AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Picture Rock Trail–Ponderosa Loop Trail, 4 sights

9.1 mi · ▲ 1,231 ft · 3 hr 39 min

Picture Rock Trail–Ponderosa Loop Trail, 4 sights is a 9.1-mile out-and-back near Altona, CO. It climbs 1,231 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 52/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi5,886 – 6,769 ft · steepest grade: 15%9.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Lichen Loop 40.14794, -105.30014
Nearest town Altona, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Picture Rock Trail–Ponderosa Loop Trail, 4 sights

9.1 mi · ▲ 1,231 ft · 3 hr 39 min

Elevation 5,886–6,768 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Lichen Loop · 40.14794, -105.30014

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 89°F / low 60° · precip 6% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:30 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Lichen Loop, heading N.
  2. 0.6 miBear right onto Wapiti Trail, heading N.
  3. 2.4 miTurn right onto Ponderosa Loop Trail, heading N.
  4. 0.1 miSharp right onto Wild Turkey Loop Trail, heading NE.
  5. 1 miContinue straight onto Picture Rock Trail, heading S.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto Wild Turkey Loop Trail, heading S.
  7. 1.7 miContinue straight onto Ponderosa Loop Trail, heading SW.
  8. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  9. 0.6 miBear left, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  11. 1.3 miBear right onto Wapiti Trail, heading E.
  12. 0.4 miBear left onto Lichen Loop, heading SW.
  13. 300 ftBear right onto Lichen Loop Trail, heading SW.
  14. 0.5 miArrive 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/picture-rock-trail-ponderosa-loop-trail-out-back-4-sights-15-km-a326

Trail surface

96% dirt4% gravel

Weather

OvercastTemperature 89°F60°
Feels like78°Precip6%Wind7 mphUV7Humidity18%
Hourly temperature
90°60°
Sunrise 6:33 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:30 PM
Sat 88°68°
Sun 91°63° 22%
Mon 87°65° 29%
Tue 86°61° 20%
Wed 84°56° 28%
Thu 92°59° 32%

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Lichen Loop Trailhead

Hikes near Altona, Colorado