AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Horsetooth Falls–Horsetooth Reservoir, 8 sights

11.8 mi · ▲ 2,032 ft · 4 hr 57 min

Horsetooth Falls–Horsetooth Reservoir, 8 sights is an 11.8-mile out-and-back in Horsetooth Mountain Open Space near Bellvue, CO. The route passes Horsetooth Reservoir before reaching Horsetooth Falls at the turnaround, 5.9 miles in. It climbs 2,032 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 51/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi5,440 – 6,503 ft · steepest grade: 20%12.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: North Eltuck Bay Trail 40.58394, -105.17953
Nearest town Bellvue, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Horsetooth Falls–Horsetooth Reservoir, 8 sights

11.8 mi · ▲ 2,032 ft · 4 hr 57 min

Elevation 5,439–6,505 ft

Out & Back · Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Trailhead: North Eltuck Bay Trail · 40.58394, -105.17953

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 93°F / low 68° · precip 5% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:28 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on North Eltuck Bay Trail, heading E.
  2. 350 ftBear right, heading SE.
  3. 50 ftPass Horsetooth Reservoir.
  4. 100 ftTurn right onto East Valley Trail, heading SW.
  5. 1.6 miTurn left, heading S.
  6. 100 ftBear right onto South Valley Loop, heading SW.
  7. 0.2 miBear right onto Mill Creek Link Trail, heading S.
  8. 0.4 miTurn left onto Mill Creek Trail, heading NW.
  9. 1 miTurn right onto Loggers Trail, heading S.
  10. 0.7 miSharp right onto Carey Springs Trail, heading W.
  11. 0.5 miBear left onto Towers Trail, heading SW.
  12. 450 ftSharp right onto Spring Creek - Towers Connector, heading SW.
  13. 0.1 miSharp left onto Spring Creek Trail, heading SE.
  14. 0.8 miTurn left onto Soderberg Trail, heading S.
  15. 50 ftTurn left onto Spring Creek Trail, heading S.
  16. 0.4 miSharp right onto Horsetooth Falls Trail, heading SE.
  17. 350 ftReach Horsetooth Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 350 ftSharp left onto Spring Creek Trail, heading S.
  19. 0.4 miTurn right onto Soderberg Trail, heading N.
  20. 50 ftTurn right onto Spring Creek Trail, heading N.
  21. 0.8 miSharp right onto Spring Creek - Towers Connector, heading N.
  22. 0.1 miSharp left onto Towers Trail, heading NW.
  23. 450 ftBear right onto Carey Springs Trail, heading W.
  24. 0.5 miSharp left onto Loggers Trail, heading N.
  25. 0.7 miTurn left onto Mill Creek Trail, heading NW.
  26. 1 miTurn right onto Mill Creek Link Trail, heading E.
  27. 0.4 miBear left onto South Valley Loop, heading E.
  28. 0.2 miBear left, heading NE.
  29. 100 ftTurn right onto East Valley Trail, heading NE.
  30. 1.6 miTurn left, heading NW.
  31. 150 ftBear left onto North Eltuck Bay Trail, heading NW.
  32. 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-horsetooth-reservoir-out-back-8-sights

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 93°F68°
Precip5%Wind7 mphUV7Humidity26%
Hourly temperature
95°65°
Sunrise 6:33 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:28 PM
Sun 88°63°
Mon 89°73° 15%
Tue 88°68° 17%
Wed 90°68° 17%
Thu 85°71° 17%
Fri 93°67° 17%

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from North Eltuck Bay Trail Trailhead

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