  54. 450 ftTurn left, heading E.
  55. 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  56. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading NW.
  57. 50 ftTurn right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading NW.
  58. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading NW.
  59. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading NW.
  60. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading SW.
  61. 50 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading SW.
  62. 250 ftTurn right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  63. 50 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading SE.
  64. 50 ftTurn left onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  65. 50 ftContinue straight onto Erie Forest Trail, heading SE.
  66. 50 ftBear right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  67. 200 ftContinue straight onto Meadows Trail, heading NW.
  68. 150 ftTurn left onto Coal Creek Trail, heading W.
  69. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  70. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  71. 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  72. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  73. 0.4 miBear right, heading N.
  74. 250 ftSharp left onto Erie Loop Trail, heading N.
  75. 0.4 miBear left, heading N.
  76. 0.3 miTurn right, heading NW.
  77. 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-9-km

Trail surface

63% paved19% dirt18% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 7:29 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~48 min). Leave by 6:21 PM for the 7:29 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:32 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Erie, Colorado