Mountain Lion Trail: Hike Review

The Mountain Lion Trail in Colorado’s Golden Gate Canyon State Park is one of the premier trails within the entire park. At 6.7 miles in length and designated “Difficult” by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Mountain Lion Trail is a fairly challenging loop hike, but not overly intense. Given the trail’s proximity to the Denver metro, this is a great day hike or trail run option for a weekend excursion.

Indeed, the diverse terrain of the Mountain Lion Trail is stunningly beautiful, with expansive views of nearby foothills, vistas of Front Range mountains, dense forest, and peaceful Deer Creek crossings. You can also opt to tack on a side trip to the summit of Windy Peak if you’re inclined. With or without Windy Peak, we think the Mountain Lion Trail is a true gem and one not to be missed.

Hike Review Series: Mountain Lion Trail

Mountain Lion Trail Guide

Route Information

Round Trip Distance: 6.7 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1,230 ft.
Trail Type: Loop
Trailhead: Mountain Lion Trailhead
Coordinates: 39.850727, -105.360385
Dogs Permitted?: Yes, on leash

Difficulty

Scenery

Crowds

Fun Factor

Route Instructions

Step 1

Park at the Nott Creek Parking Area, which is down a service road adjacent to the Red Barn Group Picnic Area. If you haven’t paid the park entrance fee ($9.00), there is a self-pay station at the entrance of the service road.

Step 2

Beginning the trail in a counter-clockwise direction, start on the Mountain Lion Trail and pass the parking area restrooms. The trail will start to slightly incline. Metal stakes with a mountain lion paw icon clearly mark the trail along the route, indicating you’re on the right track.

Step 3

You’ll reach a dirt service road in about .5 miles. Bear slightly to the right on this road to stay on the Mountain Lion Trail. Blue Mountain will become visible directly ahead.

Step 4

The Mountain Lion Trail splits off of the service road, with signs indicating distances to the Quarry Site (.9 miles) and Deer Creek Campsites (1.4 miles). Bear slightly right to stay on the Mountain Lion Trail.

Step 5

You’ll eventually reach a Deer Creek footbridge crossing. Signage will indicate distance to the Quarry Site (.6 miles to the right) and Windy Peak (2.8 miles to the left). Turn left in the direction of Windy Peak.

Step 6

As the trail continues into more dense forest, you’ll pass some backcountry campsites and a shelter, then reach the junction with the Burro Trail. Make sure to follow the Mountain Lion Trail towards Windy Peak (2.2 miles from this point).

Step 7

You’ll cross Deer Creek a number of times and continue to increase elevation gain as you head up the trail. As you exit the dense forest, you’ll soon see a vista of Front Range mountains, including Mount Evans and Mount Bierstadt.

Step 8

The trail will start to head downhill, towards the Forgotten Valley. You’ll reach a junction with the Buffalo Trail, but continue to Forgotten Valley (which is .2 miles from this point).

Step 9

Once in the Forgotten Valley, you’ll reach a pond and the Tallman Ranch, which was a homestead in the 19^th century. The ranch is now preserved as a historic property.

Step 10

Continue along the Mountain Lion Trail, back towards Nott Creek. You’ll eventually reach the junction with the City Lights Ridge Trail. A side excursion here is about one-mile, round trip.

Step 11

Following the Mountain Lion Trail further along, you’ll again pass intersections with the Burro Trail. Be sure to continue along the Mountain Lion Trail to head back to the trailhead.

Step 12

As you hike the remaining portion of the Mountain Lion Trail, you’ll see exceptional views of evergreen forested foothills.

Step 13

End the hike back at the Nott Creek Parking Area. Enjoy the rest of the day and reminisce on the great hike you just accomplished!

Planning Tips

Regulations

Park Hours: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Pets: Dogs are permitted on the trail, but must be on leash.
Camping: Backcountry campers must purchase a first-come, first-served permit at the Visitor Center. Backcountry camping permits are $18.00.
Fishing: Fishing in the park requires a Colorado fishing license. If you do not have fishing license, stop by the Visitor Center to purchase one or buy one online here.

Entrance Fees

Daily Vehicle Pass: $10.00 – Purchase day of visit. Remember to bring exact change if you opt to use any of the self-service pay stations found around the park. Alternatively, the Visitor Center will accept credit card payments during their operating hours.

Affixed State Park Pass: $80.00 – This pass is good for 12 months of unlimited access to Colorado state parks. The pass is not interchangeable between vehicles.

Hang Tag Park Pass: $120.00 – This pass is good for 12 months of unlimited access to Colorado state parks. The pass is interchangeable between vehicles.

Getting There

Golden Gate Canyon State Park is located within Gilpin and Jefferson counties, less than 30 miles from Denver and about 15 miles from Golden.

From Golden Gate Canyon Road, turn on to Crawford Gulch Road. The Visitor Center is immediately on the right. Continue down Crawford Gulch, which eventually turns into Drew Hill Road, for about 3.5 miles. As you near the Red Barn Group Picnic Area, you’ll see a service road that will take you to the Nott Creek Trailhead parking area.

Driving Directions

Parking

Park at the Nott Creek Parking Area. There are plenty of spots at the trailhead, but they fill up quickly on nice weekends. Restroom near trailhead.

Cell Phone Reception

There is limited to no cell coverage in Golden Gate Canyon State Park.

Weather Forecast

Always check the weather forecast before venturing into wilderness. Although Golden Gate Canyon State Park is not at an extremely high elevation, still plan ahead. If the weather is not ideal, plan your trip for another day. Safety first!

Golden Gate Canyon – Weather Forecast

Recommended Hiking Apparel and Gear

Ten Essentials

Even on a day hike, you should carry the appropriate type and amount of gear, clothing, food, water, and other essentials. For certain, make sure that your packing list includes the Ten Essentials.

Lightweight Hiking Shoes

The Arc’teryx Aerios FL GTX hiking shoe lineup offers a good balance between weight and foot protection. These are great for scrambles and are constructed with Goretex so you don’t have to worry about damp feet if the weather turns or you have to splash through streams or puddles along the way.

Men’s Arc’teryx Aerios FL GTX

Women’s Arc’teryx Aerios FL GTX

Hiking Pants

We love prAna’s products. They’re well-made and often multi-functional. Indeed, their Zion (for men) and Halle (for women) are great on- and off-trail, especially for travel. Constructed with a durable UPF-50 fabric, a water-repellant finish, and utility pockets, these have become a staple in our wardrobe.

Men’s Prana Zion Pants

Women’s Prana Halle Pants

Base Layer Shirt

Patagonia’s lineup of capilene base layer t-shirts are lightweight and moisture wicking. For our hiking t-shirts and base layers, we often turn to Patagonia products for their craftsmanship, durability, and comfort. Patagonia Capilene Cool Lightweight shirts are versatile and great for hiking and/or trail running.

Men’s Patagonia Capilene T-Shirt

Women’s Patagonia Capilene T-Shirt

Hiking Fleece

Depending upon the time of year (and time of day), a fleece hoody or jacket may come in handy. We like the Patagonia R1 as a midweight, but light, option for chilly morning starts. Available as a hoody or jacket, the Patagonia R1 is quick drying, breathable, and extremely comfortable.

Men’s Patagonia R1

Women’s Patagonia R1

Hiking Socks

For most of our hiking needs, we like Darn Tough socks over the multitude of options on the market. They last long and have an ironclad guarantee. In addition, Darn Tough has a variety of designs, ankle lengths, and cushioning options to choose from. We like the Hiker quarter length with light cushioning.

Men’s Darn Tough Hiker 1/4

Women’s Darn Tough Hiker 1/4

Headwear/Face Covering

We often wear a Buff as a neck gaiter to protect from the sun, given its UPF 50 protective construction. Buffs are also a great option to use as a face covering on the trail. In fact, there are 12+ ways of wearing a Buff, so it’s a versatile piece of gear.

Buy on Amazon

Buy on REI

Fast and Light Day Pack

If you’re on the Mountain Lion Trail for a day hike or quick trail run, consider a super lightweight hydration vest. Ultimate Direction’s Hydration Vests are minimalist packs with reasonable storage capacity and hydration reservoir compatibility.

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Ultimate Direction

Sunscreen

Sun Bum is our go-to sunscreen nowadays. We like its non-greasy feel and neutral fragrance. Any quality sunscreen will do, but Sun Bum SPF 30 is our choice for long days in the sun.

Sun Bum Original SPF 30

Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30

Trail Snacks

Taos Bakes, made in New Mexico, are some of the best tasting energy bars out there. Vegan and gluten-free, these bars pack in a nice dose of fiber and protein along with a touch of sweetness. Available in multiple varieties, such as Toasted Coconut/Vanilla Bean, Piñon Coffee/Dark Chocolate, and Pecan Praline/Maple Syrup.

Taos Bakes Variety Box

Taos Bakes Toasted Coconut

Recommended Books

If you intend to visit more Colorado state parks beyond Golden Gate Canyon, “Colorado State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide,” though a bit dated, does a nice job providing general overviews of the parks. In addition, we recommend picking up a few naturalist guides for general awareness of the area. An easy to use field guide for plants and birds will help identify species and further add to the enjoyment of your outdoors experience.

Disclosure: Please note that this post contains affiliate links. We may receive a small commission if you buy a product or service through an affiliate link. This revenue helps us provide readers with helpful content to plan amazing adventures.

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