Lookout Mountain Preserve and Nature Center: Forest and Meadow Loops (Blog Hike #813)

Trails: Forest and Meadow Loop Trails
Hike Location: Lookout Mountain Preserve and Nature Center
Geographic Location: southwest of Golden, CO (39.73071, -105.24804)
Length: 1.4 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: July 2020
Overview: A loop through the forested meadows atop Lookout Mountain.
Park Information: https://www.jeffco.us/1281/Lookout-Mountain-Preserve-and-Nature-Cen
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=823709
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: On the west side of Denver, take I-70 to the Paradise Hills exit (exit 256).  Exit and go west on US 40.  Drive US 40 west 1.4 miles to South Lookout Mountain Road and turn right on S. Lookout Mountain Rd.  Drive S. Lookout Mountain Rd. north 1.5 miles to Colorow Road and turn left on Colorow Rd.  Lookout Mountain Preserve and Nature Center is 1.1 miles ahead on the right.  Park in the blacktop lot in front of the Nature Center.

The hike: Owned and maintained by Jefferson County, Lookout Mountain Preserve and Nature Center occupies 100 acres atop its namesake mountain in the foothills west of Denver.  As its name suggests, the mountain offers superlative views over the Denver metro area, but to get those views you will need to go down the mountain a short distance to Lookout Mountain Park.  There are no broad views available from the Nature Center or in the preserve.

            The Nature Center offers some interesting exhibits on Rocky Mountain flora and fauna, and the preserve offers 2.6 miles of trails mostly on easy to moderate grades.  Although the preserve also connects to the extensive regional trail system that leads to adjacent parks, the hike described here features the two short nature trails contained wholly within the preserve.  I came here early on a Sunday morning, and although the Nature Center building was closed due to the Covid pandemic, I found the preserve lightly used and had a short but pleasant hike.

Trailhead at Nature Center

            From the front of the Nature Center, walk southwest toward the Boettcher Mansion with the parking lot to your right, then turn left to begin the Forest Loop.  The two nature trails form two loops laid out end-to-end, so you have to hike the Forest Loop to access the Meadow Loop.  Where the Forest Loop splits to form its loop, angle left to begin hiking the loop clockwise.

Crossing a bridge

            The wide dirt Forest Loop descends gradually, passes a nice wooden bench, and crosses a wooden footbridge that seems to span nothing but dirt.  Although this trail is called the Forest Loop, the pine trees are rather sparse, and tall grass covering the "forest" floor has plenty of sunlight to soak up.  At 0.3 miles, you reach a trail intersection.  The Forest Loop turns right here to continue its loop, but this hike goes straight to begin the Meadow Loop, which continues a gradual descent.

Looking across the meadow

            The Meadow Loop undulates gently as it passes under a power line, and true to its name the smattering of pine trees nearly disappears, leaving an open grassy area.  Some prairie wildflowers were in bloom on my visit, and I did some good bird viewing in this area.  The power lines and Lookout Mountain Road close to the left remind you that you are in suburban Denver.  

"View" toward downtown Denver

            At 0.6 miles, the trail curves right as it begins climbing moderately.  In addition to the usual wildlife, Lookout Mountain also has a free range deer herd that I saw uphill to the left as I walked this section of trail.  This herd can stop local traffic when it decides to cross a road, as I found out during my drive to the trailhead.

Lookout Mountain deer herd

            Just past 1 mile, you reach the end of the Meadow Loop.  Turn left to continue the Forest Loop, which now climbs on the steepest grade of this hike.  At the next trail intersection, you can go either straight or left: both options take you back to the parking lot.  I chose the left option because it takes you past some interesting rock outcrops before it passes the Boettcher Mansion and returns to the parking lot to complete the hike.  If you have more time and energy, the Lookout Mountain Trail starts across the street from the Nature Center, and it descends 0.8 somewhat steep miles to reach Lookout Park and its famous views of Denver.