AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Horsetooth Falls–Carey Springs Trail, 8 sights

12.9 mi · ▲ 2,028 ft · 5 hr 19 min

Horsetooth Falls–Carey Springs Trail, 8 sights is a 12.9-mile out-and-back in Horsetooth Mountain Open Space near Bellvue, CO. The route reaches Horsetooth Falls at the turnaround, 6.4 miles in. It climbs 2,028 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 52/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi5,515 – 6,503 ft · steepest grade: 20%13.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.59043, -105.18431
Nearest town Bellvue, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Horsetooth Falls–Carey Springs Trail, 8 sights

12.9 mi · ▲ 2,028 ft · 5 hr 19 min

Elevation 5,515–6,505 ft

Out & Back · Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Trailhead: 40.59043, -105.18431

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:30 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 150 ftTurn right onto Lodgepole Drive, heading S.
  3. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  4. 200 ftSharp left onto West Valley Trail, heading E.
  5. 1.1 miTurn left onto Well Gulch Nature Trail, heading SE.
  6. 50 ftTurn right onto West Valley Trail, heading S.
  7. 1.1 miSharp left onto Aurthurs Rock / West Valley Trail, heading S.
  8. 250 ftTurn right onto South Valley Loop, heading SE.
  9. 0.1 miBear right onto Mill Creek Link Trail, heading S.
  10. 0.4 miTurn left onto Mill Creek Trail, heading W.
  11. 1 miTurn right onto Loggers Trail, heading S.
  12. 0.7 miSharp right onto Carey Springs Trail, heading W.
  13. 0.5 miBear left onto Towers Trail, heading SW.
  14. 450 ftSharp right onto Spring Creek - Towers Connector, heading S.
  15. 0.1 miSharp left onto Spring Creek Trail, heading SE.
  16. 0.8 miTurn left onto Soderberg Trail, heading S.
  17. 50 ftTurn left onto Spring Creek Trail, heading SW.
  18. 0.4 miSharp right onto Horsetooth Falls Trail, heading SE.
  19. 350 ftReach Horsetooth Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 350 ftSharp left onto Spring Creek Trail, heading S.
  21. 0.4 miTurn right onto Soderberg Trail, heading N.
  22. 50 ftTurn right onto Spring Creek Trail, heading N.
  23. 0.8 miSharp right onto Spring Creek - Towers Connector, heading N.
  24. 0.1 miSharp left onto Towers Trail, heading NW.
  25. 450 ftBear right onto Carey Springs Trail, heading W.
  26. 0.5 miSharp left onto Loggers Trail, heading N.
  27. 0.7 miTurn left onto Mill Creek Trail, heading NW.
  28. 1 miTurn right onto Mill Creek Link Trail, heading E.
  29. 0.4 miBear left onto South Valley Loop, heading SE.
  30. 0.1 miTurn left onto Aurthurs Rock / West Valley Trail, heading N.
  31. 250 ftSharp right onto West Valley Trail, heading N.
  32. 1.1 miTurn left onto Well Gulch Nature Trail, heading NW.
  33. 50 ftTurn right onto West Valley Trail, heading NE.
  34. 1.1 miSharp right, heading NE.
  35. 200 ftTurn left, heading N.
  36. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lodgepole Drive, heading NW.
  37. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  38. 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/horsetooth-falls-carey-springs-trail-out-back-8-sights

Trail surface

99% dirt1% paved

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 7:30 PM

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Bellvue, Colorado