Favorite Boulder Hiking Trails
One of the nice things about hiking trails in Boulder is that for the most part, dogs are allowed. Some trails even let your dog be off leash if you have registered for the City of Boulder Voice and Sight Dog Tag Program. Otherwise, just keep your dog on a leash and he or she will still be happy to be on the hike with you. Some of the wildlife that lives in the Boulder Mountain Parks system includes Abert's squirrels, fox, coyote, mule deer, black bear, and mountain lions, among others. I've seen foxes, coyote, and mule deer, but have not yet seen black bears or mountain lions. Even so, I know they live in this area because I've seen lots of evidence of black bears, and I've heard stories about mountain lions so keep an eye out for them. If you like waterfalls, (and most of us do), you could go visit Boulder Falls. It's a short and fairly easy hike to a falls that delivers a lot of spray in the early part of the summer. It's free to go see it and it's located just outside Boulder, in Boulder Canyon. A few, (but not many), Boulder hiking trails charge a fee to people who are not residents of Boulder County. The Tenderfoot Loop Trail on Flagstaff Mountain is one such trail and it charges a $3.00 fee. So, where necessary, I will let you know if there is a fee, and if so, how much.
Directions to Realization Point: from Chautauqua Park in Boulder, follow Baseline Road west. (It merges into Flagstaff Road.) Drive 3.4 miles up Flagstaff Road and look for the sign for Realization Point on your right. It's hard to see the sign from the road so it's best to look at your odometer to know when you're almost there. Once you find Realization Point, there isn't much parking. I didn't count but I'm estimating that there's room for maybe six or seven cars. There is also another small parking area on the other side of the road from Realization Point. Anyway, this Boulder hiking trail starts out just beyond the picnic tables that you'll see at the trailhead. Look for the little sign that says Tenderfoot trail. From there, you'll head downhill through a thinly wooded area. In some spots, you'll be able to look through the trees and see the Indian Peaks. Before long, you'll be out of the trees and in an area where you'll have wide-open views of the mountains. Then you'll come to a short spur trail called the Divide Overlook Trail. If you want, you can follow that short trail to its end for a different view of the Continental Divide. Otherwise, just stay on the main trail to continue the loop. You'll soon come to a fire road which will start climbing after a short while. But it's not a steep climb and besides that, you'll be in the trees again so if it happens to be a warm day when you go, you'll have the shade of the forest. Just continue on your way and before you know it, you'll be back to the parking area and your car. If you brought a lunch, you can eat it at one of those picnic tables.
Directions to Mount Sanitas Trailhead: in Boulder, follow Broadway, (CO 93), to Mapleton Ave. and turn west. Drive about 5 blocks and just beyond the Mapleton Medical Center, start looking on your right for the sign that says Mt. Sanitas Trailhead. It's easy to spot and there are maybe 10-12 parking spaces here. If you don't find a space here, there is also a smaller parking area a short ways before the trailhead on the right side of the road. The Mt. Sanitas trail is a very popular Boulder hiking trail that's close to town and provides a good workout. Bring plenty of water for this one! It starts out steep and rocky, and the first portion is probably the steepest. Once you get past that part, it gets a little easier and the scenery gets better with views of Boulder on one side, and partial views of the mountains on the other. Also, you'll start seeing some of the sandstone rock formations in various spots along the trail. There are several places along the way where you might think you're almost to the summit, but you'll soon see you're not, so just keep pushing on. The last part of the trail to the top passes through a wooded area so at least you'll have some shade. Once you reach the summit, you'll see various boulders where you can sit, rest, and take in the views all around you. Although this Boulder hiking trail can be done as a loop by following the East Ridge trail down the other side of the mountain, I recommend, (unless you really want a challenge), that you go back down the way you came. This is because the East Ridge trail is steeper than the Mt. Sanitas trail. It's also rocky and includes some loose rock as well as some scrambling over rocks. At one point, the trail seems to disappear and unless you know the correct place to go, (straight and then left through the large rocks), you can easily go the wrong direction. So, I leave it up to you :-).
Directions to Mesa Trailhead: in Boulder, follow highway 93 south to Eldorado Springs Road, (Highway 170), and turn right onto it. Go about 1.6 miles and turn right at the sign for the Mesa Trailhead, which is well marked. Follow the short dirt road into the parking area. This particular Boulder hiking trail is a good one for wildflowers if you're there at the right time. That's usually from May to July, with mid-May to early June usually being the peak bloom. We also saw and heard different types of birds, including chickadees and one that might have been a spotted towhee, so it seems to be a good birding trail. Anyway, from the parking area, you want to walk across the good-sized bridge over Boulder Creek. On the other side, turn right and follow the Mesa trail which is the main trail. You'll be in an open area consisting of grasslands, rocks, and shrubs, so have your sunscreen handy. Keep following the signs for the Mesa trail until you see the sign for the Big Bluestem trail on your right. Follow the Big Bluestem trail and you'll see that it's narrower and a bit rocky. At one point, it splits into the upper and lower Big Bluestem trail. You want to take the upper Big Bluestem trail, under the power lines. Soon, this Boulder hiking trail will take you into some trees, which are always good for shade. Keep going up, and after a short time, you'll join the Mesa trail again. Turn left and cross over the small creek. Continue along the Mesa trail, and from this point on, the walking will be much easier. Eventually, you'll reach open areas again, and when you do, keep an eye out for the sign on your right that says Towhee trail. It's a narrow trail that heads downhill and will lead you back to the spot where you started your hike.
Directions to McClintock Trailhead: in Boulder, follow Baseline Road west towards the Flatirons. After you pass 9th Street, look for Chautauqua Park on your left. Turn left into the park and park your car wherever you can. (Otherwise, you can park on the street.) You'll find the McClintock Trailhead next to a covered picnic area which is just behind the main auditorium in Chautauqua Park. This Boulder hiking trail is in an area that is home to black bears and mountain lions, so do keep an eye out for them. We saw neither and the trail itself is popular with people and their dogs, so we felt fairly safe. So, starting from the trailhead, this Boulder hiking trail takes you down into a thick coniferous forest. Enjoy it while you can, (at least on a warm day), because when you reach the .2 mile mark, you'll meet up with the Enchanted Mesa trail, which is more open. Anyway, turn left onto the Enchanted Mesa trail. It's a smooth, wide path that makes for easy walking. As you make your way upwards, you'll have views of Boulder off to your left. Continuing along the trail, it won't be long before you reach the trees again. Keep working your way up this Boulder hiking trail, and after a short time, you'll meet up with the Mesa trail. Turn right onto the Mesa trail and follow it to Bluebell Road which brings you down to the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage, and the end of this hike. As you walk down along Bluebell Road, you'll have nice views of the Boulder Flatirons. And once you reach the ranger cottage, it's just a short walk to the McClintock Trailhead, or wherever you managed to park your car. Have fun and bring your camera :-).
Directions to Hall Ranch: from Boulder, follow Hwy. 36 west to Lyons. In Lyons, turn left, (south), on Hwy. 7. Go about 1.5 miles and turn right into the parking area when you see the sign for Hall Ranch. This is a Boulder hiking trail where you might see a rattlesnake. We didn't see any but someone we met on the trail said he saw one, and almost stepped on it before it slithered away. Another person we saw said it's a good trail for wildflowers. We only saw a few, (in mid May), so I assume there would be more, later in the season. The Bitterbrush trail is pretty open so it's a good idea to use your sunscreen and wear a hat. Once you start up the trail, you might hear crickets and various kinds of birds, like we did. (Especially meadowlarks.) As you work your way up, be looking for deer tracks along this Boulder hiking trail. Although we didn't see any deer, we did see a good number of their tracks. Around the half way point of this Boulder hiking trail, you'll come to a ponderosa forest. Parts of it provide some shade as well as a good place to stop and drink some water. Continue your way up the mountain and when you reach the top, it will level out. You'll see a fence line, a power line, and a bench, as well as a prairie dog town a short ways behind the bench. All of those things are your clues that you've reached the end of this hike. Although this particular Boulder hiking trail does continue on, we chose to make this the turn-around point for the hike. So, unless you want to continue on, we encourage you to sit on the bench, relax, and enjoy the view of the mountains all around you. I'll be adding more Boulder hiking trails at some point, so keep an eye out for them. Until then, enjoy what I have here so far.
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Boulder hiking trails are numerous and as usual, I'm including pictures and descriptions for each hike.
Tenderfoot Loop Trail
Mount Sanitas Loop Trail
South Mesa, Big Bluestem, and Towhee Loop Trail
McClintock Trail to Chautauqua Ranger Cottage
Bitterbrush Trail at Hall Ranch
