Goat Mountain

Goat Mountain

Overview

Goat Mountain is in the Front Range of Colorado. This was my first ascent of Goat Mountain, with other climbs in the area being Carpenter Peak, Bill Couch Mountain, Plymouth Mountain, and Deer Creek Canyon Park. This area is fairly popular with the trailhead location being just south of the Denver area, allowing all vehicles access. I would guess that Goat Mountain receives few climbers with the majority of outdoor enthusiasts keeping to the Waterton Canyon Trail. This area is accessible in all seasons. The climb of this summit offers great foothills views with a chance to see some big horn sheep. I hope you enjoy this trip report and find it helpful in planning your next adventure in the hills.

Directions/Trailhead Information

The Waterton Canyon Trailhead is located at—latitude 39.491238°, longitude -105.093659°. There is a large parking area that will accommodate about 100 vehicles. There are restrooms at the trailhead. From the Denver area make your way to the intersection of CO-470 W and CO-121 S/S Wadsworth Blvd in Columbine. Take the CO-121 S exit heading south, follow CO-121 S for about 10 miles to Waterton Rd. Turn left (southeast) on Waterton Rd and follow for about 4.7 miles to the trailhead. The trailhead will be on the left (east) side of the road. The road is paved all the way to the trailhead making this accessible for all vehicles.

The Climb

The climb of Goat Mountain is pretty straightforward. There is an unofficial trail that leads to the summit from the trailhead. From the trailhead follow the Waterton Canyon Trail across Waterton Rd. This will resemble more of a road than a trail at this point. Follow the Waterton Canyon Trail for approximately 1.2 miles to the coordinates: 39.483907° latitude, -105.112163° longitude. At this location there are some overhead pipes going over the main trail, you will need to find a trail splitting off to the right of the main trail heading north up through some rocks and vegetation. Once on this trail you will follow it all the way to the summit.

Will, Cole, and Nick on the summit of Goat Mountain

There is an initial climb to get you onto the eastern ridge, then the trail mellows into a more gradual climb. The trail is easily identifiable and would be a good place to trail run, hike or snowshoe. I was trying out some new trail runners for this climb, and they were a better option than hiking boots I my opinion. The trail passes through a few different types of environments, from dense almost willow like trees, open ridge, and exposed rock. At just over 3.5 miles to the summit, you get a good climb in for being a foothills mountain. Don’t expect it to be as easy as its neighbors to the north in the Deer Creek Canyon Park. The summit is rock capped and offers great views of the southern Denver metro area. This is a yo-yo route, so just follow the trail back down to the trailhead.

Parting Notes

This is a good training hike that is close to town. I will most likely come back to its summit again in the future. The Waterton Canyon Trailhead is very busy, but once you are off the main trail you might only see a handful of people along the trail that leads to the summit. Until next time, cheers!

GPS Track

Date: March 4, 2017

Trailhead Elevation: 5,497 feet

Goat Mountain: 7,785 feet

Total Ascent: 2,270 feet

Class: 2

Distance: 7.4 miles

Moving Time: 2 hr 52 min

Stopped Time: 1 hr 24 min

Climbing Partners: Cole, Will

GAIA GPS Link: Goat Mountain (2016-03-04)