While not in Estes Park or Rocky Mountain National Park, Devil’s Backbone is a wonderful option for an amazing hike on a bad weather day up high or if you’re traveling to or from Estes and will be driving through Loveland. Devil’s Backbone is about 45 minutes from Castle Mountain Lodge a few minutes east of the mouth of the Big Thompson Canyon on Hwy 34, the same road we’re on.
This Larimer County Open Space is worthy of a visit in its own right and it’s unique landscape is one you’ll love to explore. The description from its website, link below, gives a good feel for what to expect:
Red-tailed hawks soaring above, grasslands carpeted with wildflowers, towering rock formations – these are just some of the natural features to be enjoyed at the 3,007-acre Devil’s Backbone Open Space. It has 17.25 miles of trail that connect to Rimrock Open Space and Horsetooth Mountain Open Space for hiking, running, horseback riding, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, observing nature, as well as enjoying close-up inspection of the rock outcrop and long vistas.
The Devil’s Backbone itself is one of the most impressive and visible geologic landmarks in Larimer County showcasing:
- The Devil’s Backbone is a geologic feature known as a “hogback”, which forms when flat layers of sedimentary rock are bent into wave-like shapes and then eroded away unevenly, leaving a spine of a harder layer of rock sticking out almost vertically from the ground.
- This unusual vertical orientation of sedimentary rock (called the Dakota Group) was formed over 100 million years ago when sand and gravel were deposited along an ancient seashore.
- Some 50 million years later, this hogback, known as the Devil’s Backbone, was steeply tilted by the same tectonic forces that created the Rocky Mountains.
- You can find 4 layers of sedimentary rock at Devil’s Backbone Open Space representing different prehistoric eras.
Drinking water is available at the trailhead. Please carry enough for your hike or ride. This open space is popular. If you arrive to a full parking lot, that means trails are at maximum capacity. Please consider a different open space for the day and come back another time.
Devil’s Backbone Open Space is open from sunrise to sunset and is located west of Loveland, Colorado.
Today, I just took a nice easy hike around what’s known as the Hunter Loop and the Laughing Horse Loop from the main Devil’s Backbone trail head. Today was absolutely perfect and I even saw a couple of red tailed hawks as they described above. The terrain is mixed between buttery smooth and flat trails, to steep and technical trails, and everything in between.
This hike, today, was right at 6.5 miles with about 1,200 feet of elevation gain. So pretty mellow. However, you can really make this as long as you want with connecting trails that can get you well above 30 miles if you want. You can even connect to the Horsetooth Mountain trail system and tack that on if you wanted to punish yourself!
Again, this will be out of the way for most staying here at Castle, but it’s a wonderful option if you’re wanting to get to lower elevations during bad/snowy weather, or if you wanted to go for a hike on your way to or from Estes.
Some things to note: Dogs are allowed here, on leash. As are bikes and horses. In the summer months rattle snakes are a common sight, so use caution. As always, practice leave no trace principles, this is a very well kept open space and locals really take pride in it. Help us keep it clean and keep it wild!
Devil’s Backbone Open Space
Length: Whatever you want! Up to 30+ miles
Elevation Gain: Pretty mellow… steep sections but nothing too hard
Red Tape: You will need to buy a Larimer County Day Pass to display on your dash. There is a kiosk in the parking lot. It’s $10 for a 24 hour pass.
Links:
Devil’s Backbone Open Space (Larimer County)
All Trails (Several Hike Options Highlighted)
