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    Royal Arch

    4.9 (34 reviews)

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    Grecia P.

    Nice hike with great views at the top! Steep inclines and stair-like climb. Get ready for your thighs to burn! Be sure to take snacks and PLENTY of water. More than you think you need. It gets hot very quickly. There is plenty of parking, especially the earlier you go in the morning.

    Maria E.

    Start at the Chautauqua Trailhead (right by the parking lot by the ranger station). The parking lot is fairly small so you may have to park elsewhere. Walk toward the pine trees, to the left side. You will see signs eventually (as the trail system is interconnected here) but we did get a little confused so it helped to ask returning hikers. One of my favorite hikes. Really fun, pretty challenging but doable, and rewarding. About 3 miles round trip but primarily uphill on the way up. You're only on flat land for a short while at the start and then it's all uphill/climbing boulders. You'll feel it in your calves/booty the next day. Good hiking boots/sneakers are helpful here. Some of the rocks were wet too but I found them fairly easy to maneuver. Bring your hydration pack. The start of the hike is in the sun but you quickly disappear into the forest and the hardest parts of the hike are shaded. Still, it's quite a workout so you'll need the water. It's a popular hike and some of the spots are narrow so you do have to stop and let people pass. If possible, come on a weekday. There isn't much space to hang out once you reach the arch. It was a bit crowded with just a couple groups of hikers. Make sure you go through it to see the view. We found a spot to eat our lunch on a large rock. There was an adorable chipmunk that kept circling us, searching for snacks. Enjoy!

    Eric B.

    What an amazing hike! Came here the morning after GABF (took the bus from downtown Denver) and must say this was exactly what I needed to kick me back into shape. If you're not used to hiking at high elevation, prepare for an extra challenge. It's pretty much all uphill from the start of the trailhead at Chautauqua to the arch, but once you get there, huffing and puffing away, you'll realize it was so worth it. The panorama view is second to none, with the university to your left and downtown off in the distance to your right. What's directly ahead, you ask? Flatland/farmland as far as the eye can see! It was definitely a nice change being from Phoenix. I recommend bringing plenty of water and a light snack to stay hydrated and stave off that hunger, at least until you can get down haha! PS: if you're coming from out of town and staying in Denver, just take the bus from Union Station. That way you don't have to worry about parking! Hint: the parking scene at Chautauqua can get pretty crazy.

    Jonathan L.

    What a beautiful hike. Did this hike in Mid March and it was beautiful. It was 60s with some wind. The trail itself is about 3 miles round trip. It's a pretty decent workout. Not particular difficult, but can be a little challenging. Don't worry, the end is worth it. We came around 9ish and there were like no one at the arch. I heard it can get really packed and it can be difficult to take some good pictures. Luckily, it wasn't too busy. We came in march and most of the snow melted already. Highly recommended hike if you ever visit Boulder. Expect to spend 2-3 hours. Signs are pretty clear and not too difficult to follow. I suggest using AllTrails for current conditions and recommendations.

    Moderately rocky and steep for much of the trail
    Rachel P.

    Visiting from WI, this trail was my first introduction to mountain hiking. I googled "best beginner hikes near Denver" and this trail was referenced on multiple sites with great reviews. (I wish I had done better research as the trail is actually rated as moderately difficult, but in this case, ignorance was bliss!) When I arrived at the park I stopped in the ranger station and explained I was an inexperienced hiker with a couple hours looking for an easy trail with great views, and the ranger pointed me to the Royal Arch trail, explaining "it's a little slippery in spots but just get muddy and you'll be fine." I feel like that ranger undersold the difficulty of the climb and how slippery it would be. I made it to the top though! And the views were totally worth the trouble and scary moments. I was in sneakers with no traction and had to climb on hands and knees at a couple points, and slid on my bottom quite a bit on the way down. Definitely wish I had spikes for the snowy parts. It took me almost 3.5 hours at a very slow pace, stopping every 30 yards or so on the top half to catch my breath and consider turning back, lol. Glad I didn't. I am not in great shape, but I was able to make it by taking my time and being very careful with my steps. My knees and feet were a bit sore at the end - if I had hiking boots they probably would've helped, but sneakers got me there and back. I would definitely recommend this trail for anyone looking to push themselves a bit and be rewarded with an amazing experience! it is difficult, but doable!

    Monica J.

    Very challenging hike, however I did see a 5 year old make it to the top so it's doable. The trail isn't marked very well tho so I questioned whether I was going the right way at times. Overall, beautiful views and would climb again.

    Terri C.

    I found Royal Arch after searching Yelp hikes in Boulder. I wanted something that would be on the shorter distance side, so when I saw that this was about 3.5 miles, I figured it would be perfect. Well, it was about 3.5 miles, but the first half of the hike to the arch itself is a doozy: almost all uphill and will give your booty a great workout. Park at Chautauqua Park at 900 Baseline Road and from there you can choose from a plethora of hikes. We set off on a recent Saturday morning at 6:30am before it was too busy with other hikers. You cannot beat the views of the Flatirons and mountains around you even at the start. From then on, the hike to the arch just gets gradually more intense with the staircases made of stone and rock. The altitude does affect you if you're not used to it (like me) and I was huffing and puffing as we ascended. Along the way, we encountered lovely wildflowers and trickling streams. Watch for the signs to the Arch because we missed one, took a wrong turn and had to backtrack. However, when you do arrive at the Arch, it's definitely a sight to see. The rock formation is super cool and the views of the city are fabulous. We were lucky enough to have the arch to ourselves for a few minutes, too. Our timing was just right because as we made our descent back to our cars, there were lots of hikers on their way up. This is a strenuous but fun hike and the Arch is royally awesome.

    Linli F.

    I came to Colorado for a spring break trip & this is the first hike I did. It's a 3.4 mile hike, rated as difficult. Don't be nervous about the "difficult" rating. It was a workout but even as a novice, I thought it was really doable. Just make sure you have appropriate hiking shoes & enough water. There is a parking lot at the base of the hike in Chautauqua Park that is free, but first come first serve. It can fill up quickly as this is quite a popular & heavily trafficked hike. Even if it fills up, there are tons of free street parking on that same road just a quick walk away. We arrived at the ranger station & began our hike around 9:30 AM on a Sunday morning. As you first start, follow the grassy meadows uphill (where most of the crowd will be going). Eventually, people may start breaking off to different trails. Follow the signs for the Bluebell-Baird trail all the way until you reach a little shelter. Once you reach this, there will be a map and signs pointing to the Royal Arch. The route is pretty easy to follow and there weren't any forks in the road where I wasn't certain which way to go. The signs are very clear. For about 1/4 of the hike, you will be walking up and down dirt roads but after this, you will see rock stairs and this constitutes the majority of the rest of the hike. It's tiring, but a good workout and you can see wonderful views of Colorado along the way. I came in March. Typically, yack tracks are recommended because near the last 1/4 of the hike, trails can still be icy or filled with snow during winter or early spring. The day that I came was a pretty warm day in the 50s and I didn't encounter any of this, so I was able to finish without any. It just depends on the day and temperature, so do research accordingly. The arch itself is gorgeous.... Pictures most definitely don't do it justice. It's large & beautiful. You can climb on the rocks to the other side and sit and enjoy the gorgeous view or even eat some snacks/lunch. I would recommend doing this hike early to avoid the crowd. When we arrived at the arch, there were limited people there which allowed for good pictures and a nice, quiet view of the city. On our way down, we saw large crowds of people working their way up so I can easily see how quickly it gets crowded close to the afternoon. Overall, the hike itself took us about 3.5 hours to complete, but this was with about 40 or so minutes of stopping & taking pictures and sitting at the top to relax.

    Sleeping through these views
    Katherine F.

    Always a go-to Boulder hike because it's very accessible, good elevation gain, fantastic view at the top. Expect crowds and some mild bouldering. If you're taking visitors to explore/shop/eat in Boulder this is a solid, well marked hike so you can get your exercise beforehand. Hike takes about 2.5 hours round trip. Sun and wind exposure for the first half; the second half is partial shade from trees. There are restrooms at the base and at the halfway point. There is also a large parking lot but sometimes it is full and you make need to park in surrounding neighborhoods.

    Chelsey F.

    What a view! From the top of the arch, you can see the entire city of Boulder all the way into Denver. Gorgeous! Things to note: - The trail itself is only 3.4 miles round trip, yet, the climb to the top is quite rigorous/steep making this a good hike for beginners and advanced hikers alike. - It's dog friendly, and the trail gives easy access for your pooche to hike along with you! - With lots of pine and spruce trees, it's almost completely shaded, which is nice for us pale faces! - It's one if the more popular hikes in Boulder, so it can get a bit crowded. We went on a Tuesday afternoon, and there was still quite a few people we passed along the trail. - Parking can be tricky, and there is limited spaces in Chautauqua Park, but there is some off street parking as well. Be prepared to get your sweat on and enjoy some beautiful nature! It's a top notch hike in my book!

    the arch, worth the hike!
    Eva L.

    There's not much to review... but if I were to put it in a few words it would be that -- THIS ARCH IS SO BEAUTIFUL! I honestly stood there staring at it for a good 10 minutes because I was in such awe. Beyond this arch, you climb a few big rocks (Don't be scared of heights!), and there's a view of the beautiful city of Boulder! What was so awesome was that you could even see Denver from up there. AMAZING! And a must if you're here and big into hiking!

    At the arch!
    Carly W.

    I'm going to echo other reviewers here and state that I have now done nature's stair master!! Royal Arch Trail definitely has some stairs... Okay a TON of stairs. But all that aside It was a GREAT hike. Here's why: + From the Royal Arch trail head itself it's 1.1 miles to the arch with an elevation gain of 1400 feet (?!). + The trail is very well marked, which helped going through some of the more rocky portions. + Most of the trail is through a wooded area, which was great since it was still pretty hot out when I went. + Awesome views from the arch of both Boulder and the Flatirons. + You can get some fall color peeping in if you go at the right time of the season. I went mid October and saw some great color! +/- Lots of stairs. With such a large amount of elevation gain, in such a short distance you can bet it's going to be steep. Some of the stairs are a lot larger than your average step. Take your time and take breaks! +/- Get. There. Early! I arrived to Chautauqua Park at 7:30 am (on a Saturday) and the little lot by the ranger station was already full. Though I only encountered maybe ten people on the trail heading to Royal Arch. When I came down from the trail it was about 11 am and there were literally hundreds of people heading up to hike. - It does get super crowded under the arch. There's not much space to hang out for long. - The trail is pretty narrow in some spots and it can get difficult to maneuver around larger groups and their four legged friends. I came, I saw, I hiked that $#it! And I'd do it again too. **Pro Tip: It's very difficult to get the whole arch in a picture! There's a decent vantage point if you go to the left as you approach it.

    Jean Y.

    Got there 7:20am today, the parking lot at Chautauqua was 3/4full. There are many hiking trails there, start at Chautauqua trail, then Bluebell-Baird trail, follow the sign of Royal Arch trail. We spent most the time on uphill staircase, very rocky trails, make sure take many stops if you needed. Bring plenty of water, and Snacks, good hiking shoes too! Hiking stick was helpful for us. It's a very beautiful trail, lots of hikers today with the long weekend. You can overlook CU/ Boulder on the top. Rated hard trail but not too bed. It's definitely worth it!

    The water bottle that rolled down royal arch trail

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    Review Highlights - Royal Arch

    There is a parking lot at the base of the hike in Chautauqua Park that is free, but first come first serve.

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    Chautauqua Park - More excavators

    Chautauqua Park

    (348 reviews)

    Things are changing here after 100 years. Chautauqua Auditorium is being renovated and winterized…read more It had been needed before this as another concert venue in Boulder would have been appreciated sooner but once Boulder won Sundance it became a necessity. But when you come in the summer it will still look the same. A removable heated tent will be erected inside and heated by geothermal heat from underneath that will be transferred underground from the dining hall kitchen's surplus stored energy. So modern in such an old structure. So when you visit this spring there is a lot of truck traffic and digging and detours around the building but you can see from the last picture, the green and the view of the Flatirons are undisturbed.

    Overall, it was a refreshing late October hike on the Flatiron Loop trail! Since we were first time…read morevisitors, we asked for a trail recommendation at the ranger station that fit in with our plans, so something in the 2-hr range. They suggested going in a counterclockwise direction which got the elevation gain done sooner and would finish with a more gradual descent. Being a sea-level creature, I did have to catch my breath a few times on the way up. Now, at the uppermost part of the loop after a bunch of stone steps, there were some all-rock areas where hunching down with a hand or two on the rock helped with balance. Afterward we noted signs on the trail allowing horses. They must have goat like abilities for those rocky parts, I thought. If you like seeing people, there were plenty during the early afternoon hours, sometimes making passing on narrow trail sections a little tricky. We got lucky with parking, going around the large grassy area only once. On the way out, we thanked the ranger for the great recommendation, gave up our parking spot to the next lucky person and went on our way, with plenty of time for our next activity.

    Lion's Lair Trail - Views at the end of spring.june 14, 2016

    Lion's Lair Trail

    (5 reviews)

    Great trail. Nice views. A little over 4 miles with a manageable, gradual incline. I'd say it's…read moremoderate but not particularly challenging. Saw a lot of people running. The trail is well-maintained and marked. The trailhead sign isn't readily apparent from the road so we had to pull over and check that it was the right one. The GPS did have the trailhead as slightly further down the road but we ended up in the right place. There's parking along the road, FYI. The trail will take you to the top of Mount Sanitas. Take a look at the map I posted -- there are multiple trails that take you to the peak.

    Beautiful hiking trail just outside of Boulder. I freaking love this trail. I was in Denver and…read moreBoulder for a conference & to see friends. This was one of the short hikes I was hoping to squeeze into my busy day so that I could get that amazing mountain view that I don't get to see in the city. The trail itself is not too steep, and offers beautiful views all around, no matter where you are on the trail. When you are navigating to the trail, you will be driving uphill, and lose cell signal as you approach the base. There isn't really any signal on the trail in general. Parking is all roadside parking at the curved bend of a road. There are clearly areas to park for hikers. This trail when I was hiking was populated by locals either hiking solo or in a small group. Would definitely recommend for a couple hour hike. Only took me about 2 hours.

    Gregory Canyon - Right by the road at the trailhead. Just enjoying a nice fall day!

    Gregory Canyon

    (6 reviews)

    This trailhead is a hub with access to many other trails. I wanted to climb Flagstaff Mountain and…read morethere are multiple options to get to the top. I started with the GC trail and created a loop with Rangeview and Flagstaff. Rangeview delivered an amazing view of the Rockies. GC is on an incline so you get to look down into the creek and canyon. The western side also offers views of the adjacent Chautauqua Park. Flagstaff summit was not as dramatic, and upon the descent you look out onto Downtown Boulder. I inadvertently took Crown Rock trail, which I do not recommend. It has a lot of loose rocks and gets slippery. Trails were easy to follow and major intersections had clear signage. Only six parking spots! However, you can park for free with some off-road spots on Baseline Rd. I regret starting at 9:30 as trails were pretty sunny. Rangeview offered some needed shade.

    Wow what a marvelous trailhead! The other reviewer was right, you could get to all of Boulder…read moreMountain Parks from here. I arrived around 11am on a weekday and the lot was about half full. There's a few trails that all connect up to Green Mountain, so take your pick. It too me about an hour to summit. The trail was beautiful and in better shape than the Bear Peak trail. It's less steep, but still pretty long and can be an adventure. You get some amazing views, better than Bear I think. Seeing the first flatiron above the fog was so pretty. The summit sports a register and a lot of chickadees begging for food. Don't feed them! Enjoy the mountain air and sunshine, and the fact your so close to town after your hike!

    Settlers Park - Junction of longer trails

    Settlers Park

    (3 reviews)

    Now named "The People's Crossing" to emphasize the variety of founders, both indigenous and…read moreEuropean, this is a fine park situated across Boulder Creek from Eben G Fine. You can also connect to many trails north, west, and south! A true crossing of people. With massive Red Rocks and lots of nature, you can do a great amount of exploring here. There's two lots for parking, one off Canyon, or you park on Arapahoe and walk over. Most folks enjoy doing the rocky scrambles near the beautiful sandstone outcrops. They are similar to Garden of the Gods or Red Rocks Amphitheater! Several trails wind around the rocks allowing for plenty of views. You can even find an old foundation on a cliff! If you want to make an adventure out of it, try heading up Anemone Loop for a beautiful forest jaunt! It took me around 2 hours at a moderate pace with plenty of options for exploring.

    This is an easy yet nerve-wracking hike. Sections of the trail are slick, so the entire time you…read moreare climbing up you're kinda concerned "how am I gonna get back down??" As it turns out, when you reach the top, there are other trails you can take down. The one closer to the creek is notably less slick and less steep. I unfortunately do not remember the name. Once you get to the top though, wow! Gorgeous views of Boulder and the surrounding foothills. Climbing on the rocks at the top is pretty fun too. Overall this was probably the most "scary" hike I did while in Boulder (but not the most demanding) because it is less maintained than the Eldorado Canyon State Park and the Rocky Mountain trails that I did. But it is still pretty easy, just a bit slippery. Use hiking sticks and you should be fine. I think this is a must do when in Boulder.

    Royal Arch - hiking - Updated May 2026

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