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

Horsetooth Mountain–Horsetooth Reservoir, 7 sights

13.2 mi · ▲ 2,437 ft · 5 hr 37 min

Horsetooth Mountain–Horsetooth Reservoir, 7 sights is a 13.2-mile out-and-back in Horsetooth Mountain Open Space near Bellvue, CO. The route passes Horsetooth Reservoir before reaching Horsetooth Mountain at the turnaround, 6.6 miles in. It climbs 2,437 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 58/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi5,440 – 7,248 ft · steepest grade: 19%14.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Lodgepole Drive 40.58797, -105.17917
Nearest town Bellvue, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Horsetooth Mountain–Horsetooth Reservoir, 7 sights

13.2 mi · ▲ 2,437 ft · 5 hr 37 min

Elevation 5,439–7,248 ft

Out & Back · Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Trailhead: Lodgepole Drive · 40.58797, -105.17917

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:30 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Lodgepole Drive, heading NW.
  2. 500 ftBear left onto East Valley Trail, heading SW.
  3. 0.3 miPass Horsetooth Reservoir.
  4. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  5. 250 ftContinue straight onto Well Gulch Nature Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.1 miContinue straight onto West Valley Trail, heading SW.
  7. 0.2 miTurn left onto Well Gulch Nature Trail, heading SE.
  8. 50 ftTurn right onto West Valley Trail, heading SE.
  9. 1.1 miSharp left onto Aurthurs Rock / West Valley Trail, heading S.
  10. 250 ftTurn right onto South Valley Loop, heading SW.
  11. 0.1 miBear right onto Mill Creek Link Trail, heading SE.
  12. 0.4 miTurn left onto Mill Creek Trail, heading SW.
  13. 2.7 miBear right onto Towers Trail, heading SE.
  14. 0.8 miTurn right onto Westridge Trail, heading S.
  15. 0.2 miSharp left, heading SW.
  16. 50 ftSharp left onto Westridge Connector, heading S.
  17. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Horsetooth Rock Trail, heading S.
  18. 250 ftReach Horsetooth Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 300 ftContinue straight onto Westridge Connector, heading SE.
  20. 0.1 miSharp right, heading S.
  21. 50 ftSharp right onto Westridge Trail, heading S.
  22. 0.2 miTurn left onto Westridge Connector Trail, heading NE.
  23. 0.8 miBear left onto Mill Creek Trail, heading N.
  24. 2.7 miTurn right onto Mill Creek Link Trail, heading NW.
  25. 0.4 miBear left onto South Valley Loop, heading NE.
  26. 0.1 miTurn left onto Aurthurs Rock / West Valley Trail, heading E.
  27. 250 ftSharp right onto West Valley Trail, heading SE.
  28. 1.1 miTurn left onto Well Gulch Nature Trail, heading SW.
  29. 50 ftTurn right onto West Valley Trail, heading SW.
  30. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Well Gulch Nature Trail, heading NE.
  31. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  32. 400 ftContinue straight onto East Valley Trail, heading NW.
  33. 0.6 miBear right, heading NW.
  34. 250 ftContinue straight onto Lodgepole Drive, heading NW.
  35. 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-7-sights

Trail surface

98% dirt2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 7:30 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.6 mi in (~215 min). Leave by 3:34 PM for the 7:30 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:32 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Bellvue, Colorado