AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Coal Creek Open Space

Return to Top - Red–Sage - Green, 3 sights

3.1 mi · ▲ 191 ft · 1 hr 8 min

Return to Top - Red–Sage - Green, 3 sights is a 3.1-mile out-and-back in Coal Creek Open Space near Erie, CO. It is mostly level, with 191 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,030 – 5,250 ft4.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.03506, -105.04592
Nearest town Erie, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Return to Top - Red–Sage - Green, 3 sights

3.1 mi · ▲ 191 ft · 1 hr 8 min

Elevation 5,029–5,251 ft

Out & Back · Coal Creek Open Space

Trailhead: 40.03506, -105.04592

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:29 PM

Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
  3. 100 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  4. 350 ftTurn right onto Coal Creek Trail, heading E.
  5. 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
  6. 250 ftBear left, heading NE.
  7. 150 ftTurn right onto Meadows Trail, heading E.
  8. 150 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading E.
  9. 200 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading E.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading E.
  11. 50 ftTurn right onto Erie Forest Trail, heading SE.
  12. 50 ftBear right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Erie Forest Trail, heading SE.
  15. 150 ftBear right, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading SE.
  18. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading SE.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  20. 50 ftTurn left onto Sidewinder Trail, heading SE.
  21. 0.5 miTurn left, heading E.
  22. 500 ftTurn right onto Sage - Green, heading N.
  23. 450 ftSharp left, heading N.
  24. 50 ftSharp right onto Return to Top - Red, heading N.
  25. 200 ftBear left onto Sage - Green, heading N.
  26. 50 ftBear right onto Return to Top - Red, heading N.
  27. 250 ftContinue straight onto Sage - Green, heading N.
  28. 50 ftBear right onto Return to Top - Red, heading N.
  29. 250 ftBear right onto Yucca - Black, heading N.
  30. 50 ftTurn right onto Blue Gramma, heading N.
  31. 50 ftTurn right onto Yucca - Black, heading N.
  32. 50 ftContinue straight onto Blue Gramma, heading N.
  33. 50 ftContinue straight onto Yucca - Black, heading N.
  34. 50 ftTurn left onto Blue Gramma, heading N.
  35. 50 ftBear right onto Return to Top - Red Trail, heading N.
  36. 50 ftContinue straight onto Blue Gramma, heading N.
  37. 100 ftBear left onto Yucca - Black, heading N.
  38. 50 ftContinue straight onto Blue Gramma, heading NE.
  39. 50 ftReach Return to Top - Red, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  40. 50 ftContinue straight onto Yucca - Black, heading NE.
  41. 50 ftBear right onto Blue Gramma, heading E.
  42. 100 ftContinue straight onto Return to Top - Red Trail, heading NW.
  43. 50 ftBear left onto Blue Gramma, heading NW.
  44. 50 ftTurn right onto Yucca - Black, heading NW.
  45. 50 ftContinue straight onto Blue Gramma, heading NW.
  46. 50 ftContinue straight onto Yucca - Black, heading NW.
  47. 50 ftTurn left onto Blue Gramma, heading NW.
  48. 50 ftTurn left onto Yucca - Black, heading NW.
  49. 50 ftBear left onto Return to Top - Red, heading NW.
  50. 250 ftBear left onto Sage - Green, heading E.
  51. 50 ftContinue straight onto Return to Top - Red, heading SE.
  52. 250 ftBear left onto Sage - Green, heading NE.
  53. 50 ftBear right onto Return to Top - Red, heading NE.
  54. 250 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  55. 50 ftSharp right onto Sage - Green, heading NE.
  56. 400 ftTurn left, heading E.
  57. 500 ftTurn right, heading E.
  58. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading NW.
  59. 50 ftTurn right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading NW.
  60. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading W.
  61. 50 ftContinue straight onto Sidewinder Trail, heading W.
  62. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tracks Berm Trail, heading W.
  63. 50 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading W.
  64. 250 ftTurn right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading W.
  65. 50 ftBear left onto Erie Forest Trail, heading W.
  66. 50 ftTurn left onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading W.
  67. 50 ftContinue straight onto Erie Forest Trail, heading W.
  68. 50 ftBear right onto Sunset Ridge Trail, heading W.
  69. 150 ftContinue straight onto Meadows Trail, heading SW.
  70. 150 ftTurn left onto Coal Creek Trail, heading SW.
  71. 150 ftTurn left, heading W.
  72. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  73. 0.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  74. 350 ftTurn left, heading W.
  75. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  76. 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/return-to-top-red-sage-green-out-back-3-sights-5-km

Trail surface

36% dirt32% paved32% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:32 AMSunset 7:29 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.7 mi in (~20 min). Leave by 6:49 PM for the 7:29 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:02 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Erie, Colorado