Lookout Mountain Trail
Golden, Colorado
Details
Distance
2.87 miles
Elevation Gain
466 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Matthew Eaton
There is something for everyone at Windy Saddle Park. You get great views from the parking lot and the trail is close enough to Denver that you can pop over for an after work hike.
Just outside of Golden, CO is Lookout Mountain. If you’ve ever driven westbound on i70 from Denver to the mountains, you’ve undoubtedly seen this mountain to your right with antennas on the top. On the north side of Lookout Mountain lies Windy Saddle Park, about a 30 minute drive from Denver. This close proximity to the city does mean that this is a popular spot, but it also means that it is quite easy to hit an after work hike, especially during these longer summer days.
Lookout Mountain Trail:
From Windy Saddle, you can take the 2.9mile RT hike to the top of Lookout Mountain and explore the Lookout Mountain Nature Center. This trail offers 500 ft of elevation gain.
After .2 miles, you'll come to a junction. Take a sharp left to stay on the Lookout Mountain Trail.
Dogs are welcome on these trails, but I would think twice before taking them on the Lookout Mountain and Chimney Gulch trails as the multi-use nature of these trails is not the most enjoyable place for a hike with your dog. If you do, a leash is a required. The Beaver Brook trail is dog friendly and hikers only.
For more hiking at Windy Saddle Park, be sure to check out The Chimney Gulch Trail and Beaver Brook Trail.
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Lookout Mountain Trail Reviews
We hit it just as the sun was going down and it was amazing!
5.0
Straight up 1.3mi, then straight back down, out and back hike. The up wasn’t too strenuous, but coming down that way was hard on the knees. Option to wander around the Nature Center at the top, or the Buffalo Bill gravesite/museum along the trail. Short and fun overall.
4.0
Excellent views throughout the hike all the way to the top. We loved checking out all of the trails in the surrounding area that look great for mountain biking and hiking for a later day. We took this hike mid day during a spring drizzle, it later turned into a downpour. Just goes to show Colorado is beautiful rain or shine. Got some amazing pictures to share and was pretty fun to hike in the rain! Short and sweet. Highly recommend grabbing a beer at New Terrain in Golden afterwards!
4.0
Leave No Trace
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Nearby
Chimney Gulch Trail
Beaver Brook Trail via Windy Saddle Park
Lookout Mountain via Buffalo Bill Trail
South Table Mountain (Private Property)
Argos Trail & Magic Mountain Trail Loop
Mount Galbraith Loop via Cedar Gulch
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