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    Bear Peak Trail

    4.6 (28 reviews)

    Bear Peak Trail Photos

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    View of seal rock
    Matt C.

    This is quite the beautiful trail right on Boulder's doorstep! When you're a bit tired of the same old nearby, head up the the NCAR lab and score some free parking in the huge lot. Finding the Bear Peak Trail is a bit tricky, but if you stick left and generally climb, you will cross around 2 miles of pretty pine forest with views all around. The trail has a few options including road. After an hour or so, you reach the Fern Canyon Trail. This rocky road is a straight shot up to a saddle ridge. The trail could use some repairs and is eroding badly. It was a bit hard to navigate the slippery slopes. Reaching the col was a nice feeling with some views to the west. From here, you follow a climbers trail left up the ridge line. There's some scrambling a few miles in, after a brief talus field. The climbing looks worse then it is, but definitely keep your footing and be careful. Wouldn't take dogs here. Reaching the summit is a great feeling and there's a bit of room to relax. Next time I'm heading over to South Boulder! You can find more on All Trails.

    Elizabeth N.

    Visited this trail on a September morning and it was challenging yet fun! I enjoyed all the wonderful views! Beautiful wildflowers, trees, and Boulder! Easy to get to and there are several other trails along the way! A great area to explore all of them and not get bored!

    Alisa J.

    Bear Peak Trail is challenging but absolutely worth it!! The trail is well maintained and the views at the top are amazing! Bring extra water and snacks it's a tough hike. Especially when it starts to get hot by noon. Absolutely worth it to go to the top!

    James C.

    After 30 years living in Colorado I finally made it to this awesome trail and peak. We parked at the Eldorado trailhead and made the trek up the mountain. It's not a 14er, but the hike is pretty technical for recreational hikers. Don't let that hold you back, but it helps to be in good shape to make the trip up. We actually hiked South Boulder Peak first, and then took the saddle trail to Bear Peak, and then down the other side and back to the trailhead. We hiked just over 10 miles in about 5 hours. We hiked through the forest on the way up until we got to a significant burn scar, which was in stark contrast to the nice forest trail. The views from these peaks are incredible - you have a 360 degree view of the front range, local canyons, and the high peaks to the west. As always in Colorado, summit early and get down before the summer storms roll through. The trails are incredibly well marked and maintained, and they do get heavy use. There are other trailheads that can get you to Bear Peak, and the Boulder Mountain Trails network is extensive. This is a great destination for locals and visitors alike (it would be a good idea to acclimate before trying this if you are not used to the elevation). Easy access to Denver/Boulder, and comparable, if not better, than a lot of hikes farther west into the mountains.

    Bear Peak Summit
    Michael S.

    How to be the nervous Dad in "Nemo" in a few easy lessons: 1. Allow your 10 year-old son to convince you that making him wear hiking boots is old school, and instead that wearing sneakers with far less "gription" on a hike to the highest point in Boulder County is just fine, (which it basically was, by the way; he had no problems. I had the problems, and honestly can't say he would have been far safer in his hiking boots, since there is nothing very risky about the Bear Peak trail. And it didn't help any there were teen girls all over the trail wearing sneakers. "Dad, see? See what I mean?" 2. Ascend to the Bear Peak Summit via Fern Canyon, which I knew in advance is the steepest, most difficult path to the summit. As reviewer Erin S. said of this hike: "Very, very difficult hike. I didn't really know what I was getting into beforehand and it totally kicked my ass." Well, I knew it would kick my ass, and I am in shape. But hey, my companion is a 10 year-old who was thrilled to be back on the front range and was eager to show me he can burn my ass, even if he has been at sea level for the last 10 months. 3. Arrive at the summit pretty darn tired, and watch said energy-oozing 10 year-old scamper up the final and steepest point on the summit, which is a collection of pretty vertical, jagged rocks that indeed make an awesome but - from a nervous Dad's perspective - quite narrow perch for the proud kid showing up his Dad. Here are the narrow, jagged summit rocks I am talking about: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/9LBIE5aHCTJVucwlcxQMUw?userid=TtwhWwNSqDv64M2EnYZE8g 4. Accede to gloating 10 year-old's demands to take triumph photos after climbing those damn jagged, vertical rocks, which for me were doubly hard to navigate because for the first time in my life, I got a good dose of Acrophobia. Gad damn it! My stomach was in my throat when I looked down, and here I am, the vanquished Dad: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/9LBIE5aHCTJVucwlcxQMUw?select=cChABHGQsLH1MAip_D17Fw After the hike, the kid says: "Dad, I can wear my hiking boots from now; it's okay. Can we climb the second Flatiron tomorrow?" Melt.

    The actual map at the parking lot at NSCAR
    Nicole W.

    5 stars for butt kicking good time! I got this hike from my front range loop hike book, actually it was in my dog hike book, as well as my front range hiking book. Note: THIS IS NOT A GOOD HIKE FOR DOGS. (unless you go very early, and do not do it as a loop and head back the way you cam vs down the Fern trail which is giant boulder stairs, some shard and hot) It is definitely a long hike, and an amazing hike. I did it this year 2013 and the remnants of the previous summer's fire were still there, but there was also some beautiful new growth! Most of the up of the hike - over 4 miles of it is pretty pleasant and doable - lots of switch backs, a good amount of shade, but on a 90 degree day - it's still gonna be hot - so bring a ton of water! The top of the hike turns into a rock scramble. As in - no trail, hold on to rocks and crawl over them to get to the top. The views are amazing and having lunch in the breeze is sooo great! It took all day - we started at 9am and finished around 3 with about 30 minutes at the top! It felt GREAT to accomplish this hike! Been on my to-do list for a while now!

    On top of Bear Peak. You can see the summit marker towards the left center of the picture.
    Eve T.

    Absolutely gorgeous view at the top of Boulder, Flatirons, western mountains, Eldorado Springs. A bit of a longer hike than expected because the trail is moderately steep with lots of uneven and unstable rocks. We started off with Devil's Thumb as our goal destination so we started at the Shanahan Ridge Trailhead on Table Mesa. This trail has less foot traffic so we enjoyed the initial hike of solitude in the "woods". It merged with the Mesa Trail about 2 miles in then took the same amount of time to reach Bear Peak (about 1.5 more miles). Looped back. A 6-7 mile hike took about 7 hours. For some odd reason, there are a lot of flies near the top of the peak which grossed me out because I wanted a nice quiet retreat up top to enjoy my peanut butter sandwich but instead was bombarded by buzzing noises all around and ungraceful whacking motions which may have caused a few slips here and there. Glad I didn't fall off the cliff. Can someone please explain why these flies reside on top of the mountain?

    Nadine S.

    This trail is pretty awesome and scenic. WORD OF ADVICE: Please be prepared if hiking in the winter because the trail was super snowy and slippery in some areas and I probably busted my shit at least 10 times back and forth. Aside from the heart-stopping falls, the hike was easy except the last .5 mile; steep incline of rocks was challenging. The summit is breathtaking and totally worth it!

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    15 years ago

    Love this hike. Approaching from east side is strenuous but has a variety of environments. Woods, views... The very top stretch is steep.

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    Ask the Community - Bear Peak Trail

    Review Highlights - Bear Peak Trail

    I got this hike from my front range loop hike book, actually it was in my dog hike book, as well as my front range hiking book.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    Chautauqua Park

    Chautauqua Park

    4.8
    (352 reviews)
    2.9 mi

    I feel like if I lived in Boulder I would go elsewhere since this is the more popular,…read moreclose-to-town option that pulls in tourists and the like. Well guess what? I'm a tourist and the like and I enjoyed it! We lucked into parking on a beautiful, busy Saturday morning. They have very nice restrooms at the Ranger station, and more overflow port a potties around if needed too. The nearby trail is highly accessible and it doesn't take long for some views to pay off. It's a decently steep incline, but nothing crazy at all. Once you're into the trees the shade helps against the thin air and the sun, and it's so quiet and serene. No mosquitoes like I'm used to back home. Loved all the birds (shoutout magpies) and also seeing everyones' dogs.

    Wow what an incredible park, with the most beautiful views. Recently hiked with a group led by park…read morerangers, Maria, and it was so so delightful. Our hike was certainly on the easier side, but it sounds like there are so many trails and routes to pick from. I'd love to return on my own time and do even more exploring. The scenery is amazing. Stunning views of the iconic sandstone Flatirons rock formations, so much wildlife, and a panoramic view overlooking the city of Boulder itself. If you're looking for a tranquil place to go, be it for hiking, running, picnicking or just relaxing, this is your spot.

    Photos
    Audience on the Green
    Audience on the Green
    More wall and door work
    More wall and door work
    Sunrise (2/26/23)

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    Sunrise (2/26/23)
    Harlow Platts Park

    Harlow Platts Park

    3.9
    (8 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    Great place for dog walks, picnics, and sunsets! You can see far into the flatirons and the…read morereflection across the lakes are spectacular! Winter is a great time to explore with the colors you can see. The pond scum comes a bit more in the summer but beautiful nonetheless. I've seen people fishing and kayaking there though I'm not sure either are allowed. I love being here for the nature! They have tennis courts and lots of walking trails. This is a great south boulder park that everyone should visit!

    I used to go to this park and the adjacent South Boulder Rec Center decades ago when I was in the…read moreTable Mesa neighborhood more frequently. After a long absence, I have returned to use the trail around Viele Lake as my preferred exercise location. Trying to get into a more regular walking routine, I needed to find a place that I could maintain a good pace, was not crowded and had interesting views. Nothing within walking distance of my house fits that description so I thought I should go see what is happening in this part of town. Yes, in the politics of Boulder, I do have to drive my "evil" car to this location, but traffic and parking is never an issue and I can be there in about 6 minutes. The view of the Flatirons from here is fantastic, the lake is pretty and the trees and parkland around it very pleasing. There are some playing fields behind the Rec Center that are used for practice groups from the nearby Fairview HS on many days. In the weekday mornings it is mostly a place to find seniors and parents with small kids in strollers on the paved trail. Also, an occasional school group doing a little investigating of the pond life. They have added restrooms and a picnic shelter recently near the playground. As new young families are buying up the nearby homes from retirees, there is a new sense of excitement and investment in the neighborhood and the playground is busy, though not over crowded, and has a nice mix of modern attractive equipment.

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    Harlow Platts Park
    Harlow Platts Park
    Harlow Platts Park

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    Boulder Falls

    Boulder Falls

    4.2
    (30 reviews)
    6.7 mi

    This is a local attraction in Boulder Canyon that I have visited occasionally since 1974 but…read more probably not in the last 20-30 years. With out of town guests who wanted to see it, we went up with them today which was hot even by 9am. Not ideal for me. There was adequate parking in a small lot on the south side of the Canyon, just before the crossover to the entrance to the short but steep hike.Being a Monday morning, not very busy. Be aware that weekends are extremely busy and not enough parking. I believe that the trail has been improved some over the years from our past memory of it. There are actually some steps cut into the steepest of the rock surfaces and some heavy duty chain handrails in the areas with he steepest drop off. We saw little kids as well as grandparents. so if I can still do it, many others can. Cooler weather would have been nice. The waterfall is quite pretty. It was roaring even in a drought because of a few heavy rains last weekend and such hot weather in this climate change era that the snow pack in the mountains is melting too quickly this summer. A must see if you are visiting this area. A many athletes do visit too.

    Beautiful water fall. Totally worth the fairly short drive from Boulder. Parking on the road or…read moresmall open lot across the street. Easy 10 minute walk & hike to the waterfall. Allow a little time to take photos and then free up space for other visitors. Glad we came.

    Photos
    The falls
    The falls
    Boulder Falls
    Boulder Falls.

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    Boulder Falls.

    Bear Peak Trail - parks - Updated June 2026

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