AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Lory State Park

Lodgepole Drive Viewpoint–Horsetooth Reservoir, 7 sights

10.5 mi · ▲ 468 ft · 3 hr 44 min

Lodgepole Drive Viewpoint–Horsetooth Reservoir, 7 sights is a 10.5-mile out-and-back in Lory State Park near Horsetooth Heights, CO. The route passes Horsetooth Reservoir before reaching Lodgepole Drive Viewpoint at the turnaround, 5.2 miles in. It climbs 468 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 40/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi5,433 – 5,650 ft11.2 mi

Getting there

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

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lodgepole Drive Viewpoint–Horsetooth Reservoir, 7 sights

10.5 mi · ▲ 468 ft · 3 hr 44 min

Elevation 5,434–5,650 ft

Out & Back · Lory State Park

Trailhead: 40.53216, -105.16275

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:26 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 miContinue straight onto Shoreline Trail, heading NE.
  7. 0.8 miTurn right onto Nomad Trail, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftBear left onto Shoreline Trail, heading N.
  9. 0.3 miBear right onto Nomad Trail, heading NW.
  10. 50 ftBear left onto South Valley Loop, heading N.
  11. 1.2 miTurn left onto Aurthurs Rock / West Valley Trail, heading N.
  12. 250 ftSharp right onto West Valley Trail, heading NW.
  13. 1.1 miTurn left onto Well Gulch Nature Trail, heading N.
  14. 50 ftTurn right onto West Valley Trail, heading NW.
  15. 1.1 miSharp right, heading NW.
  16. 200 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  17. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Lodgepole Drive, heading E.
  18. 100 ftBear left, heading N.
  19. 0.1 miReach Lodgepole Drive Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  21. 200 ftSharp left onto West Valley Trail, heading S.
  22. 1.1 miTurn left onto Well Gulch Nature Trail, heading S.
  23. 50 ftTurn right onto West Valley Trail, heading S.
  24. 1.1 miSharp left onto Aurthurs Rock / West Valley Trail, heading SW.
  25. 250 ftTurn right onto South Valley Loop, heading E.
  26. 1.2 miBear right onto Nomad Trail, heading SE.
  27. 50 ftBear left onto Shoreline Trail, heading S.
  28. 0.3 miBear right onto Nomad Trail, heading NE.
  29. 50 ftTurn left onto Shoreline Trail, heading NE.
  30. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Swan Johnson Trail, heading SE.
  31. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Nomad Trail, heading S.
  32. 50 ftContinue straight onto Swan Johnson Trail, heading S.
  33. 200 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  34. 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/lodgepole-drive-viewpoint-horsetooth-reservoir-out-back-7-sights-17-km-69a3

Trail surface

90% dirt10% gravel

Weather

Sunrise 6:34 AMSunset 7:26 PM

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