A short, tough climb in Indian Hills

The Coloma Trailhead sign is seen at the beginning of the trail.
Kyler Klix/Nevada Appeal

Saturday, May 7, 2022

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Over in Indian Hills tucked away in a neighborhood is the Coloma Trail Loop. This trail is rated as difficult because of the elevation gain. The hike is 3.1 miles long and you’ll climb about 518 feet (the grade on Alltrails.com puts the steepest part at 20 percent). The steep grade of this trail gives it a more difficult rating, so make sure you know what you’re capable of before doing too much elevation.
This open space is property of the Indian Hills General Improvement District. The trail starts on the edge of housing development on Coloma Drive and goes into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.
Before the trail there is a small park area, which looks nicely taken care of and landscaped with a couple of benches for resting. There’s a sign at the beginning, and this trail is labeled as the U.S.F.S. trail on the sign.

Graphic: Kyler Klix

There is a short walk to get to the loop. From this intersection at the beginning, you can turn left or right. Going to the right (north) has a slightly easier elevation gain, but both ways seem to be similar, with the highest elevation point almost halfway on the loop.
The ground is on old roads, so most of it is rocky along the way. There are a few other trails that connect to the Coloma Trail Loop. There are no signs telling you where to turn, so check out the map ahead of time and stay aware. You can download the alltrails.com app and search the trail on there and follow along from your phone.
This trail doesn’t offer much more than a peaceful walk with some decent scenery. There’s no water along the trail and there’s no shade or trees. Sagebrush and other desert plants fill the landscape. It is very brushy and thick. You’ll most likely see rabbits or other small mammals scurrying about. There’s plenty of birds among the bushes and you’ll hear them chirping.
When you’re starting out on the trail, you’ll hear traffic from the nearby U.S. Highway 395, but once you go a little deeper, you’ll have some silence.

Along the Coloma Trail Loop, it is brushy but there are no trees. You’ll have some views of the mountains in the background. (Photo: Kyler Klix/Nevada Appeal)

This trail is perfect for someone trying to get a little more exercise and climbing elevation. This trail is probably accessible year-round since the snow won’t stick around too long here. During the summer it will get hot and there is no shade, so it’d be best to do it when the temperatures are cooler in the morning. Bring plenty of water and beware of rattlesnakes as the temperatures go up.
Always remember to respect nature and other hikers. Leave no trace and take everything you brought in back with you.
Kyler Klix is a designer for Nevada News Group. He also writes about the outdoors and entertainment. Email kklix@nevadanewsgroup.com

A short, tough climb in Indian Hills

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