Mt. Buckhorn hike close to Colorado Springs

The Mt. Buckhorn Hike, taking the form of what hikers typically name a “lollipop loop,” varieties the bridge between the Part 16 hike and the Seven Bridges & Kineo Mountain hike.

As with these hikes, the stunning facet is its immediacy — inside minutes of turning off the freeway the trailhead seems. And if parking has stuffed, different choices await within the neighborhood. Discover the total Mt. Buckhorn Hike profile beneath for path map, driving instructions, and extra ideas and particulars that will help you get pleasure from this year-round journey simply south of Denver.

Path Snapshot: Mt. Buckhorn Lollipop Loop

Parking & Trailhead Info for Part 16 Path

From Denver, cruising south on I-25, take exit 141 for Freeway 24 West. After roughly 1.5 miles, flip left (south) onto twenty first Avenue, after which shortly thereafter, proper (west) onto Decrease Gold Camp Highway. Turning left on the 4-way cease (junction with Bear Creek Highway), the Bear Creek Canyon pullout parking trailhead seems on the left simply previous to the 3-way junction with a bend of Gold Camp Highway. This parking zone presents head-in spots and fills quick; different pullout parking heaps dot the street earlier than and after this one.

The Hike: Mt. Buckhorn Lollipop Loop Hike

Leaving the parking zone, persevering with towards the junction with Gold Camp Highway, the route joins Excessive Drive. Excessive Drive meanders up into the backcountry previous split-rail fences, over rock bridges, and thru vast slot canyons. At roughly the 1-mile mark, lower than 1/4-mile previous the Part 16 Hike path junction, the junction for the ominously named Path 666 branches off to the fitting.

Over the following 1.5 miles, Path 666 traces the valley wall, gracing hikers with unobstructed views of the basin beneath, crags on the alternative valley wall, and examine of Colorado Springs within the rearview mirror. After ascending practically 1,000ft, the route meets the junction with Path 776. Taking a pointy left, Path 776 tugs towards a 180-degree flip up the valley slope.

Now because the path ranges, extra vistas break open to hikers’ delight. Roughly 1/2-mile up the path, one other key junction helps information the backcountry adventurer. Path 776 (aka Buckhorn Path) crosses paths with Path 667 (Higher Captain Jack’s Path). Right here one finds the connecting level to the Seven Bridges & Kineo Mountain hike. Staying barely left by becoming a member of Path 667, the route strikes additional into the backcountry and a surprising new valley. On the finish of the elevation shelf, roughly 1/3-mile forward, these with vitality and gumption can trek to the highest of Mt. Buckhorn. This provides about 1/2-mile whole to the hike.

Persevering with alongside Path 667, the route begins its regular descent to fulfill up once more with Excessive Drive, however at a distinct juncture. At Excessive Drive, a broad open house with signage and fencing, the lollipop loop turns left down the vast Excessive Drive street and rolls 1.5-miles again to the place Path 666 first appeared. (Observe fastidiously that Path 667 (Captain Jack’s) crosses over Excessive Drive and resumes climbing up the dealing with ridge. Taking the path, as an alternative of Excessive Drive, will pull hikers far into the backcountry and away from the originating parking pullout.)

The final a part of the Mt. Buckhorn lollipop loop hike merely follows Excessive Drive all the way in which. Typically staying straight, with a pair exhausting curves alongside the way in which, the path flows again down and out roughly 2.5 miles to the parking pullout.

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