Legend Ridge Loop–Niwot Hills Trail, 4 sights

11.5 mi · ▲ 495 ft · 4 hr 5 min

Legend Ridge Loop–Niwot Hills Trail, 4 sights is an 11.5-mile out-and-back near Gunbarrel, CO. It climbs 495 ft and is mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,112 – 5,355 ft12.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.06693, -105.19948
Nearest town Gunbarrel, CO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Legend Ridge Loop–Niwot Hills Trail, 4 sights

11.5 mi · ▲ 495 ft · 4 hr 5 min

Elevation 5,111–5,355 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 40.06693, -105.19948

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:26 PM

Transit-accessible: Spine Rd & Williams Fork Trail stop 259 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 50 ftTurn left onto Longmont-to-Boulder (LOBO) Regional Trail, heading E.
  3. 0.2 miTurn left onto Boulder Feeder Ditch Trail, heading SE.
  4. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  5. 150 ftTurn left, heading S.
  6. 0.8 miSharp right onto Longmont-to-Boulder (LOBO) Regional Trail, heading N.
  7. 150 ftContinue straight onto Niwot Loop, heading NW.
  8. 2 miBear right onto Niwot Loop Trail, heading N.
  9. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  10. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  11. 0.1 miTurn right onto Somerset Trail, heading NE.
  12. 1 miTurn left, heading S.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  14. 150 ftBear left onto Legend Ridge Loop, heading S.
  15. 0.6 miTurn left onto Niwot Hills Trail, heading NE.
  16. 0.6 miTurn right onto Niwot Loop Trail, heading N.
  17. 150 ftReach Niwot Loop Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 150 ftTurn left onto Niwot Hills Trail, heading N.
  19. 0.6 miTurn right onto Legend Ridge Loop, heading S.
  20. 0.6 miBear right, heading SW.
  21. 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  22. 50 ftTurn right onto Somerset Trail, heading SW.
  23. 1 miTurn left onto Niwot Loop Trail, heading W.
  24. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  25. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  26. 0.2 miBear left onto Niwot Loop, heading W.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Longmont-to-Boulder (LOBO) Regional Trail, heading W.
  28. 2.1 miSharp left, heading SW.
  29. 0.8 miTurn right, heading S.
  30. 150 ftTurn right onto Boulder Feeder Ditch Trail, heading S.
  31. 0.2 miTurn right onto Longmont-to-Boulder (LOBO) Regional Trail, heading SE.
  32. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
  33. 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 surface

63% gravel21% paved16% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:34 AMSunset 7:26 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.0 mi in (~129 min). Leave by 4:57 PM for the 7:26 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:45 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Spine Rd & Williams Fork Trail stop 259 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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