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Niwot Ridge Trail

Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
 3.7 (9)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. Nederland
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“Follow a dirt road up to the crest of Niwot Ridge. ”

Michael Reschly
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Map Key

6.5

Miles

10.4

KM

Point to Point

12,252' 3,734 m

High

9,298' 2,834 m

Low

2,954' 901 m

Up

0' 0 m

Down

9%

Avg Grade (5°)

21%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Views

Need to Know

There is public parking available at the research station, just a short ways up the road. I am not sure about the hours, but it has been open both Sundays I've visited.

Description

Starting from the South Sourdough trailhead, follow the road for the Mountain Research Station up towards Niwot Ridge. Eventually the road ends, but the trail continues on up to the end of the Research Station outposts. You can return the way you came (13 miles, roughly), or take the Niwot Ridge Spur Trail up to Brainard Lake and the South Sourdough (#835) Trail back to where you started, for a 20-mile day.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Office

Shared By:

Michael Reschly with improvements by Jordan G
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.7 from 9 votes

#3

in Nederland

#12144

Overall
  3.7 from 9 votes
5 Star
11%
4 Star
67%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
22%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#3

in Nederland

#1,061

in Colorado

#12,144

Overall
15 Views Last Month
5,408 Since Sep 15, 2017
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
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Photos

Video with commentary of Niwot Ridge Spur Trail and Niwot Ridge.
Aug 12, 2022 near Nederland, CO
At western end of Niwot Ridge Trail.
Aug 12, 2022 near Nederland, CO
Our only marmot seen.
Aug 12, 2022 near Nederland, CO
Clyde Inman and Larry W Jones. Aug 10, 2022.
Aug 12, 2022 near Nederland, CO
Three of the 5 Green Lakes.
Aug 12, 2022 near Nederland, CO
Albion Lake and two of the five Green Lakes.
Aug 12, 2022 near Nederland, CO

1 Comment

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

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Check-Ins

Jun 11, 2021
Sarah Regan
Aug 30, 2020
JP Jones
Mostly following the dirt road, I enjoyed the CU research huts scattered along the trail. Good for solitude. Parts are steep and slow going. 13mi — 7h 02m
Sep 29, 2018
wildtrout1
Beautiful mountain and lake view at the end but not worth the research debris strewn hike to get there. 12.5mi — 5h 00m
Sep 10, 2018
Kim Chrislip
W Sarah. Super windy. Started at Long Lake TH and took the Niwot Spur. 10.1mi
Jul 4, 2018
Sean Peters

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