This short but demanding trail climbs and circles the east face of a Hogback, a sharply rounded ridge with steep sloping sides where the eastern plains meet Colorado's Front Range. Visitors will enjoy good wildlife viewing opportunities and rangy panoramas of the Flatirons, Green Mountain, Bear Peak, Mt Sanitas and eastern plains.

The trailhead is located on the east side of Highway 36; from the parking area walk through the underpass to access the Foothills Trail. En route you'll pass a lively Prairie Dog town, where interpretive signs explain the animals' sophisticated communication techniques and reliance of other species on the community for food and shelter.

The Foothills Trail rises gently upslope .4 miles, then more assertively past an unnamed junction (.55 miles) to the Foothills Trail - Hogback Loop Trail junction (.6 miles : 5,760'). Here the Foothills Trail bends south (left) towards Wonderland Lake; the aforementioned split continues north for several miles along the foothills' base.

The Hogback Loop's left fork takes a steep, direct approach to the loop's highest point, while the right fork runs a longer, more gradual course. With better views and lighting in mind, the following describes clockwise travel on the Hogback Loop Trail:

From the split, steep grades continue up rudimentary stairs (.9 miles) that spill into a saddle between two hogbacks (1.15 miles : 6,192'). Rocky outcrops and pine trees dot the saddle, a pretty space with good perspective on this uniquely textured landscape. After a brief reprieve a short, final push leads to the top of a boulder-strewn hogback (1.35 miles : 6,393). Exercise caution when scrambling about, as rattlesnakes are common to the area.

The trail crests atop the hogback and drops quickly on its northern ridge to milder grades that run perpendicular across a yawning eastern slope. You'll enjoy sensational views of the eastern plains, Boulder Reservoir and Chautauqua Park area on this diverting stretch. Travel eases upon completing the loop (2.35 miles), and continues downhill .6 miles back to the trailhead.