Filed Under: Hiking, Running
This run is a loop starting and ending at Chautauqua park that climbs three peaks in the Boulder Mountain Parks: Green Mountain, Bear Peak and South Boulder Peak. Many variations are possible, but the basic loop is described below.
From Chautauqua: Pick up the Baseline trail at the low point of the Kinnikinnick Road and run east for 0.6 of a mile to a junction with the Amphitheater and Bluebell trails. Turn left and climb steeply up the Amphitheater trail for 0.75 of a mile and join the Saddle Rock Trail. Ascend Saddle Rock for 0.9 of a mile to a junction with the Greenman trail. Turn left (up!) and ascend the Greenman trail to the summit of Green Mountain, at 8,144 feet. One down, two to go!
From the summit of Green Mountain, continue south and descend 0.2 of a mile to a junction with the Ranger trail (right), Green Mountain West Ridge (straight) and Green Bear (left) trails. Turn left onto Green Bear and descend for 0.8 of a mile to the junction of the Bear Canyon Trail and Bear Peak West Ridge Trail.
Cross Bear Canyon Creek and follow the Bear Peak West Ridge Trail as it climbs for 1.8 miles to the 8,461 foot summit of Bear Peak. Scramble to the summit - you've earned it! Two down, one to go.
Descend from the summit of Bear Peak, and find the Bear Peak trail to the west. This trail starts below the summit, on its west side. Take this trail south for 0.4 mile to a saddle and intersection with Shadow Canyon. Continue south for another 0.3 of a mile and climb up to the blocky summit of South Boulder Peak, 8,549 feet. Descend back to the saddle and the junction with Shadow Canyon.
Now to get home! Either return the way you came, if you're feeling energetic, or descend Shadow Canyon for 1.1 miles to it's junction with the Mesa Trail. At this junction, turn left and bear north on the Mesa Trail. Follow the Mesa trail north for 5 relatively flat miles back to Chautauqua park.Starts and finishes at Chautauqua Park, which is located on Baseline road and 6th street in Boulder.
From Boulder: Travel south on Broadway to Baseline and turn west, toward the mountains. Continue up Baseline and the park is on your left.
From Denver: Exit Hwy 36 at Baseline road and head west, toward the mountains. Cross Broadway and continue up Baseline and the park is on your left.
Posted by: kbieger and last modified on Feb 13, 2007 by sean
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