Winter Hiking and Wildlife in Waterton Canyon

Littleton, Colorado

3.7/5

based on 9 reviews

Save

View all 7 photos

All 7 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

12.4 miles

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Ryan Mckinney

Bighorn Sheep! Wild Turkey. Great Place to Hike, Run or Bike. Up to 12.4 miles roundtrip hiking.

Waterton Canyon is the beginning of the Colorado Trail which stretches 500 miles from Denver to Durango. Camping is allowed on the Colorado Trail but is not allowed in the first 6 miles section of Waterton Canyon, which is managed by Denver Water. The gravel road is great for running, biking, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Because the Waterton Canyon Trail is primarily flat, it is an easy trail that would be good for the whole family. You can hike the entire 6.2 miles out on the trail, but the further you go, the more challenging the hike becomes.

Bighorn sheep are impressive animals. They can weigh up to 300lbs and their horns can weigh 30lbs. Despite their size, bighorn sheep are extremely agile. There was never a dull moment watching them, even after a few hours. During the rut(November-December) Rams can be seen fighting to establish dominance. There is nothing that compares to the loud crack of to large rams colliding!

Near the beginning of the hike keep an eye out for wild turkey! If you don't see them on the ground, look up in the trees! Mule deer also frequent this trail. Dogs are not allowed on this trail to protect the bighorn sheep.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Fitness

Photography

Backpacking

Hiking

Bathrooms

Easy Parking

Family Friendly

Groups

River

Scenic

Wildlife

Winter Hiking and Wildlife in Waterton Canyon Reviews

Courtney Lewis

Winter Hiking and Wildlife in Waterton Canyon

02/07/16

I hiked two miles in before turning around. The road is VERY flat; it's a service road and you'll see a few cars, a lot of runners, and a number of mountain bikers. I think this would have been a great ride for the view, but the hike (at least 2mi in) was a bit too casual for me. Can get surprisingly windy, but ta very warm in the sun. No sheep sightings that close in, unfortunately.

3.0

Anna Wendzinski

Winter Hiking and Wildlife in Waterton Canyon

01/22/16

I did this hike in December 2015 and really enjoyed myself. The path you walk along is actually a dirt road, but it is kept up very well and there are a few additional hikes you can do if you wander off the trail a bit. We saw some big horned sheep on the road and in the mountains as well. This hike is also great if you are into Geocaching- there are several located along the route! Overall it is an easy hike with amazing views of the mountains, and I am excited to return in the summer and ride my bike here!

5.0

Jack Eickelman

Winter Hiking and Wildlife in Waterton Canyon

06/16/15

An incredible hike at any time, the Strontia Springs Dam at the end is an incredible sight towering over the landscape some 200 feet high, maybe more. A bit further up the Big Horn Sheep have a hangout spot before the Colorado Trail entrance.

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Hike or Bike Hildebrand Ranch

Hildebrand Ranch Park is often overshadowed by the other nearby Jeffco Parks, but for the few that it does attract the trails do not disappoint. The Two Brands Trail starts at about 5600ft just off of Deer Creek Canyon Rd. It is a relatively flat trail that tops out at about 5821ft making it an overall pretty relaxed trail. The 5.1 mile loop starts at the parking lot and climbs up to and th...

Hike the Fountain Valley Trail at Roxborough State Park

The Fountain Valley Trail at Roxborough State Park is a very easy trail that's perfect for those that want to enjoy the outdoors but not subject themselves to the rigors of climbing a 14er. This very well maintained trail is wide and flat and perfect for groups, families, or for taking visitors that might not be used to high elevation just yet.This self guided trail starts at the Visitors Cente...

Hike the South Rim Trail at Roxborough State Park

Roxborough State Park is one of the closest parks to the Denver metro area and is the perfect place to go if you're looking to experience the great outdoors without having to drive too far from the city.One of my favorite trails in the park is the South Rim Trail which takes you on an easy to moderate trail up a series of switchbacks to an excellent vista of the geologic formations and the vall...

Walk the Willow Creek Loop

Roxborough State Park is located on the outskirts of Littleton, Colorado. Boasting incredible red rock formations and abundant wildlife, it is the perfect place for a quick escape outside.The Willow Creek Loop connects to the two parking lots in the park, so it is impossible to miss. With only the slightest uphills and mostly flat, even terrain, its a great hike to take your older or younger fa...

Hike to Carpenter Peak

Carpenter Peak stands at 7,166 feet above sea level. While that altitude might not exactly take your breath away, the views from the top certainly will. Starting at the Visitor's Center, the trail to Carpenter's Peak begins as a relatively flat, well-traveled trail. A little less than a mile into the hike, you're given the choice to take a left and head on the South Rim Trail, or a right and co...

Hike the Meadowlark Plymouth Trail

From the parking lot, you can take the Meadowlark trail to the west or the Plymouth Creek Trail to the southeast. It does not matter which trail you take because it ends up becoming loop. For a more gradual slope up the hill, take the Meadowlark trail. After a little more than a mile, it intersects with Plymouth Creek to make the first short loop. The short loop is only a 495 foot climb over 2....

Winter Hiking and Wildlife in Waterton Canyon

Details

Description

Download the Outbound mobile app

Features

Winter Hiking and Wildlife in Waterton Canyon Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Hike or Bike Hildebrand Ranch

Hike the Fountain Valley Trail at Roxborough State Park

Hike the South Rim Trail at Roxborough State Park

Walk the Willow Creek Loop

Hike to Carpenter Peak

Hike the Meadowlark Plymouth Trail

Discover

Community

Company

Follow Us

Mobile Apps