Lower Backside–Lower Sidewinder, 8 sights

10 mi · ▲ 2,085 ft · 4 hr 23 min

Lower Backside–Lower Sidewinder, 8 sights is a 10-mile out-and-back near Elkdale, CO. It climbs 2,085 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 46/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi8,330 – 9,367 ft · steepest grade: 19%10.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.04466, -105.90591
Nearest town Elkdale, CO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lower Backside–Lower Sidewinder, 8 sights

10 mi · ▲ 2,085 ft · 4 hr 23 min

Elevation 8,330–9,368 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 40.04466, -105.90591

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:37 AM · sunset 7:29 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 150 ftTurn left onto Ballroom Black, heading SE.
  3. 350 ftBear right, heading SE.
  4. 400 ftTurn left onto Cheese-It, heading SE.
  5. 200 ftContinue straight onto Ashy Larry, heading S.
  6. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Cheese-It, heading E.
  7. 0.2 miTurn right onto Tron, heading S.
  8. 350 ftContinue straight onto Moga's Mile, heading E.
  9. 0.1 miTurn right onto Silky Johnson, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Bee Line, heading E.
  11. 250 ftContinue straight onto Vista Ridge, heading E.
  12. 0.4 miTurn right onto Vista Ridge Flow, heading SW.
  13. 0.9 miTurn right onto Wade's World, heading S.
  14. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Two Stroke, heading SW.
  15. 250 ftTurn right onto Out of Gas, heading NW.
  16. 2.1 miBear left onto Lower Backside, heading N.
  17. 50 ftBear right onto Out of Gas, heading N.
  18. 0.3 miReach Moga's Mile, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 0.3 miBear left onto Lower Backside, heading SE.
  20. 50 ftBear right onto Out of Gas, heading SE.
  21. 2.1 miTurn left onto Two Stroke, heading NE.
  22. 250 ftContinue straight onto Wade's World, heading N.
  23. 0.4 miTurn left, heading N.
  24. 150 ftContinue straight onto Vista Ridge Flow, heading NE.
  25. 0.9 miTurn left onto Vista Ridge, heading NE.
  26. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Bee Line, heading NE.
  27. 250 ftContinue straight onto Silky Johnson, heading NE.
  28. 50 ftTurn left onto Moga's Mile, heading NE.
  29. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Tron, heading NE.
  30. 350 ftTurn left onto Cheese-It, heading NE.
  31. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Ashy Larry, heading NE.
  32. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Cheese-It, heading W.
  33. 200 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  34. 400 ftBear left onto Ballroom Black, heading NW.
  35. 350 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  36. 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

97% dirt3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:37 AMSunset 7:29 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.9 mi in (~42 min). Leave by 6:27 PM for the 7:29 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:05 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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