Type: Trail, Loop
Difficulty: 2 / 10
Altitude: 5,540 ft
Elev. Gain/Loss: 430 ft / 430 ft
Dog Friendly: Yes
Jog-Stroller Friendly: No
Filed Under: Hiking, Running
Starting from the South Boulder Creek West Trailhead, you have two options: run clockwise starting on the South Boulder Creek Trail and ending on the Big Bluestem Trail or counter-clockwise starting on the gravel road near the parking lot (Big Bluestem Trail) and ending on the South Boulder Creek Trail.
If you are running after work or late in the evening, I found that it is easier to run the loop clockwise. By running the South Boulder Creek Trail first, you get through the technical section running uphill. Then if it gets dark on the run, you have a gentle downhill on a gravel road for the last 2 miles which is easy to run (in the dark).
For this description, I will describe the loop counter-clockwise. From the South Boulder Creek West Trailhead parking lot, run west on the gravel road that runs tangent to the parking lot. after approximately .25 miles you will encounter an Open Space gate. Go through the gate (you are now on the Big Bluestem Trail proper) and continue running towards the mountains (west) for another 1.8 miles on a gravel road. After going through several Open Space interior gates, the gravel road will eventually turn south and become a narrow trail. At apporximately 2.1 miles the trail will tee into another gravel road. This is the Mesa Trail. Turn left (southeast) and run downhill for .2 miles. Look for a trail that splits off on the left (east). This is the South Boulder Creek Trail. Take this narrow somewhat rocky trail, through several Open Space interior gates, all the way back to the trailhead.
Driving south from Boulder on Broadway (Hwy. 93), the South Boulder Creek West Trailhead will be on your right approximately 2 miles after the last traffic light (Greenbriar) in the Boulder city limits.
Driving on Hwy. 93 from the south, the Boulder Creek West Trailhead is located on your left approximately 1 mile north of the Hwy. 93/Eldorado Springs Drive intersection.
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