devil's backbone open space

On a crisp late Fall day in December my wife and I spent an hour or so hiking the two and half mile Wild Loop trail. There is not a lot of elevation change but you see some interesting sights. We took the lower leg on the way out and had nice views of the hills and buttes to the East. We came back the high way and had great views of the rocks of the backbone. The "keyhole" was nice to look through but it was disappointing that it basically looked down on a subdivision. As many hikes in the area the route was very exposed so would have been brutal on a sunny hot day. We will go back since it is so close to town and check it out in other seasons.

The famous backbone of The Devil's Backbone Open Space is apparent when you're driving on Highway 34, especially coming from Estes Park. A small sign designates the dirt road to the open space, and although parking is free, there are limited spaces to park, especially on weekends.The open space is actually a protected designated wildlife habitat which features trails of approximately 7.5 miles for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Dogs are allowed on a leash, and there are drinking fountains and restrooms at the trail head but not on any of the trails. There is a management plan for the Open Space which is located in Larimer County, and this may eventually probably include a fee for enjoying the trails, but currently there is no charge to park and hike here. It is important to be respectful of nearby neighbors, whose properties are aligned with part of the Open Space and/or back right up to it. We actually accidentally drove into the gated entry area of the closest neighbor the first time we visited the Devil's Backbone, and I'm sure the home owners here do not appreciate unexpected visitors, especially during high season. Plan to visit the Backbone early in the day, preferably on a weekday, wear appropriate clothing and shoes, and bring plenty of water. The Devil's Backbone is surely worth exploring.

Beautiful views, relatively easy hike but the rocks can really heat up during the middle of the day. Gets crowded on weekends and the first part of hike you share the trail with bikers and horses.

This is a place for hiking, either by bike, walking and even by horse in the summer. The place us really breathtalking with a great scenery and very nice kept.You can walk all the way to Fort Collins with this trial, it takes maybe 4-5 hours depending on your pace.

WE stumbled across this hike when camping near by. We thought it would be way to difficult for our kids but, we found a path that was easy/moderate for them. We went very early in morning, around 8:30 and it was not too hot, In fact, we had low cloud cover that made the whole place feel rather spooky. WE enjoyed it as there are options on difficulty and length of hike as well as some amazing rock formations. However, I am very glad we went early before it got too hot and too busy.

Very natural trail. The view from the "Hole in the Devils Backbone" is worth the short walk. The trail goes on for miles if you like, but backbone is a short distance from the trail head. Don't miss it if you are in the area..

Stunning views of the Front Range in a geologically fascinating place. Great for hiking, mountain biking, trail running or simply "being". Devil's Backbone is another example of the quality of living in Northern Colorado.

No, seriously, this spot is awesome! An (sort of) easy and (very) fun way to spend a few hours. Can't take enough photos, either!

You can choose any length or difficulty level you wish at this great open space area. There are steeps as well as mellow hikes and you can loop or turn around wherever you wish.

The other reviewers have said it all. Close to town. Scenic rock formations. Nice well maintained trails. Linking up with the Blue Sky Trail you can hike all the way to Horsetooth Reservoir in Fort Collins if you want a real long hike. I have come across one rattler sitting in the middle of the trail -- scarred the you know what out of me , he was rattlling and all coiled up and looking right at me. But I backed off several feet and he slithered off into the brush. When the spring rains are good this area has great wild flower displays late May and June. Watch out for mountain bikers too. A couple of hours will give you the basic loop along the back bone rock formation, including stops for scenic views -- maybe three miles total.

Located just west of Loveland, this scenic open space is a nice foothills hike. It's open all year but it can be very hot in the summer and is much more enjoyable in the fall and spring. During winter when the higher mountains are snowy, the Backbone is usually snow free and satisfies the cravings of those wanting to get out and hike. The terrain is a mixture of nearly-treeless desert foothills and large rock formations that includes many level stretches and also a fair number of steep Rocky hills. A good short hike goes from the parking lot to to "the keyhole," where there is a scenic view of the distant mountains through a large opening in the uplifted rock formation. Although there are some houses visible along the trail you still feel like you are on a genuine hike. Ambitious hikers and mountain bikers can also travel many miles north, eventually ending up at Horsetooth Reservoir just west of Ft. Collins. Unlike many Larimer County hikes, parking at the Loveland trailhead is free.

Great hike with wonderful views, close to town. Great for beginners, not to steep, but does require good hiking shoes.

Our family visits Devil's Backbone regularly, and are thrilled to have open space like this just a short drive from our home. The secret is definitely out, as the parking lot is generally full on the weekends when we have good weather. There's something for everyone, as there are three loops that total about six miles. My son and I typically run all three loops while my husband and daughters walk the dogs on just the first loop. This is a great workout - I always feel like I've accomplished something when I'm done! Don't let the full parking lot fool you: while there might be some congestion on the more popular first loop, far fewer people venture into the second and third loops, so there is still some peace and serenity to be found here.

I spent the past week hiking around Open Spaces in the Boulder area and this was perhaps the most spectacular one that I did. As other reviewers have noted, one the key things to do is get there early because it is a very popular trail. I also had a few issues finding the Devil's Backbone Open Space because the sign on the road is quite small and my Garmin could not find it at all. The trail itself is an easy walk and you reach reviews of the backbone very quickly. After that point, you can walk several more miles north to the opposite end of the Open Space, but I do not recommend that. Once you are a mile or so past the backbone, the surrounding vegetation and geology is still interesting, but the views are marred by an increasing number of large homes. I just found that depressing. My advice is to walk up to and around the Wild Horse Loop and then back towards the backbone. It's readily walkable at any time of the year.

Only downside to this beautiful space is the number of folks also enjoying it. The earlier the better.