AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Niver Creek Open Space

Platte River–Engineer Lake, 6 lakes

10.5 mi · ▲ 435 ft · 3 hr 43 min

Platte River–Engineer Lake, 6 lakes is a 10.5-mile out-and-back in Niver Creek Open Space near Northglenn, CO. The route passes Lambertson Ponds, Croke Lake and Engineer Lake before reaching Platte River at the turnaround, 5.1 miles in. It climbs 435 ft and is mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,086 – 5,440 ft13.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.88048, -104.97832
Nearest town Northglenn, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Platte River–Engineer Lake, 6 lakes

10.5 mi · ▲ 435 ft · 3 hr 43 min

Elevation 5,085–5,440 ft

Out & Back · Niver Creek Open Space

Trailhead: 39.88048, -104.97832

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:25 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 519 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass Lambertson Ponds.
  3. 50 ftTurn right onto Grange Hall Creek Trail, heading S.
  4. 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
  5. 0.2 miPass Croke Lake.
  6. 0.9 miTurn left onto Niver Creek Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Niver Creek-88th Avenue Trail, heading E.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Niver Creek Trail, heading E.
  9. 0.1 miTurn right onto Thornton Park & Ride, heading S.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Niver Creek Trail, heading S.
  11. 0.7 miTurn left, heading S.
  12. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  14. 50 ftTurn left onto Niver Canal Trail, heading S.
  15. 1 miBear right onto Niver Canal Trail (level crossing), heading E.
  16. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  17. 0.9 miTurn left onto Clear Creek Trail, heading S.
  18. 50 ftPass Engineer Lake.
  19. 50 ftPass Platte River.
  20. 0.5 miTurn right onto South Platte River Trail, heading S.
  21. 300 ftBear left onto Commerce City Trail, heading S.
  22. 350 ftTurn left, heading S.
  23. 100 ftBear left, heading S.
  24. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  25. 450 ftReach Platte River, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  26. 450 ftBear left, heading NE.
  27. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  28. 450 ftBear right onto South Platte River Trail, heading E.
  29. 300 ftTurn left onto Clear Creek Trail, heading SE.
  30. 0.5 miTurn right, heading E.
  31. 0.9 miTurn left onto Niver Canal Trail (level crossing), heading W.
  32. 50 ftBear left onto Niver Canal Trail, heading W.
  33. 1 miTurn right, heading W.
  34. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  35. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  36. 50 ftTurn right onto Niver Creek Trail, heading W.
  37. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  38. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Thornton Park & Ride, heading NW.
  39. 50 ftTurn left onto Niver Creek Trail, heading NW.
  40. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Niver Creek-88th Avenue Trail, heading NW.
  41. 50 ftContinue straight onto Niver Creek Trail, heading NW.
  42. 0.8 miTurn right onto Grange Hall Creek Trail, heading NW.
  43. 0.9 miTurn right, heading NW.
  44. 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
  45. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  46. 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/platte-river-welby-reservoir-out-back-8-lakes-25-km-722a

Trail surface

96% paved2% boardwalk2% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:33 AMSunset 7:25 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~22 min). Leave by 6:43 PM for the 7:25 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:01 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 519 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Hikes near Northglenn, Colorado