Hidden Star Trail + Niwot Loop Trail out and back from Niwot Loop Trailhead

Boulder County · 4.69 mi out and back · about 1 hr 35 min

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Route view:
Distance4.69 micomputed
Elevation gain105 ftcomputed
Elevation loss108 ftcomputed
Est. time1 hr 35 minNaismith's rulecomputed
DifficultyNot ratedno source has rated itunknown
Highest
5,160 ft
Lowest
5,062 ft
Route type
One way or out and back
Surface
Not mapped
Offline
Start500 mN
Schematic preview drawn from the trail geometry. No basemap yet; do not use for navigation. Start = circle.

Overview

Hidden Star Trail + Niwot Loop Trail out and back from Niwot Loop Trailhead is mapped as a trail of 4.69 mi in Boulder County. It is not a loop: you walk it one way or out and back.

It runs between 5,062 ft and 5,160 ft above sea level, a difference of 98 ft.

Estimates

  • Computed effort band: moderate (from length and climb; not an official difficulty).
  • Estimated time 1 hr 35 min one way by Naismith's rule, which assumes steady walking and adds time for climbing. Real time varies.

Before you rely on this

  • No water source is mapped for this trail. That may only mean nobody has mapped one, so carry your own water.
  • Check the land manager for closures, seasonal rules and permits before you go; none of that is verified here.
Moderate effort

Elevation

5,063 ft5,111 ft5,160 ft04.69 mi

Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys on the chart to read a point; it is shown on the map too.

Elevation along the trail from start (left) to end (right) as drawn. Values are computed from USGS 3DEP 1/3 arc-second DEM (public domain), sampled about every 10 m and smoothed. No sustained section is steeper than about 12%.

Before you go

Parking
1 parking area mapped near the start (nearest about 0.12 mi away). Fees and limits are not included. mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors
Trailhead and directions
Start at 40.09054, -105.16716. Directions to the start ↗
Permits and fees
We have no verified permit or fee details. Official pages: Boulder County ↗ (we have not recorded when these were last checked). not verified
Dogs
No dog rule is tagged. not verified
Water
No water is mapped. Carry your own. not verified
Toilets and facilities
None mapped. not verified
Accessibility, bikes and horses
No access details are tagged. not verified
Seasonal rules, closures and hazards
Not verified here. Check the land manager (Boulder County ↗) and read the hiker condition reports below. No report does not mean the trail is open or safe. not verified

Weather at the trailhead

Sun73° / 45°Mostly Sunny0% precip
Mon68° / 44°Sunny2% precip
Tue72° / 47°Sunny1% precip
Wed74° / 49°Sunny0% precip
Thu76° / 51°Partly Sunny8% precip
Fri76° / 47°Chance Rain Showers32% precip
Sat65° / –Chance Rain Showers38% precip

Today: sunrise 7:13 AM, sunset 6:16 PM (computed from the trailhead location).

Forecast for the trailhead area from the U.S. National Weather Service, updated Oct 18, 12:46 AM. Mountain weather changes fast and can differ a lot by elevation: check the official forecast for your route before you go.

Recent conditions

Reports come from Arête members, not from land managers. They show when something was seen, not whether it is still true. Check official sources before you go.

No condition reports in the last 30 days. Conditions are unknown, not necessarily good.

Reviews

No reviews yet, so there is no rating to show. We never invent ratings. Sign in to be the first to review this trail.

Photos and places from hikers

Added by community members and checked by our team before they appear. Photos have their location data removed. These are not official information.

No approved photos or places yet.

Along the way

Trailhead and facilities

  • ParkingNo fee mapped
    Niwot Loop Trailhead OSM ↗

Parking and toilets shown are within about 0.25 mi of the trail start.

Points come from OpenStreetMap contributors and can be missing, moved or out of date. How we label data.

Nearby trails

Arête-built route from mapped trails

Assembled by Arête from mapped trail segments. Not an official or recommended route.

  1. Hidden Star Trail · 0.74 mi
  2. Hidden Star Trail · 48 ft
  3. Hidden Star Trail · 0.23 mi
  4. Hidden Star Trail · 42 ft
  5. Hidden Star Trail · 42 ft
  6. Hidden Star Trail · 0.30 mi
  7. Niwot Loop Trail · 0.20 mi · walked back
  8. Niwot Loop Trail · 41 ft · walked back
  9. Niwot Loop Trail · 0.24 mi
  10. Niwot Loop Trail · 173 ft (part of the mapped trail)
  11. Niwot Loop Trail · 206 ft (part of the mapped trail)
  12. Niwot Loop Trail · 178 ft
  13. Niwot Loop Trail · 60 ft
  14. Niwot Loop Trail · 485 ft (part of the mapped trail)
  15. Niwot Loop Trail · 0.26 mi
  16. Niwot Loop Trail · 450 ft
  17. Niwot Loop Trail · 450 ft · walked back
  18. Niwot Loop Trail · 0.26 mi · walked back
  19. Niwot Loop Trail · 485 ft (part of the mapped trail) · walked back
  20. Niwot Loop Trail · 60 ft · walked back
  21. Niwot Loop Trail · 178 ft · walked back
  22. Niwot Loop Trail · 206 ft (part of the mapped trail) · walked back
  23. Niwot Loop Trail · 173 ft (part of the mapped trail) · walked back
  24. Niwot Loop Trail · 0.24 mi · walked back
  25. Niwot Loop Trail · 41 ft
  26. Niwot Loop Trail · 0.20 mi
  27. Hidden Star Trail · 0.30 mi · walked back
  28. Hidden Star Trail · 42 ft · walked back
  29. Hidden Star Trail · 42 ft · walked back
  30. Hidden Star Trail · 0.23 mi · walked back
  31. Hidden Star Trail · 48 ft · walked back
  32. Hidden Star Trail · 0.74 mi · walked back

Starts at a derived trailhead (2 mapped trails start within 150 m), 198 m from mapped parking (Niwot Loop Trailhead); the route starts at the nearest mapped trail junction, 1 m from that point. Built by Arête from the graph of mapped trail segments (OpenStreetMap). Segments join where their ends are within 12 m of each other or one ends on another's line (a T-junction). A loop returns to its start without repeating a trail section; an out-and-back goes to a mapped trail end and returns the same way, so its length counts both directions. Names come only from the mapped trails it uses. Length is measured on the joined line; elevation is computed from USGS 3DEP. Not an official or recommended route.

Data, sources and how the numbers are made
Length4.69 micomputed
Route typeOut and backcomputed
SurfaceUnknownunknown
DifficultyUnknownunknown
Elevation gain (as drawn)105 ftcomputed
Elevation loss (as drawn)108 ftcomputed
Estimated durationabout 1 hr 35 min one way as drawn (Naismith's rule)computed
Official verificationNot verified by an official sourceunknown

Length is measured from the route geometry in the source data, so it can differ from signed or official distances. Gain and loss describe the direction the line is drawn; the route view above shows the other direction and out and back. Elevation is computed from USGS 3DEP 1/3 arc-second DEM (public domain), sampled about every 10 m and smoothed.

© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Route assembled by Arête from mapped trail segments.. Arête-built routes from mapped trails. Licence: ODbL 1.0 (derived from OpenStreetMap).

Frequently asked questions

How long is Hidden Star Trail + Niwot Loop Trail out and back from Niwot Loop Trailhead?

Hidden Star Trail + Niwot Loop Trail out and back from Niwot Loop Trailhead in Boulder County is 4.69 mi long, measured from its route geometry in OpenStreetMap data. Signed or official distances can differ.

How much elevation does Hidden Star Trail + Niwot Loop Trail out and back from Niwot Loop Trailhead gain?

Walking from the start to the end as drawn, it climbs about 105 ft and descends about 108 ft, between 5,062 ft and 5,160 ft. These are computed from the USGS 3DEP elevation model and can differ from other apps; the other direction swaps climbing and descending.

How hard is Hidden Star Trail + Niwot Loop Trail out and back from Niwot Loop Trailhead?

Difficulty is unknown: no source we use rates this trail, and we don't guess. Use the length and elevation gain to judge it for yourself.

How long does Hidden Star Trail + Niwot Loop Trail out and back from Niwot Loop Trailhead take?

About 1 hr 35 min one way for a fit hiker, by Naismith's rule from the length and climb. It is an estimate: allow more for rest, photos, heat, altitude and weather.

Where does Hidden Star Trail + Niwot Loop Trail out and back from Niwot Loop Trailhead start?

The route starts near 40.0905, -105.1672 (Boulder County). Use the Directions button to open it in your maps app.

Are dogs allowed on Hidden Star Trail + Niwot Loop Trail out and back from Niwot Loop Trailhead?

Not tagged in OpenStreetMap, so it is unknown. Check posted signs and the land manager's website.

Is there water, parking or a toilet at Hidden Star Trail + Niwot Loop Trail out and back from Niwot Loop Trailhead?

Mapped in OpenStreetMap near this trail: 0 water points, 1 parking area, 0 toilets. Mapped water is not tested or guaranteed: carry your own. Fees and permits are not included here; check the official page.

Trail data can be wrong or out of date, and Arête is not an emergency service. Check official sources, weather and closures before you go.

Directions