AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Button Rock Preserve

Sleepy Lion Viewpoint–Bitterbrush Viewpoint, 5 sights

9.4 mi · ▲ 1,801 ft · 4 hr 2 min

Sleepy Lion Viewpoint–Bitterbrush Viewpoint, 5 sights is a 9.4-mile out-and-back in Button Rock Preserve near Lyons, CO. The route passes Bitterbrush Viewpoint before reaching Sleepy Lion Viewpoint at the turnaround, 4.7 miles in. It climbs 1,801 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 36/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi5,486 – 6,700 ft · steepest grade: 18%10.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Bitterbrush Trail 40.21202, -105.28937
Nearest town Lyons, CO · Official trailhead info (bouldercounty.gov)
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sleepy Lion Viewpoint–Bitterbrush Viewpoint, 5 sights

9.4 mi · ▲ 1,801 ft · 4 hr 2 min

Elevation 5,487–6,700 ft

Out & Back · Button Rock Preserve

Trailhead: Bitterbrush Trail · 40.21202, -105.28937

Weather Sep 4: Drizzle, high 91°F / low 61° · precip 7% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:30 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Bitterbrush Trail, heading N.
  2. 250 ftTurn left onto Night Hawk Trail, heading S.
  3. 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
  4. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  6. 200 ftContinue straight onto Bitterbrush Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.7 miPass Bitterbrush Viewpoint.
  8. 1.5 miBear right onto Nelson Loop, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  10. 0.3 miBear left onto Night Hawk Trail, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  12. 0.6 miTurn left onto Button Rock Trail, heading SW.
  13. 0.7 miTurn left, heading SW.
  14. 0.3 miSharp left onto Sleepy Lion Trail, heading SW.
  15. 350 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftReach Sleepy Lion Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 350 ftSharp right onto Button Rock Trail, heading NW.
  18. 0.1 miSharp left, heading SW.
  19. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  20. 0.7 miTurn right, heading SE.
  21. 0.6 miTurn left onto Night Hawk Trail, heading NE.
  22. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  23. 0.3 miTurn right onto Nelson Loop, heading NE.
  24. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  25. 2 miContinue straight onto Bitterbrush Trail, heading SE.
  26. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  27. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  28. 0.2 miSharp left onto Night Hawk Trail, heading SE.
  29. 0.3 miTurn right onto Bitterbrush Trail, heading NE.
  30. 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/sleepy-lion-viewpoint-sleepy-lion-viewpoint-out-back-6-sights-15-km

Trail surface

78% dirt22% unspecified

Weather

DrizzleTemperature 91°F61°
Feels like83°Precip7%Wind6 mphUV7Humidity15%
Hourly temperature
95°60°
Sunrise 6:32 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:30 PM
Sat 90°70°
Sun 93°64° 18%
Mon 90°66° 24%
Tue 87°61° 18%
Wed 88°56° 25%
Thu 94°59° 31%

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Bitterbrush Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Lyons, Colorado