Approx Length: ~6 miles round
trip
Elevation Gain: +2600'
Solitude Rating: 7/10
Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous
Location: about 2-1/2 hours from
Boulder
Permit Required: No
June 11, 2016:
Another crowded trailhead greeted
us as we arrived at the parking area. Anxious to make our escape, we grabbed
our gear and began the upward trek. After a little under one mile, the trail
leaves the main thoroughfare and crosses the North Fork of Oil Creek.
From here, the crowds thinned out
appreciably. The next mile gently crawls upward through a lovely valley. Pond
after pond with beaver dam after beaver dam accompany the trail. Several
campsites exist along this stretch, with some occupied.
 |
| View of Sentinel Point from the long beaver valley |
After leaving the valley, we saw
only one other person until we returned. Bliss.
However, after leaving the
valley, the trail relentlessly climbs about 1500' in a mile. Heading away from
the valley, the surest sign is the creek, which the trail roughly parallels for
the next 3/4mi - all the way out of treeline. Once nearing
treeline, there is a boulder field to the right which is passable, but slow. We
preferred to take our chances through weaving between the forest and the
boulder field. Snow still filled the small ravine that looked like the clearest
path otherwise.
Above, the valley opened up into a wide, approx 1/4 mi long snow field. Treacherous without snowshoes, we slowly picked our way across - thankfully no one turned an ankle. From here, the trail was non-existent, but the direction is clear: up. Straight up to the ridge.
Along the ridge is beautiful. The
first Pike's Peak sighting and the whole world beneath your feet to the west. A
small but fun scramble to the top is all that remains.
It can be done as a loop (see: here), but there was too much snow and ice for us to attempt the "steep" side, so we returned as we came.
Overall, it is a truly beautiful hike and 2500 vertical feet is a small price to pay for solitude in heaven.
38.834174, -105.137421 -
Horsethief Fall Trailhead
38.833557, -105.128512 - 0.7
miles, left split to follow trail across the creek
38.846696, -105.120948 - end of
valley, beginning of ascent
38.847228, -105.101298 - trail
opens up above treeline
38.844864, -105.095011 - up to
the ridge
38.840340, -105.104452 -
Sentinel Point