Dad Clark Natural Area

Highlands Point–Dad Clark Trail, 4 sights

6 mi · ▲ 452 ft · 2 hr 14 min

Highlands Point–Dad Clark Trail, 4 sights is a 6-mile out-and-back in Dad Clark Natural Area near McArthur Ranch, CO. The route reaches Highlands Point. It climbs 452 ft. It scores 25/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi5,968 – 6,316 ft6.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: East/West Regional Trail 39.50422, -104.94136
Nearest town McArthur Ranch, CO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Highlands Point–Dad Clark Trail, 4 sights

6 mi · ▲ 452 ft · 2 hr 14 min

Elevation 5,969–6,318 ft

Out & Back · Dad Clark Natural Area

Trailhead: East/West Regional Trail · 39.50422, -104.94136

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 89°F / low 62° · precip 8% · wind 17 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:28 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on East/West Regional Trail, heading W.
  2. 0.7 miSharp left onto Buck Snort, heading S.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right onto Longhorn Ledge, heading N.
  4. 0.4 miPass Highlands Point.
  5. 50 ftTurn right onto Cowboy Up, heading N.
  6. 0.2 miSharp left onto East/West Regional Trail, heading N.
  7. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftTurn right onto Dad Clark Trail, heading NW.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
  10. 100 ftContinue straight onto Vista Nation XC 2-mile course, heading N.
  11. 0.2 miSharp right, heading N.
  12. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  13. 250 ftTurn left, heading W.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  15. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  16. 350 ftBear right, heading W.
  17. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  18. 300 ftBear right onto Dad Clark Trail, heading N.
  19. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  20. 0.3 miSharp right, heading S.
  21. 50 ftSharp left onto Vista Nation XC 2-mile course, heading S.
  22. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Vista Nation XC 2-mile course\, heading S.
  23. 100 ftTurn left onto Vista Nation XC 2-mile course, heading S.
  24. 450 ftSharp left, heading S.
  25. 0.2 miBear left, heading W.
  26. 2.1 miTurn right onto East/West Regional Trail, heading NE.
  27. 0.5 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

52% dirt9% paved39% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 89°F62°
Feels like80°Precip8%Wind17 mphUV7Humidity24%
Hourly temperature
90°60°
Sunrise 6:32 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:28 PM
Sat 87°66°
Sun 89°59° 34%
Mon 87°70° 28%
Tue 85°62° 33%
Wed 84°62° 36%
Thu 88°63° 32%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.5 mi in (~14 min). Leave by 6:54 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:56 PM — 0 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from East/West Regional Trail Trailhead