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Mountain Lion Trail

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate/Difficult
 4.4 (71) RECOMMENDED ROUTE
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. Golden Gate Canyon State Park
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“Colorado wrapped into one trail offering elevation, lakes, creeks, and mountain views. ”

Taylor Simmons
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Map Key

6.9

Miles

11.1

KM

Loop

8,901' 2,713 m

High

7,627' 2,325 m

Low

1,531' 467 m

Up

1,509' 460 m

Down

8%

Avg Grade (5°)

26%

Max Grade (15°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

Park Hours 5 AM - 10 PM and $9 park fee to be paid at visitor center.

Overview

Many in the greater Denver area consider this the most beautiful park within an hours drive of Denver. Enjoy the scenery; stop at the lake early in the trail and admire the views back to the south. This particular trail is covered by trees for a great part, but you'll be able to ignore that because the descent toward, then along, Deer Creek is a hiker's dream.

Need to Know

Park fee! Also, counterclockwise is preferable in the summer because the south, southwest side of the trail will bake in the sun by late morning and early afternoon.

Description

Start ascending singletrack to the west. After a mile or so, your route will turn into dirt road heading northwest. After another half-mile, you'll reach a lake that offers spectacular views back to the south; it's worth a stop.

From this point, you'll follow a dirt road north for a bit, leading into a steep ascent and a few switchbacks toward Windy Peak. Before reaching the peak, you hit a junction and bear left (staying on Mountain Lion) and head back down another set of steep switchbacks toward Deer Creek. You'll continue to drop elevation as you follow along the creek; this section is quite fast, with roots, rocks, and several creek crossings.

The dirt path turns back south, then southwest as you exit the forested area. From here, the elevation profile is mostly flat, trail wide, and the footing very good. You'll have a brief descent again heading south directly back to notch creek where you started.

Contacts

Land Manager: Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Shared By:

Taylor Simmons with improvements by no no and 2 others
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 71 votes

#1

in Golden Gate Canyon State Park

#101

Overall
  4.4 from 71 votes
5 Star
52%
4 Star
41%
3 Star
6%
2 Star
1%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Golden Gate Canyon Sta…

#33

in Colorado

#101

Overall
129 Views Last Month
17,229 Since Sep 11, 2015
Intermediate/Difficult
0%
0%
67%
13%
21%
0%
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Photos

Conquering Mountain Lion Trail
Feb 18, 2018 near Coal Creek, CO
Mountain Lake along side Mountain Lion Trail.
Apr 21, 2019 near Coal Creek, CO
Beautiful rock formations near Deer Creek
Apr 21, 2019 near Coal Creek, CO
Crossing a snowy bridge over Deer Creek. One of these bridges had a fallen tree over it. The stream was small enough at that point that you could cross anyway.
Mar 21, 2016 near Coal Creek, CO
Sunrise over Golden Gate State Park.
Sep 11, 2015 near Coal Creek, CO
Beautiful views are seen as soon as you gain a bit of elevation. (Picture taken after doing first mile - clockwise run)
Apr 21, 2019 near Coal Creek, CO

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Check-Ins

Apr 26, 2022
Marie Novak
Apr 15, 2022
Charly Jackson
Sep 11, 2021
Nick Barendregt
Nice quiet trails with a good variety of scenery! 6.8mi — 2h 44m
Sep 4, 2021
Michelle Williams
Remember the lake at the bottom of the big climb and decent is a good place to stop for lunch 6.8mi — 2h 33m
Jul 31, 2021
Michael Taylor
6.7mi — 12h 21m
May 21, 2021
Nikki Kilbride
Dec 28, 2020
Matthew Cosgriff
7mi — 3h 06m
Dec 5, 2020
Dan Federico

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