Name: Keyhole Balloon
Rating: 4.1

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Features Birding · Views

Family Friendly This is a relatively easy trail; it's great for out-of-town guests that want to see some mountain views (especially if they're from sea level & still acclimating). Popular with families and kids.

Opens at sunrise and closes at sunset.

Overview

The entry trail at Devil's Backbone Open Space takes hikers upward towards a picturesque overlook through a nautral keyhole in the rock. It looks out over the mountains with the highest peak visible being Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. This is great trail year round. 50% of the trail up to the Keyhole is for runners and hikers only.

Need to Know

Red-tail hawks and unique plants can be seen in this preserved land of Larimer County.

Description

This trail starts at the Devil's Backbone Open Space parking lot. A gradual downhill through a secluded picnic area helps hikers ramp up for the slight uphill for .7 miles. The dirt trail is well marked, and hikers should take the Keyhole Loop Trail to the top without diverting to the right.

About a half a mile in, hikers will come across a slightly rocky surface before returning to a smooth dirt path. It travels mostly uphill for .8 miles before a gradual down and up leading the Keyhole. The overlook is popular towards the end of the day with the great view overlooking the mountains west, so the trail can get a little busy. It is a relatively unknown trail though and mostly used by locals.

At the top of the Keyhole, travel north towards a small loop that takes hikers back to the main trail to the parking lot. It is a very enjoyable route and one of my local go-to spots.

Flora & Fauna

There are lots of bees at the Keyhole overlook during the summer. Beware! As far as vegetation, there is a nature loop that points out some the local flora in the parking lot.

History & Background

The Devil's Backbone hogsback is one of the places in northern Colorado where you can see the ancient beach that once was part of this area. While that was 145 to 65 million years ago, the remnants of the Cretaceous period can be seen along the rock wall that is prominent to this area.

Contacts

Land Manager: Larimer County, Colorado

Shared By:

Kayla Dome with improvements by Susanna Wright

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.1 from 21 votes

#1

in Devil's Backbone Open Space

#1068

Overall

4.1 from 21 votes

5 Star		29%
4 Star		57%
3 Star		14%
2 Star		0%
1 Star		0%

Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Devil's Backbone Open…

#215

in Colorado

#1,068

Overall

27 Views Last Month

5,210 Since Feb 17, 2017

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Photos

Keyhole Balloon takes you to this phenomenal view.

Feb 17, 2017 near Loveland, CO

Keyhole Balloon follows the Devils Backbone and affords this fantastic view.

Feb 17, 2017 near Loveland, CO

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

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Check-Ins

Oct 24, 2024

Tim Wells

Sep 19, 2024

Rochelle Chandler

Loveland CO audit Trip. Hiked with lead auditor Janice 2.3mi — 1h 02m

Nov 5, 2022

Caitlin Heckman

Jan 8, 2022

Haley Partin

Aug 17, 2021

Linda Reeves

Jul 11, 2021

Elicha Andrade

Apr 25, 2021

Alex O'Connell

From the south TH, to Blue Sky junction and back. 6.6mi

Oct 3, 2020

Michelle H

With Sarah and Anna 3.2mi — 1h 10m

Sep 12, 2020

Jake Eicher

3.8mi — 1h 38m

Jul 17, 2020

Mike Street

Narrow trail, beware of rattle snakes, gorgeous scenery — 1h 12m

Jun 21, 2020

Isamar Hernandez

Great trail not too hard. 2.4mi — 1h 13m

Apr 10, 2020

Austin Forte

Hiked Wild Loop and Hunter Loop with a stop on the way back at the keyhole. 4.4mi — 2h 30m

Apr 5, 2020

Hali Riewerts

Nov 29, 2019

Susanna Wright

Snowy, but trail was packed down. Snowshoes were not necessary but micro spikes were very helpful. Trail was significantly less busy due to weather 2.3mi — 0h 47m

Jun 10, 2019

Anna H

May 18, 2019

David Merritt

2.6mi

May 11, 2019

Ryan VanBuskirk

2.6mi

Apr 7, 2019

Kevin Botka

2mi

Jan 7, 2019

Greg Collette

Jan 6, 2019

Ryan Wallace

2.5mi

Dec 26, 2018

Sarah B

Dec 20, 2018

T Sitts

Oct 31, 2018

Kylea Pote

Oct 6, 2018

Jeni Umble

2.3mi

Jul 14, 2018

Austin Forte

2.3mi

Jul 6, 2018

Henry Ainsworth

I added the hunters loop 2.3mi

Jul 5, 2018

Kaylee Fischer

2.4mi

May 5, 2018

Vanessa Bayer

Jan 14, 2018

LaNita A

Dec 15, 2017

Cloud F

Dec 9, 2017

Danielle Rourke

Did keyhole button trail and then Hunter loop trail and back. 5mi

Jul 18, 2017

Linda Cockrell

Alpaca on the trail 2.3mi

May 25, 2017

Debbie Ridder

May 7, 2017

Timothy Ruth

Forgot water 1.5mi

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