Highlands Ranch Historic Park

Giddy Up–Marcy GulchTrail, 4 sights

6 mi · ▲ 435 ft · 2 hr 13 min

Giddy Up–Marcy GulchTrail, 4 sights is a 6-mile out-and-back in Highlands Ranch Historic Park near Kistler Park, CO. It climbs 435 ft. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,798 – 6,129 ft6.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Marcy GulchTrail 39.53147, -104.98655
Nearest town Kistler Park, CO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Giddy Up–Marcy GulchTrail, 4 sights

6 mi · ▲ 435 ft · 2 hr 13 min

Elevation 5,798–6,128 ft

Out & Back · Highlands Ranch Historic Park

Trailhead: Marcy GulchTrail · 39.53147, -104.98655

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:28 PM

No dogs on part of this route

  1. Start on Marcy GulchTrail, heading S.
  2. 1.5 miTurn right onto Marcy Gulch Trail, heading SE.
  3. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  4. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  6. 250 ftBear right, heading S.
  7. 50 ftBear right onto Vista Nation XC 2-mile course, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  9. 0.2 miSharp left, heading S.
  10. 0.2 miBear left, heading SE.
  11. 0.3 miSharp left onto Outlaw, heading SW.
  12. 450 ftSharp right, heading S.
  13. 250 ftTurn right onto Giddy Up, heading S.
  14. 0.5 miReach Marcy GulchTrail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.5 miTurn left, heading S.
  16. 250 ftSharp left onto Outlaw, heading NE.
  17. 450 ftSharp right, heading N.
  18. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  19. 0.2 miSharp right onto Vista Nation XC 2-mile course, heading N.
  20. 450 ftSharp left, heading N.
  21. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  22. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  23. 250 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  24. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  25. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  26. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Marcy Gulch Trail, heading N.
  27. 1.4 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

41% dirt30% paved15% gravel14% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 7:28 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~20 min). Leave by 6:48 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route

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