Contemplative and Sand Canyon Loop

The Contemplative and Sand Canyon Loop is a fantastic nature walk that can be enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts of all skill levels and ages. Traveling beneath looming sandstone cliffs and through mixed pine forests, the awe-inspiring scenery will surely distract you from the stressors of the real world. Let your anxieties melt away, and let yourself get lost in the epic sandstone spires that adorn the arid terrain.

You trek along the Contemplative and Sand Canyon Loop beings at the Sand Canyon Trailhead. From here, head southwest along the Sand Canyon Trail along the base of the mesa. Soon you will confront an intersection with the Contemplative Trail; keep right here. The Contemplative Trail will guide you through a more forested section of the park lined with park benches and reveal sights of the Front Range foothills through the tree breaks. Revel in the beauty of this path and the looming red bluffs because you will shortly reach another junction.

Here, take a sharp left, and you will be diverted northeast along the Sand Canyon Trail. Now climbing along the opposite sides of the cliffs, you will be rewarded a more expansive view of what the Red Rocks Canyon Open Space offers. Revel in the area’s beauty and follow this path all the way back to the trailhead.