Day Hike in Boulder: Bear Peak and South Boulder Peak
Description:
Bear Peak offers the best 360 degree open views of Boulder and the surrounding Rocky Mountains while South Boulder Peak is the highest mountain in the Boulder Parks network. Both can be hiked in a single outing on good trails. If you're in town for just a day and want an epic adventure within the people's Republic, this is your hike!
Author: James Dziezynski
Day 1 - Boulder
If you can manage it, this is a great hike to leave a car (or bike) at one trailhead so you don't have to loop back. The distance between trailheads isn't that far, so it's worth considering. Start the day from NCAR (the National Center for Atmospheric Research) where you will get on the Mesa Trail and head south. The well-signed matrix of trails can be a bit confusing until you reach the broad road that temporarily contains the Mesa Trail. Follow the Mesa Trail South to the Fern Canyon Trail on your right (west). From here, enjoy incedible rock formations, great views, and shady forests on the 3.1 mile trek up to the summit of Bear Peak. Bear's amazing 360 views (and easy summit scramble) make it feel like the highest peak around at 8,400 ft. + but the tree-covered summit of nearby South Boulder Peak is slightly higher. From the summit of Bear Peak, drop down to the South Boulder Peak trail on the west side of the slopes of Bear Peak. This is about a 20 minute jaunt between summits on well-marked trails. Once you have reached South Boulder's summit, you can either return the way you came OR if you have two cars, take the Shadow Canyon Trail (at the saddle between Bear and South Boulder) all the way down to the Shadow Canyon Trailhead in Eldorado Springs. This descent is a little rocky but offers great views of some more of the unique rock formations surrounding the flatirons.
2
Eldorado Canyon State Park
Location:
view in google maps9 Kneale Road
Boulder, CO 80025
Phone:
+1 303 494 39432
Boulder Ranger District
Location:
view in google maps2140 Yarmouth Ave.
Boulder, CO 80301
Phone:
303-444-66002
National Center for Atmospheric Research
Location:
view in google maps1850 Table Mesa Dr
Boulder, CO 80307
Phone:
+1 303 497 1371