Colorado Hikes: Waterton Canyon Trail & Bighorn Sheep Encounter

Last Saturday, I wanted to get a small hike or scenic walk in before walk to break up my normal walking/running routine. While I pictured more of a hike in my head, what I landed on ended up being more of a scenic walk on a trail, with little elevation change. But the scenery was beautiful, activity was bustling, and I got to glimpse at some Bighorn Sheep, just as advertised.

Don’t get me wrong: just because wildlife had been spotted in the area before (you’ll see there was even signage about the Bighorn Sheep), I didn’t go in with the expectation of seeing any. It was a crowded Saturday morning, and I didn’t have enough time to walk all the way to the “Bighorn Sheep Rest Area.”

But very shortly after the trail started winding along the river and hills, away from civilization, the Bighorn Sheep couldn’t be missed. At first, I thought I was a detective, spotting one in the distance, blending in well with the hillside rocks. But then two of these wild animals crossed my path, and before I knew it, the one that I had previously spotted was actually with another five to ten herd members. I found even more resting just a short walk ahead.

I can’t say if it’s always this easy as I’ve only gone once, but with a relevant blog post about the same phenomenon being posted in 2013, it’s fair to say that this is a popular spot near the Denver metro area to spot the wildlife. The craziest part about this encounter is just how close to civilization it is yet still providing ample nature for the sheep to roam. You don’t need to trek in to the mountains, or even down to Colorado Springs (I’ve seen them previously before at the Garden of the Gods) to see Bighorn Sheep: from South Denver, I was on the trail in less than 30 minutes.

Visiting on a weekend morning, the trailhead parking lot was absolutely packed, with about 100 cars. I was luckily able to grab one of the last spots. This trail is popular for walkers, runners, hikers, bikers, fishers, photographers, and more, with something for everyone.

For parking, you can type in “Waterton Canyon Parking” or “Waterton Canyon Trailhead” into your preferred map service.

I walked this trail on Saturday, September 27 at about 10:00AM.