AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Horsetooth mtn2.jpg
Jamesmartin111 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Horsetooth Mountain–Horsetooth Reservoir, 6 sights

7.6 mi · ▲ 2,022 ft · 3 hr 33 min

Horsetooth Mountain–Horsetooth Reservoir, 6 sights is a 7.6-mile out-and-back in Horsetooth Mountain Open Space near Horsetooth Heights, CO. The route passes Horsetooth Reservoir before reaching Horsetooth Mountain at the turnaround, 3.8 miles in. It climbs 2,022 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 mi5,460 – 7,248 ft · steepest grade: 20%8.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.53216, -105.16275
Nearest town Horsetooth Heights, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Horsetooth Mountain–Horsetooth Reservoir, 6 sights

7.6 mi · ▲ 2,022 ft · 3 hr 33 min

Elevation 5,460–7,248 ft

Out & Back · Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Trailhead: 40.53216, -105.16275

Weather Sep 4: Partly cloudy, high 91°F / low 62° · precip 4% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:30 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftPass Horsetooth Reservoir.
  3. 50 ftTurn right onto Swan Johnson Trail, heading N.
  4. 200 ftContinue straight onto Nomad Trail, heading N.
  5. 50 ftContinue straight onto Swan Johnson Trail, heading N.
  6. 0.3 miTurn left onto Towers Trail, heading W.
  7. 500 ftBear left onto Nomad Trail, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftBear right onto Towers Trail, heading W.
  9. 0.5 miBear right onto Stout Trail, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Towers Trail, heading SW.
  11. 0.4 miBear right onto Loggers Trail, heading N.
  12. 50 ftBear left onto Towers Trail, heading N.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right onto Herrington Trail, heading S.
  14. 50 ftBear left onto Towers Trail, heading S.
  15. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Spring Creek - Towers Connector, heading NW.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Towers Trail, heading NW.
  17. 0.1 miBear right onto Carey Springs Trail, heading NW.
  18. 50 ftTurn left onto Towers Trail, heading W.
  19. 1.5 miTurn right onto Westridge Trail, heading SE.
  20. 0.2 miSharp left, heading SE.
  21. 50 ftSharp left onto Westridge Connector, heading SE.
  22. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Horsetooth Rock Trail, heading SE.
  23. 250 ftReach Horsetooth Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 300 ftContinue straight onto Westridge Connector, heading W.
  25. 0.1 miSharp right, heading S.
  26. 50 ftSharp right onto Westridge Trail, heading S.
  27. 0.2 miTurn left onto Westridge Connector Trail, heading N.
  28. 1.5 miTurn right onto Carey Springs Trail, heading SE.
  29. 50 ftBear left onto Towers Trail, heading SE.
  30. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Spring Creek - Towers Connector, heading SE.
  31. 50 ftContinue straight onto Towers Trail, heading SE.
  32. 0.2 miBear right onto Herrington Trail, heading SE.
  33. 50 ftTurn left onto Towers Trail, heading SE.
  34. 0.2 miBear right onto Loggers Trail, heading SE.
  35. 50 ftBear left onto Towers Trail, heading SE.
  36. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Stout Trail, heading SE.
  37. 50 ftBear left onto Towers Trail, heading SE.
  38. 0.5 miBear left onto Nomad Trail, heading NE.
  39. 50 ftBear right onto Towers Trail, heading NE.
  40. 0.1 miTurn right onto Swan Johnson Trail, heading NE.
  41. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Nomad Trail, heading SE.
  42. 50 ftContinue straight onto Swan Johnson Trail, heading SE.
  43. 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
  44. 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-mountain-horsetooth-reservoir-out-back-6-sights

Trail surface

90% dirt10% gravel

Weather

Partly cloudyTemperature 91°F62°
Precip4%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity22%
Hourly temperature
95°60°
Sunrise 6:32 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:30 PM
Sat 92°67°
Sun 89°62° 24%
Mon 92°69° 24%
Tue 87°62° 16%
Wed 88°60° 26%
Thu 95°62° 27%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.8 mi in (~143 min). Leave by 4:47 PM for the 7:30 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Horsetooth Heights, Colorado