AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Dad Clark Natural Area

Highlands Point–Longhorn Ledge, 4 sights

11.8 mi · ▲ 724 ft · 4 hr 18 min

Highlands Point–Longhorn Ledge, 4 sights is an 11.8-mile out-and-back in Dad Clark Natural Area near Kistler Park, CO. The route reaches Highlands Point. It climbs 724 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 19/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi6,050 – 6,414 ft12.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.52123, -104.96413
Nearest town Kistler Park, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Highlands Point–Longhorn Ledge, 4 sights

11.8 mi · ▲ 724 ft · 4 hr 18 min

Elevation 6,049–6,414 ft

Out & Back · Dad Clark Natural Area

Trailhead: 39.52123, -104.96413

Weather Sep 6: Overcast, high 90°F / low 59° · precip 8% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:26 PM

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftTurn left onto Vista Nation XC 2-mile course, heading E.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right onto Dad Clark Trail, heading SW.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  5. 50 ftTurn right onto East/West Regional Trail, heading SE.
  6. 0.3 miSharp right onto Cowboy Up, heading NE.
  7. 0.2 miPass Highlands Point.
  8. 50 ftTurn left onto Longhorn Ledge, heading SE.
  9. 0.5 miTurn left onto Buck Snort, heading E.
  10. 0.2 miSharp right onto East/West Regional Trail, heading NW.
  11. 0.7 miBear right, heading E.
  12. 2.3 miContinue straight onto Douglas County E/W Trail, heading NW.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right onto Waterin' Hole Loop, heading NE.
  14. 0.2 miTurn left onto Waterin' Hole Loop Trail, heading NW.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto Wildcat Mountain Trail, heading NW.
  16. 0.8 miReach Highlands Point, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Waterin' Hole Loop Trail, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftTurn right onto Waterin' Hole Loop, heading SE.
  19. 0.2 miTurn left onto East/West Regional Trail, heading SE.
  20. 3.3 miSharp left onto Buck Snort, heading NW.
  21. 0.2 miTurn right onto Longhorn Ledge, heading NW.
  22. 0.5 miTurn right onto Cowboy Up, heading E.
  23. 0.2 miSharp left onto East/West Regional Trail, heading N.
  24. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  25. 50 ftTurn right onto Dad Clark Trail, heading N.
  26. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  27. 100 ftContinue straight onto Vista Nation XC 2-mile course, heading SW.
  28. 0.2 miTurn right, heading NW.
  29. 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/highlands-point-longhorn-ledge-out-back-4-sights

Trail surface

90% dirt1% paved9% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 90°F59°
Precip8%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity32%
Rained 0.1″ 7 days ago
Hourly temperature
90°55°
Sunrise 6:33 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:26 PM
Mon 84°60° 33%
Tue 86°62° 24%
Wed 85°56° 24%
Thu 89°55°
Fri 89°59°
Sat 88°49° 30%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 7:06 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:26 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:54 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

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

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Kistler Park, Colorado