Windy Saddle Lookout Mountain Trail is a 4.4 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Golden, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, and mountain biking and is best used from April until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
dogs on leash
hiking
mountain biking
running
forest
views
wild flowers
wildlife
muddy
rocky
snow
I was a bit disappointed that the trail finishes out along the road, definitely ruins the potential this hike has, best to just hike to the park at the top and turn around. Super snowy, but packed nicely for the most part, would definitely recommend micro spikes but I saw people without
Joe Clamp recorded Recording - Oct 25, 10:41 AM
The first leg up to the mansion is snow covered, but the trail is obvious. After that, you're better off just walking along the side of the road to the end and back up. Beautiful snowcapped views both ways
Great hike with amazing views. There are more trails past the Boettcher Mansion and Nature Center at the top of you want to add some steps. The 2nd half isn’t worth it as other posts have mentioned—too close to the road.
easy trail with some cool views
Apex park - nice!
A great hike that’s close to the city. Outstanding views and a fun hike. It gets windy up there so make sure you’re prepared!
Good views
As everyone mentioned below I also think it’s only worth it to go up the 1.2 miles to see the view up there! If you have a hammock there’s an awesome spot up there to tie it up! Really beautiful spot to watch the sunset. Highly populated trail though and a ton of mountain bikers!
Views are amazing!
Holly D.
9/29/2019 - Trailhead is open! I definitely recommend skipping the second half. Luckily, the first half ends right across the street from the Lookout Mountain Nature Preserve which has a couple short, easy trails you can tack on if you want a little extra mileage. They start to the right of the nature center.
Near the city-good if short on time but Want to walk in the woods. Wooded and nice bit of climbing. The road noise was constant.
First half it’s a nice trail. Second half it’s a joke, nothing but a dirt path next to the road
Beautiful mountain views and fairly easy. Would recommend just doing the lookout mountain trail up about 2 miles the lookout
Short and sweet hike, definitely more on the easy side. Went the 1.2 miles up as recommended, great views from the top and a couple stopping points. Popular mountain bike trail, so keep an eye out. Even only going up to the top you still are within eyesight of the road a bit of the time, never really feel secluded.
A tale of 2 halves...first half was pretty good and scenic, second half was a waste. The second half is very much next to a road the entire time on an overgrown trail. while the first half was good, there were lots of mountain bikers. Go for the view at the parking lot, and then leave for another trail.
We only did the recommended 1.2 miles up, and the view is definitely worth it! Perfect day, sunny and not too hot!
Definitely stop at the high peak turn off, beautiful stop, but not worth going further
Turn around at the overlook about 1.2mi in
Jessica Ai recorded Recording - Sep 09, 12:06 PM
do yourself a favor and turn around when you peak in elevation
From epic sweeping views to hiking on a roadside shoulder. Only the first half of this hike is worth your time - otherwise it would get 5 stars. The second half of the hike (once you reach the plateau of elevation gain and cross the road at the top) shouldn’t of been created. The trail starts off in a beautiful quiet area filled with trees and great views on a well maintained and clear trail with signs. Once you reach the peak of elevation gain, you cross a road to a single file ditch alongside a road (walking 5-15ft from cars driving by) with no reward at the end. It ends at an intersection and you just turn around. It seems more like this half of the trail was created as a gateway for local people/people starting on that end to the actual fun that is the first half.
The first half of this hike is awesome! Good views. Once you get to the top and cross the road, it gets really boring. Just walking along a small path next to the road. I’m really not sure why the trail even continues that way, as it just ends at an intersection with no real view. I will turn around at that point next time, or maybe take the suggested buffalo bill grave detour that other users recommended.
Pretty good until you start to walk next to the road. We turned around and followed a different trail to buffalo bills grave, much better hike! Added an extra mile too. Definitely an easy hike, perfect for my dog as it’s mostly shaded. Watch out for mountain bikers!
Good trail conditions, if quite busy on a Saturday afternoon. First part is a beautiful forested uphill to the buffalo bill grave site, second section has pretty views but entirely runs along a lightly traveled two lane road.
Loved that it was mostly in the shade. Nice, easily doable incline. I agree with previous comments about avoiding the 2nd mile that runs next to the road, but instead of turning around, go across the parking lot at the top to access the Nature Center’s Forest Loop and Meadow Loop trails to add an extra mile or so before heading back down.
Did the first 1.2 miles and headed back, trial goes closer to the road and is less scenic as we continued, so we just turned around. went through a liter of water, outside temp is 85, moderately strenuous because of the incline and loose rocks, a lot of bikers on the trail, keep your eyes peeled and move aside ! They go fast !! Beautiful views for a short hike !!
