Tucker Lake
Location
Tucker Lake, Colorado 80007
When you google Tucker Lake you get an estimated location. The trailer parking is off Violet Court. If you google 7633 Violet Court you will get to the end of the road that has the park parking lot.
Website
PDF Map
There is no great website for the park or official trail-map.
Trail Map
Park Fees
Free
Trailer Parking
There is a nice large rectangular area for trailers then a circle for cars to park in. I went on the weekend and it was pretty quiet. I was even able to turn around my trailer without going into the round-about.
Bathrooms
None
Water
No spigot or faucet.
Mounting
Maybe a curb but I mounted from the ground.
Footing
Slightly rocky packed dirt in either a double-track or single track.
Horse Hazards
Grass and alfalfa!! My biggest problem with Sam and Bailey is the dive-bombing for fresh alfalfa. There are also markers for a water line. Bailey was testing to see if it was edible.
There is also a bridge on the loop around Tucker Lake. The bridge itself is not too bad but when bikers cross the bridge it makes a very scary sound. Make sure the area is clear of bikers before you cross the bridge! Watch for flocks of birds taking flight and dismount to go through the green gate. If you head toward the Ralston Creek Trail be aware there is a model airplane airport near-by.
Chosen Trail
We decided to start out around the lake then go along the Ralston Creek Trail to the overlook and switchback then double back and go around the south side of the lake. If we had more time I would have taken the Ralston Creek Trail around the Reservoir, down 66th and up Virgil. See HERE for the Tucker Lake Long Loop.
At the first fork you can choose to go around the lake or you can take the double-track up a hill to a nice overlook. We went right to the overlook.
The trail was a nice double-track starting out. It made it easy for me to pony Bailey next to us. The horse trail is marked with poles with white tips. This makes it easy for horses to stay out of the bikers and hikers paths. Bikers would still zoom past us but we had enough distance between us that it was ok for my horses.
We went past the lake and up to the right but had a really pretty view. Sometimes there are a lot of birds around the lake that take flight suddenly. Tucker lake is also close to the model plane airport and once you get up onto the hill you may hear or see model airplanes.
The horse trail goes straight up a hill, the cement path follows a switchback up the hill. We followed the switchback then got back on the horse trail. The horses can walk on the single-track horse trail or along the cement path.
We walked until we could get up close to the scary object below then eat some grass next to it. We were able to look down the hill to see the equestrian trail to the left of the steep switch-backs of the Ralston Creek Trail. After eating grass we went back the way we came until we reached the trail that took us to the south side of Tucker Lake.
The first bridge below makes a funny sound when bikes cross it. Give yourself space until the path is clear of bikers. The second bridge you have the nice option of going around.
Coming around the South side of the lake the cement path heads south towards Virgil street to take you the long loop around the Res. We continued to the left as in the picture on the right. This pasture was my biggest horse hazard. This pasture has been dubbed the "field of dreams" due to the vast sea of grass and alfalfa.
Coming back around the lake I dismounted to lead the horses through the gate.
As you reach the north side of the lake the cement path winds around the park to connect with another trail that you can follow to Pattridge. Click HERE to read about the Tucker Lake to Pattridge Trail. We stayed left to return to the trailer.
Trail Experience
Tucker Lake is a nice, calm, wide trail. I had forgotten how nice the trail is and how well marked it is. The bikers had space and there was nothing big and scary. The water tower at the overlook can be pretty scary to some horses so it is good to approach it from a distance then reinforce your horse with grass and a rest. We rode for about a hour and 15 minutes.
Rating
Moderately Easy if you ride just around Tucker Lake. There is a bridge, a gate and possible birds taking flight. If you want a longer trail try going all around the Reservoir.