Trails at Roxborough
Roxborough State Park offers a variety of trails for all abilities, from the half-mile Fountain Overlook trail that affords a spectacular view of rock formations, to the challenging 6.4-mile trek to 7,160-foot Carpenter Peak. View Roxborough Area Brochure and Roxborough Area Map. Roxborough’s trails connect to several trails in the Pike National Forest, Waterton Canyon, and Douglas County.
Hikers are reminded to stay on the trail and beware of rattlesnakes and poison ivy. Pets, horses, and mountain bikes are not allowed on the trails. Hours vary each month but generally the trails are open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the summer and 8 a.m. to 5 in the winter.
Trail Descriptions
Fountain Valley Overlook Permitted uses: Foot Miles paved: 0 Miles non-paved: .05 Total distance: .05 Usage: Medium Degree of difficulty: Easy Elevation: 6,280 ADA accessible: No Pets: No Comments: Starting at Visitor Center, this short hike gives the visitor a beautiful view of several red-rock formations in the distance, including the Dakota Hogback and the Lyons formation. This is an excellent hike for children or anyone ho wants a short hike and a big view.
Fountain Valley Trail Trail Name: Fountain Valley Loop Trail Permitted uses: Foot Miles paved: 0 Miles non-paved: 2.3 Total distance: 2.3 Usage: High Degree of difficulty: Easy to Moderate Elevation: 6,100 ADA accessible: Minimal. Most wheelchairs can ride the Fountain Valley Trail with little or no difficulty during good weather conditions. Trail is not paved. Comments: The Fountain Valley Trail is a 2.3 mile loop that winds through the Fountain and Lyons rock formations with a moderate change in elevation. This self-guided hike takes you through some of the most magnificent land in the park. The trail winds through several different habitats for plants and animals, including mule deer, fox and a variety of birds. You may see a golden eagle soaring over the hogback hunting small mammals, snakes or birds. At the top of the loop are buildings built by Henry S. Persse at the turn of the century. Persse used Roxborough as a summer home and hoped to develop the land into a resort. Hiking time is approximately one and one-half to two hours.
Lyons Overlook Trail Permitted uses: Foot Miles paved: 0 Miles non-paved: 1.3 Total distance: 1.3 Usage: Medium Degree of difficulty: Moderate Elevation: 6,240 ADA accessible: No Pets: No Comments: This moderate trail puts you right in the middle of the Fountain formation.
South Rim Trail Permitted uses: Foot Miles paved: 0 Miles non-paved: 3.0 Total distance: 3.0 Usage: Medium Degree of difficulty: Moderate Elevation: 6,100 ADA accessible: No Pets: No Comments: Starting at Visitor Center, enjoy scrub oak stands, grassy meadows, cottonwoods and other riparian habitats. Continue up the rocky outcrops of the Dakota Hogback giving you a northern view of the Fountain, Lyons and Dakota formations. Watch golden eagles.
Willow Creek Trail Permitted uses: Foot Miles paved: 0 Miles non-paved: 1.4 Total distance: 1.4 Usage: Medium Degree of difficulty: Moderate Elevation: 6,100 ADA accessible: No Pets: No Comments: The Willow Creek Trail, which is known for its abundance of wildflowers, is a gentle 1.4- mile loop. Hikers will see a lot of scrub oak, which attracts a variety of birds. This is a great trail for bird watchers.
Carpenter Peak Permitted uses: Foot Miles paved: 0 Miles non-paved: 6.4 Total distance: 6.4 Usage: Medium Degree of difficulty: Moderate Elevation: 7,160 (at peak) ADA accessible: No Pets: No Comments: The trail to Carpenter Peak is a 6.4 mile round-trip hike of moderate-to-steep terrain. Its summit is the highest point in the park and provides a spectacular view in all directions. The .07-mile Elk Valley Link near the beginning of the Carpenter Peak trail connects to the Douglas County trail system via Douglas County Road 5.