Hiking In and Around Boulder

QUICK & EASY GUIDE TO 5 OF BOULDER'S TOP HIKES

https://www.wkre.com/blog/Trails-to-Train-for-the-BolderBoulder-10k - April 2022

Visiting Colorado? A free day and don’t know what to do? Well, the first day of Spring is right around the corner and what better way to celebrate than by putting on your hiking shoes and heading outdoors! Here’s a quick list of some of Boulder’s best hiking trails with the most rewarding views:

CHAUTAUQUA MOUNTAIN

By far the most famous hiking destination in Boulder is Chautauqua Mountain right off the corner of Baseline Road & 9th Street. Check out the Chautauqua Trail and the Bluebell-Baird Trail if you’re looking for an easy stroll with the kids and gorgeous views of the town of Boulder. Or if you’re up for the challenge, try one of the more famous trails known as the Royal Arch Trail. Starting at the end of Bluebell Road heading south, this trail passes the gorgeous Tangen Spring then sends you up a rockier road to bring you to the Royal Arch itself. This is a stunning and very rewarding sight after the .8-mile-long trail. Parking is free at the base of the mountain.

Find trail information here

https://bouldercolorado.gov/trail/chautauqua

MOUNT SANITAS

Located 0.5 miles west of 4th Street on Mapleton Avenue is the trail head for Mount Sanitas, a moderate hike that is both dog and kid friendly. Perfect for a sunny day, this 3.3-mile loop is surrounded by beautiful wildflowers and evergreens. You end with an amazing bird-eye view of Boulder surrounded by the sandstone quarried for the original buildings on the CU campus! Parking is free in the Centennial trail head on the south side of Mapleton Avenue.

Find trail information here

https://bouldercolorado.gov/trail/mount-sanitas

GREEN MOUNTAIN

Although on the more difficult side, this 6-mile loop offers amazing views of the Flatirons, Indian Peaks, and wide panoramas at the top of Green Mountain. For the scenic route, head up Bluebell Trail to Gregory Canyon trail head. Only 3-4 hours, this hike allows plenty of shade, wildflowers, and even some wildlife (although amazing to see, try staying on path to avoid any dangerous chances of crossing paths with our furry friends!) Parking is free at the base of Chautauqua Mountain, located at the corner of Baseline Road & 9th Street.

Find trail info here

https://bouldercolorado.gov/trail/green-mountain-west-ridge

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REALIZATION POINT

Well-loved and very clearly named, this 3.4-mile loop is perfect for a quick get away from the city. This easy/moderate hike starts about 3.5 miles up Flagstaff Road at the corner of Flagstaff Summit Road. From the Realization Point off Flagstaff Summit Road, start with the Ute Trail and head toward the Range View Trail which offers views of the Front Range, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Boulder Mountain Parks. With these amazing views, you will be greeted by plenty of wildflowers and evergreens.

Find trail info here https://www.bouldercoloradousa.com/outdoors/hiking/realization-point-hikes/

ELDORADO CANYON

Eldorado Canyon is an easy to moderate kid friendly hike that offers amazing views and some history! For the most scenic route, start with the Fowler Trail where you can spot rock climbers scaling the canyon walls. Fowler Trail will then lead you to the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail where you can explore the ruins of the old Crags Hotel built in 1908. It was accessed via an inclined railway from the canyon floor until it burned down in 1913. From the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail, you will travel to the continental divide overlook where numerous breath-taking views await. This 5-mile hike is located at 9 Kneale Road in Eldorado Springs, a short 20-minute drive from the heart of downtown Boulder. It can be accessed after paying an $8.00 parking fee which opens the door to many other trails in Eldorado Canyon!

Find trail info here https://bouldercolorado.gov/trail/eldorado-canyon

So, get your hiking shoes out and head outdoors this Spring and Summer. The mountains are calling and what better way to answer than by exploring mother nature herself!

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DENVER'SMILEHIGHMAGAZINE

Hike We Like: Gregory Canyon

This jaunt through the Flatirons offers vibrant autumn color, a great workout, and some wonderful views.

BY TERRI COOK | OCTOBER 17, 2017

Length: 3.3 miles round trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Why we love it: It’s a classic Chautauqua-area loop hike with plenty of options for extending it for those who still crave more.

When to go: The trail is at its best from mid-spring through mid-to-late fall, before the ice accumulates.

Pre-hike buzz: At the Baseline and Broadway junction just west of U.S. 36, you can choose between Brewing Market, Starbucks, and Einstein Bros. Bagels. Less than a mile from the trailhead, the Chautauqua Dining Hall offers more upscale options.

Restrooms: Outhouses at the trailhead

Dogs: Must be leashed or under voice and sight control along the trails. In addition, there is a ladder along this route that is not recommended for dogs.

Shady picnic spots await next to the Green Mountain Lodge shelter along Chautauqua's Gregory Canyon loop.Terri Cook

Distance from Denver: 29 miles

One of the Boulder area’s best autumn hikes is this beautiful loop through the foothills on the northwest side of Boulder’s Chautauqua Park. Portions of the route parallel small streams with lush riparian corridors filled with trees and shrubs where foliage turns vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red for an all-too-brief period each fall.

To minimize the steepness of the ascent, which totals about 1,300 vertical feet, I recommend hiking this loop counter-clockwise. From the Gregory Canyon trailhead, follow the Gregory Canyon trail along the creek, keeping a sharp eye out for poison ivy. Fortunately, this is much easier to spot in autumn, when its infamous “leaves of three” turn bright red.

The vegetation soon becomes more open and the trail rockier as it climbs steadily uphill for about a mile through the sparkling, 1.7-billion-year-old granite. As you approach the top, the gradient briefly levels out, providing a welcome breather. After crossing a small creek, along which wildflowers linger long into the summer, you’ll arrive at a junction with the Ranger Trail. Turn left and follow it 0.2 miles to a large stone shelter, which has several welcoming picnic tables ideal for a trailside snack.

From the shelter, continue left on the Ranger Trail an additional 0.3 miles through the majestic ponderosa pine forest to the junction with the E.M. Greenman Trail. Veer left again here to climb another 0.6 miles to the junction with the Saddle Rock Trail and begin to follow this downhill. The openings between the trees near this junction offer nice views down to the city and the northern foothills, and there are even better views, including up to the Continental Divide, a short distance ahead.

Continue to descend the Saddle Rock Trail, which in places is quite steep. In one notable spot, there is a ladder that Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) has installed to replace a section of the path damaged in the 2013 floods. Although tall, the ladder is inclined into the slope and easy to get on and off, so I had no difficulty navigating it even carrying hiking poles.

As you continue downhill, stay left at the next two junctions to remain on the Saddle Rock Trail, which will bring you back to the dense vegetation in the bottom of Gregory Canyon. Here you can enjoy one last look at the fall colors before reaching your vehicle.

The view towards downtown Boulder along the Saddle Rock Trail. -Terri Cook

To complete the Gregory Canyon loop, you must be willing to navigate this ladder. -Terri Cook

Getting there: From Denver head north on I-25 to U.S. 36. Follow the highway west for 25 miles and exit at Baseline Road in Boulder. Turn west (left) onto Baseline and continue straight for 1.8 miles, passing the junction with 9th Street. At the first right-hand bend (just after the stone bridge), turn left into the Gregory Canyon parking area. If this is full, turn around and park at one of the meters along Baseline Road. Trailhead parking for cars with out-of-county plates costs $5 per day.

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Boulder: Chapman Drive Trail

Bring Fido along for a romp through wildflowers while you enjoy gorgeous valley views.

DALIAH SINGER • AUGUST 18, 2020

Chapman Drive Trail in Boulder

Distance: 5.8 miles round-trip

Difficulty: Easy/moderate

Cost: Free

Chapman Drive Trail is a different way to access the dozen or so popular trails that spider out from Realization Point in Boulder Canyon. (It also has a gratis parking lot off CO-119, whereas there’s only paid parking at the Point.) The gravel path is wide great for social distancing and is uphill the whole way, but it’s a mild ascent. Along the way, as you pop in and out of the shade, you’ll spot a rainbow of wildflowers and cyclists grinding up the hill. Once at the top, for a truer hiking experience, make the outing a lollipop loop by heading downhill on the well-maintained Tenderfoot Trail, a gradual, 0.9-mile downgrade that connects back to Chapman and provides beautiful valley views and a soft dirt path underfoot along the way.

Who Will Love This Trail: Hikers with dogs; anyone who wants a broad trail for physical distancing

Cool Off: Reward tired feet with a dip in Boulder Creek, which burbles next to the trailhead parking lot.

Chapman Drive Trail, Boulder. Photo by Daliah Singer

Avoid Crowded Trails With These 3 Hikes Near Boulder

We mapped out under-explored routes by linking paths through Open Space and Mountain Parks and Eldorado Canyon State Park.

DOUGALD MACDONALD • 5280 MAY 2020

Much of the 155-mile trail network in Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks went unexplored even before COVID-19-related restrictions limited Coloradans to their own communities. When those rules loosen, see the area’s unbeaten bounties on three hikes we created by linking existing trails.

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Eldorado Canyon’s Back Door. Photo courtesy of Michael Banks

The NCAR Loop

Distance: 3.9 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Illustration by Sean Parsons

1. Head to the intersection of Vassar and Table Mesa drives to find an unmarked access point for NCAR – Table Mesa Bear Trail. Hike south on the trail for about half a mile.

2. Take NCAR – Bear Canyon Trail branching right. Enjoy views of the plains, the Flatirons, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesa Laboratory, a modern, geometric building designed by famed architect I.M. Pei.

3. Continue west through Bear Canyon. Keep going about 100 yards past the Mesa Trail turnoff to reach a knee-deep, pup-friendly pool.

4. Double back and head north on Mesa Trail. Along Dinosaur Mountain, the ridge to your left, rocks shaped like a giant’s fingers jut toward the sky.

5. At the second fork, turn right onto Skunk Canyon Trail, a path leading through a meadow of spring beauties, mahonia, and other wildflowers. A final right onto NCAR – Skunk Canyon Trail leads you to the end of the loop.

Big Bluestem–Shanahan Loop

Distance: 4.6 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Illustration by Sean Parsons

1. Find the Shanahan Ridge access point near the intersection of Lehigh Street and Lafayette Drive, then hike uphill 200 yards along Lehigh Connector – North. Turn left on North Fork Shanahan Trail and continue on South Fork Shanahan Trail.

2. At the split, take Bluestem Connector.

3. Hang a right on Lower Big Bluestem Trail and spot wild irises and the rocky ears of Mickey Mouse Wall in the distance.

4. At the fork, keep right along Upper Big Bluestem Trail to reach Brammeier Homestead, where logs and stone walls mark the remains of a (possibly haunted) 19th century ranch house a neighbor murdered 20-year-old Fred Brammeier there in 1902

5. Before turning right onto Mesa Trail, pause to enjoy the hike’s best vantage of the knifelike Maiden, the slimmest Flatiron.

6. After 0.9 miles on Mesa Trail, follow North Fork Shanahan Trail back to Lehigh Connector –North and return to your car.

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Eldorado Canyon’s Back Door

Distance: 7.2 miles (out and back)

Difficulty: Moderate

Illustration by Sean Parsons

1. Exit west off CO 93 onto CO 170 near Eldorado Springs and follow it for 2.4 miles. Make a left on County Road 67. When you reach a closed road gate, park and use the adjoining pedestrian gate to follow the dirt road uphill on foot. (Note: This access point has limited parking.)

2. Merge onto Fowler Trail, a portion of the hike that runs atop an unfinished railroad grade.

3. Continue along Fowler for views of grassy Shadow Canyon and South Boulder Peak. At 8,549 feet, it’s the tallest of the five major peaks in Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks.

4. When you arrive at the sheer, golden sandstone partitions of Eldorado Canyon, look closely for rock climbers scaling Redgarden Wall, a cliff across the gorge. Then turn left onto Rattlesnake Gulch Trail. (Be sure to purchase a Colorado State Park pass ahead of time.)

5. The steep, 1.4-mile climb along Rattlesnake Gulch Trail leads you to the Crags Hotel site, ruins of a lodging that burned in 1912. Vistas span from Eldorado’s colorful cliffs in the foreground to the snowy Continental Divide beyond.

10 Essentials for Your Daypack

These items should always be within reach, whether you expect to be on the trail for two hours or two days.

BY RYAN WICHELNS - September 8, 2021

https://www.5280.com/2021/09/10-essentials-for-your-daypack/

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Sturdy footwear

Hiking thirteeners can mean encountering a wide variety of trails. You could find yourself on strollable single-track (where good sneakers will do the trick) or you might rendezvous with a more technical rocky scramble (where you’ll want shoes with stickier rubber and a stiffer sole). Short story: Make sure you wear shoes that match your intended trail.

2. Navigation tools

Your cell phone with a mapping app might save your butt in the 21st century, but for off-trail hikes which thirteeners are known to have bring a topo map and compass and know how to use them.

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3. Water

Carry half a liter of water for every hour you plan to be out more on hot days. It’s not a bad idea to bring a small water filter or emergency purification tablets, as well, just in case you’re out longer than expected.

4. Food

Load up on the calories. You’ll probably eat more during a day of hiking than you would at home, so bring plenty of high-calorie, light-weight options.

5. Extra clothing

Dress in layers so you can more easily adjust as the temperature changes from the trailhead to the summit. Avoid cotton in favor of synthetics or wool, which wick away your body’s moisture and keep you warm even if you get wet. Always carry something waterproof: Especially in Colorado, afternoon storms in the summertime are commonplace.

6. Safety items

In case you get lost, having just enough equipment to light a fire (waterproof matches and cottonballs soaked in Vaseline), signal for help (a mirror, a brightly colored tarp, a whistle), and see in the dark (hello, headlamp!) can make the difference between life and death. Extras like an emergency shelter or blanket, satellite communicator, and water purification fall into the better-safe-than-sorry bucket, especially on more remote hikes like thirteeners.

7. First-aid kit

You should have a well-outfitted but reasonably sized kit. However, all the supplies in the world won’t be any good if you don’t know how to use them. Take a wilderness first-aid course to know how to solve common injuries in the backcountry.

8. Knife or multitool

These things come in handy more often than you realize. Bring a good one that can help you repair gear, cut rope, or, in an emergency, help you fashion tools to hunt for food.

9. Sun protection

In high elevations, the sun is exceptionally strong and there’s not going to be much to shade you from it above treeline. Wear a hat, bring sunglasses, and use lots of sunscreen. Consider a light sun “hoody” instead of a T-shirt, which will cover your arms and has a head cover to keep the sun from hitting your neck.

10. Shelter

Especially on thirteeners where you might be more likely to get lost and spend a night out, some type of shelter could be the item that gets you through an unintended overnight. A light tent or tarp might seem like overkill but neither take up much room in your pack. It’s worth the extra poundage; just do it.

WEBSITES

https://www.bouldercoloradohiking.com/ https://bouldercolorado.gov/locations/trail/search/trail

https://www.bouldercounty.org/open-space/parks-and-trails/ https://www.5280.com/tag/hikes-we-like/

RECOMMENDED BLOGS AND ARTICLES

Quick & Easy Guide to 5 of Boulder’s Top Hikes - Quick and Dirty Guide to Some of Boulder’s Best Hiking - http://www.bouldercoloradohiking.com - Feb 2016

Hikes Near Boulder - http://dayhikesneardenver.com/hikes-boulder

10 Great Day Hikes Around Boulder, Denver -

great-day-hikes-around-boulder-denver - June 2022

Foot to Earth: Boulder’s Premiere and Pristine Hiking Trailshttp://www.10best.com/destinations/colorado/boulder/attractions/hiking-trails

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