AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Skeel Reservoir & Blackmer Lake via High Line Canal Trail

5.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 54 min

Skeel Reservoir & Blackmer Lake via High Line Canal Trail is a 5.7-mile out-and-back near University Hills, CO. The route passes Skeel Reservoir before reaching Blackmer Lake at the turnaround, 2.8 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,460 – 5,506 ft6.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: High Line Canal Trail 39.65943, -104.93832
Nearest town University Hills, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Skeel Reservoir & Blackmer Lake via High Line Canal Trail

5.7 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 1 hr 54 min

Elevation 5,459–5,504 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: High Line Canal Trail · 39.65943, -104.93832

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 93°F / low 64° · precip 7% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:26 PM

Transit-accessible: S Colorado Blvd & E Eastman Ave stop 203 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on High Line Canal Trail, heading W.
  2. 0.5 miPass Skeel Reservoir.
  3. 150 ftBear left, heading S.
  4. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  5. 100 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  6. 1.2 miBear left, heading E.
  7. 450 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  8. 350 ftBear left, heading SE.
  9. 200 ftBear left, heading E.
  10. 0.3 miSharp right, heading SE.
  11. 0.3 miBear left, heading SE.
  12. 50 ftTurn right onto Quincy Avenue Multi-Use Path, heading SE.
  13. 50 ftTurn left onto High Line Canal Trail, heading SE.
  14. 0.3 miPass Blackmer Lake.
  15. 250 ftTurn right, heading S.
  16. 250 ftReach Skeel Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 0.4 miTurn right onto Quincy Avenue Multi-Use Path, heading N.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
  19. 50 ftBear right onto High Line Canal Trail, heading N.
  20. 0.5 miBear left, heading E.
  21. 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
  22. 250 ftBear right, heading NW.
  23. 1.3 miTurn left, heading NW.
  24. 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/skeel-reservoir-blackmer-lake-out-back-4-lakes-9-km

Trail surface

58% gravel28% paved8% dirt6% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 93°F64°
Precip7%Wind6 mphUV7Humidity36%
Hourly temperature
95°60°
Sunrise 6:33 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:26 PM
Sun 91°63° 19%
Mon 89°75° 35%
Tue 88°70° 44%
Wed 91°68° 44%
Thu 88°69° 29%
Fri 89°68° 17%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~11 min). Leave by 6:56 PM for the 7:26 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:51 PM — 2 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: S Colorado Blvd & E Eastman Ave stop 203 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from High Line Canal Trail Trailhead

Hikes near University Hills, Colorado