Attempted this hike today and saw 2 Rattlesnakes on the trail within the first .5 miles. I was alone and decided not to risk it but will re-attempt in cooler temps with a buddy. Trail looks very nice but minimal shade.
Loved the hike there. Got to the trailhead at 5:45 PM for a sunset hike and finished the hike at 8:20.. about 2.5 hours of hiking and gaping at how beautiful Golden/Colorado is at the golden hour and at sundown.. the trailhead is wayyyy less trafficked at the time we went. Had my dog on a leash all the time because of the rattlesnakes but seemed to be ok!
Great hike, nice views. Lots of sun, only a few areas that were shaded, so don’t forget a hat and some sunscreen.
Good hike. Would like to crest the peak next time
Great hike, go during a week day in the afternoon if you can there is way less traffic. No mountain biking on the trail so that’s a plus.
Good hike. Beautiful views. A little much for my 9 and 11 year old.
Popular trail, great for an evening hike/run. Parking is limited. Seems kind of obvious to point this out, but make sure you aren't parking off the side of the road where it says "No Parking" - you will get a ticket. I saw about 6-7 vehicles get tickets.
You get good view from all direction while you complete this trail. Easy trail and good for spotting wild deers too. Best part is it's do near to Denver.
Took our dog on his first hike here and he loved it. This is a beautiful trail for the whole family. We can't wait to do it again soon.
Waited for the perfect cool fall day (last year) to do this hike after reading the reviews on its exposure and I’m sure glad I did. Short and sweet worth doing if you plan it right.
We arrived at the trail at 930 am, totally sunny, trail is 90% in the sun and hot.
It took us 2 hours up around the loop and back.
I'd say this is correctly categorized as a medium. Quite a bit of rock stepping and there were two spots where we almost went off trail on the back side.
I'd do it again.
Not a bad trail, however there is definitely minimal to no shade for 75% of it. We did it in about 2.5 hours in 95-degree heat with no cloud cover. If you're bringing dogs on the trail, make sure to bring plenty of water for them as there are no water sources along the trail. Great views along the way and once you reach the top though!
Super fun, casual hike close to Denver. You definitely gain some elevation, and the parking lot is small, but as a avid hiker we did it in about 2 hours.
Went early to beat the heat, great views and good workout
Hot hot day for a hike! Good trail, pretty rocky and maaaaaan, the exposure is rough! Bring lots of water and sunscreen! But it's a nice hike and we enjoyed ourselves. Until we almost melted into the trail. :)
Great views, relatively easy climb. Went super early and there was hardly anyone there. Foot traffic picked up around 9.
Hiked this trail on 4th of July. Lots of people out that day. Most of the hike was moderate with switchbacks and some stairs and rocky areas to climb. Mostly sunny but a few spots under a tree for shade. Pretty wildflowers along the way and some great views of Golden.
This hike was very enjoyable. The trail was easy to follow and it wasn’t overly packed. The parking lot is kinda small - we got there at 9am and snagged a spot, but only because someone was leaving. This is a great hike for doggies! My dog is afraid of bikes and there is no mountain biking on the trail which made for a much less anxious pup! I would love to do this hike in the spring as it looks like the wildflowers are awesome. We did see both a lizard and a snake on the trail, so if reptiles freak you out this might not be the trail for you!
Did this trail twice over the weekend, once with my two dogs. We only did about half the trail with the dogs because they’re long-haired breeds and there’s no shade from the sun. First time, we started and 8am and ran into quite a few people, although all friendly. Second time I went at 4:30pm and only encountered 1 person. The whole trail took me just under two hours to complete. Both times I went I ran into rattle snakes so I would advise you to stay alert. I enjoyed this trail and would hike it again.
I did this hike today (7/1/18). I really enjoyed it. My app said it ended up being about 4.5 miles, and it took me 1 hour 51 minutes. Definitely get there early if you want to park in the lot! The lot can only fit about 20 cars or so. I got there at 8:50am (on a Sunday) and it was already filled, so I parked around the curve on the side of the road in a pull off area. The hike was fairly crowded but not annoyingly so. The views are really pretty. There is a bathroom at the trailhead.
Good day hike. Plenty of shade and sun.
This trail didn’t get my heart pumping super hard so I agree w the easy designation but I will say it’s a pretty technical trail. There’s lots of large rocks you have to navigate around for a fair amt of the trail. I would advise against this trail if you have knee issues or it’s wet and highly recommend taking hiking poles w you if you have them. The trail is completely unshaded so pack lots of water, a hat and sunscreen! Lots of pretty sights of Golden from above.
Don’t be deceived by the fact you’re starting in a residential neighborhood! Hiking up the gulch meant there was little to no traffic, despite it being ‘kind of a holiday weekend’. Once I got to the Galbraith loop there were more people but everyone was respectful and happy to let each other pass! The whole hike up is full sun which is a bummer but there’s a little cover on the loop. I’d say wear boots it’s not just dirt pack trail. Really enjoyable! Took about 2.5hrs.
This is a good short hike, especially if you don’t like sharing the trail with mountain bikers. There’s a sign warning about bears and mountain lions in the area so you might want to bring a noisemaker if you’re worried.
loved it! gorgeous views. my only issue is the people not having their dogs on a leash
Limited parking since trailhead is in the neighborhood off Iowa. Switchbacks up along open hillsides up into foothills, no shade at all, with cooler and cooler views of golden and table mountain and foothills surrounding as you get higher. Nightbird gulch is like a secret secluded spot nestled in the foothills with tons of birds and other wildlife around. Loop around mount Galbraith was easy and gets you some cool views of mountains west and then back around while circling the peak. Lots of great big rock lookout spots. Hot in the sun! Great workout with great views!!
Took about 2 hours to complete. Good mix of shade and sun. Good views.
This is an awesome trail. The wildflowers are out right now (mid June). Parking can get tough on the weekends. Be aware of summer storms. The weather was great but when we got to the top a storm rolled in. There was a lot of lightning and then it hailed really really hard. We ran all the way down through hail and slush. Still a good time.
Loop right for a harder climb. No water, good views
5 star hike, but so many people on a saturday so gave it 4. No bikes though is nice. Views are incredible!