Hike up to Sentinel Point, a sub-peak on the Western flank of Pike's Peak. 9 miles with 3,200 ft. elevation gain. GPX included at bottom.

This is a great day-hike that can be done as a loop in the Pike's Peak area that takes you above the treeline for good views of the area.

I started at the Horsethief Falls / Pancake Rocks trailhead off Hwy. 67. I did this loop counter-clockwise, going up the Pancake Rocks trail to begin with and down the Horsethief Park trail. I'd recommend this way because there is a bit of scrambling on the ridgeline just above Pancake Rocks that would be done better going up than going down.

From the trailhead I stayed on the standard Pancake Rocks trail almost until it's end (around 2.7 miles), then turned Left/North, putting me on the ridgeline to ascend Sentinel Point's Southern ridge (refer to the GPX route below). The turn off of the trail on up the ridgeline is still in the trees at this point.

Once I turned off, there is no trail, but the general direction is just up and following the ridgeline. The trees are spaced out here and there's not much underbrush, such "bushwacking" was at a minimum.

Just under half a mile from the turn-off, I encountered the only real obstacle on this hike - a scraggy rock-garden section that required some scrambling.

After getting through the first rock-garden section, there is a small break and then...another scraggy rock-garden section! However, I simply went around, to the right of these rocks. This required some side-traversing, which is never fun, but I think it was faster than going up and climbing the rocks. Also, this is the must "bushwack-y" section of the hike.

Eventually the side-traverse will meet up with a flat saddle (still in the tress) at the other end of the rock-garden. From here, it is a surprisingly pleasant walk up the ridgeline that finally took me out of the trees.

Once out of the trees, the remaining route just follows the ridgeline to Sentinel for just over a mile.

The rest of the ridgeline is on grassy meadow until the final push up to Sentinel's summit. This final push is rocky with some Class 2 climbing.

From the summit of Sentinel, I was able to see much of the route down. The loop continues Northeast for a bit before descending into a ravine that follows a creek.

Once in the ravine, I followed the creek down until it re-entered the trees.

Once in the trees again, the easiest route is on the left side of the creek. I was surprised to find a carin'd trail once I was in the trees. I followed this trail through the forest, and it eventually met up with the established Horsethief Park / Forest Service 704C trail. This trail finishes going through the forest, then eventually into an alpine meadow, before meeting up with the original trail, completing the loop, about 3/4 mile away from the parking lot.