AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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SteveB in Denver · CC BY 2.0
Devils Backbone Open Space

Devils Backbone–Keyhole, 9 lakes

13 mi · ▲ 388 ft · 4 hr 32 min

Devils Backbone–Keyhole, 9 lakes is a 13-mile out-and-back in Devils Backbone Open Space near Loveland, CO. The route passes Jayhawker Pond North, Jayhawker Pond South, Dragonfly Pond and 4 more before reaching Devils Backbone at the turnaround, 6.5 miles in. It climbs 388 ft. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi4,954 – 5,358 ft14.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.38978, -105.09638
Nearest town Loveland, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Devils Backbone–Keyhole, 9 lakes

13 mi · ▲ 388 ft · 4 hr 32 min

Elevation 4,954–5,357 ft

Out & Back · Devils Backbone Open Space

Trailhead: 40.38978, -105.09638

Weather Sep 6: Overcast, high 91°F / low 62° · precip 18% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:28 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftPass Jayhawker Pond North.
  3. 50 ftPass Jayhawker Pond South.
  4. 0.1 miTurn left, heading E.
  5. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  6. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  7. 0.1 miPass Dragonfly Pond.
  8. 50 ftPass Sandpiper Pond.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  10. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  11. 150 ftTurn right, heading N.
  12. 350 ftBear left onto Big Thompson River Trail, heading E.
  13. 1.1 miPass Schuster Lake.
  14. 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
  15. 1.3 miTurn right onto Westside Trail, heading W.
  16. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  17. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  18. 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  20. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  21. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  22. 1.7 miTurn left, heading NW.
  23. 100 ftTurn left onto Hidden Valley Trail, heading NW.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Wild Loop Trail, heading NW.
  25. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Wild Loop, heading SW.
  26. 0.2 miPass Overlook.
  27. 0.2 miPass Keyhole.
  28. 0.1 miReach Devils Backbone, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  29. 50 ftTurn right onto Wild Loop Trail, heading N.
  30. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Hidden Valley Trail, heading SE.
  31. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  32. 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
  33. 1.7 miTurn left, heading SE.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  35. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NE.
  36. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  37. 0.1 miTurn right onto Westside Trail, heading E.
  38. 0.4 miTurn left onto Big Thompson River Trail, heading N.
  39. 1.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  40. 1.5 miBear right, heading SE.
  41. 350 ftTurn left, heading E.
  42. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  43. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  44. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  45. 50 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  46. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  47. 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/overlook-schuster-lake-out-back-10-lakes-21-km

Trail surface

36% dirt26% paved11% gravel27% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 91°F62°
Precip18%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity48%
Rained 0.1″ 6 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
95°60° 12 AM: 5% rain1 AM: 8% rain2 AM: 7% rain3 AM: 6% rain4 AM: 3% rain5 AM: 2% rain6 AM: 4% rain7 AM: 2% rain2 PM: 1% rain3 PM: 2% rain4 PM: 5% rain5 PM: 8% rain6 PM: 16% rain7 PM: 13% rain8 PM: 18% rain9 PM: 7% rain10 PM: 3% rain11 PM: 2% rain
Sunrise 6:32 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:28 PM
Mon 88°62° 16%
Tue 89°64° 16%
Wed 85°58° 15%
Thu 91°60°
Fri 94°62°
Sat 92°47° 30%

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Loveland, Colorado