Best hiking trails in Boulder

Located just off Baseline Road, this fantastic hike features great views and gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with the incredible rock formations that have come to characterize the city of Boulder. This trail starts near the ranger cottage at the Chautauqua Park Trailhead. Start hiking along the Bluebell Trail and head south. You could also follow the Chautauqua Trail and eventually meet up with this route at the Bluebell Shelter by way of the Bluebell-Baird...

Mount Sanitas is a must-do hike if you’re in Boulder! The trailhead is centrally located close to downtown Boulder. You can walk from downtown to the Centennial Trailhead on Sunshine Canyon Drive from downtown Boulder. The trailhead has a small parking area that gets full quickly in the morning, so it’s best to arrive early. If it’s full, there is more parking on the road. From the trailhead, you'll continue north on Mount Sanitas Trail. Eventually you’ll reach the summit of Mount Sanitas....

The First and Second Flatirons Loop is a short but steep hike that takes you to two of the most popular Flatirons in Boulder Open Space. This route can be accessed by both Chautauqua Trailhead as well as Enchanted Mesa Trailhead which is just to the east. There are restrooms and a tourist information center at the trailhead. This loop is popularly known as the First and Second Flatirons Loop. It travels along the Chautauqua Trail, First and Second Flatirons Trail, and the Bluebell Road...

Don’t miss out on hiking the Flatirons if you’re near Boulder, Colorado. This loop offers a taste of the Colorado wilderness with beautiful views of the irons, mountains, meadows, and boulder fields. Although it's a relatively short hike, be prepared for slippery and rocky sections, especially at the top. Wearing hiking boots and using trekking poles are recommended. Hiking spikes are also highly recommended in icy and snowy conditions. The trail is mostly exposed, but you'll find some nice...

The Green Mountain West Trail is one of the most popular trails in Boulder Open Space. The trailhead is located on Flagstaff Road. There are beautiful wildflowers and lush evergreen forest along the route. From the summit of Green Mountain, you'll enjoy 360-degree views of Bear Peak, South Boulder Peak, and the famous fourteeners to the west. If you’d like to continue your hike, you can take the Green Bear Trail towards Bear Canyon. Otherwise, you'll continue straight back to the parking...

Walker Ranch Loop is a fantastic hiking and mountain biking trail through Walker Ranch Park and a portion of El Dorado Canyon State Park. The loop can be done in either direction. Going clockwise from the Walker Ranch Parking Access, the trail starts downhill then offers a nice climb that opens up at the top at the Crescent Meadows Trailhead parking area. From here it’s a two mile descent followed by a short portion down very steep steps, followed by another moderate climb back to the...

This hike can be completed year round, though it can be covered in snow after a snowfall. Depending on the time of year, there are creeks and ponds for water. From either Cragmoor or Shanahan at Lehgh trailheads, rise steadily up through open ponderosa pine forest on the North Fork Shanahan trail heading west. The trail narrows from a road to a single track as you cross the Mesa Trail. It turns right at the base of a steep sandstone slab and then crosses Fern Canyon to reach the Fern Canyon...

The Chautauqua Trail takes you through the meadow just below the famous Flatiron formations. This route can be hiked as a standalone route as an out-and-back. It is also often used as a jumping-off point to many other popular hikes in the park, such as the Flatirons and Royal Arch. It is wide, well traveled, and slightly inclined, with valley vistas, wild flowers, and great views of the jagged Flat Irons.

This is a great moderately challenging loop with excellent views throughout. The trail is steep but generally well-shaded through the Flatirons. Most of it consists of single-track trail, except for a brief stretch along an old roadbed near the top of Gregory Canyon Trail. There are rocky steps on both the Flagstaff and Gregory Canyon portions of the trail.

Don’t miss out on hiking the Flatirons if you’re near Boulder, Colorado. This trail takes you across a large meadow before leading up to a short loop where you'll enjoy views of the irons, mountains, meadows, and boulder fields. Although it’s a relatively short hike, be prepared for steep, slippery sections and rocky parts, including some scrambling. Wearing hiking boots and using trekking poles is recommended. In icy and snowy conditions, hiking spikes are highly recommended. The trail is...