Mesa Trail

The Mesa Trail runs 7 miles along the base of the Flatirons from Chautauqua Park to the South Mesa trailhead near Eldorado Springs, the spine of Boulder's open space, with every summit trail on the mountain front branching off it. Walked end to end it is a rolling day with about 1,300 feet of cumulative climbing; walked in pieces it is the way to reach Royal Arch, Bear Peak, Shadow Canyon, and the quiet meadows in between.

From Chautauqua, the Mesa Trail climbs the Bluebell Road to the Bluebell Shelter, then heads south below the Flatirons through ponderosa and meadow, crossing Bluebell Canyon and Skunk Canyon and passing the NCAR junction. It drops into Bear Canyon and climbs out the far side, then rolls south past the Fern Canyon and Shanahan junctions with Bear Peak above.

The southern half crosses Shadow Canyon's mouth, passes the stone ruins of the Doudy-DeBacker-Dunn house, and descends through the meadows of the Mesa Trail's southern end to the South Mesa trailhead on Eldorado Springs Drive. The junctions are signed with mileages. The trail can be walked in either direction; north to south puts the climbing in the first half.

Chautauqua Park is at the top of Baseline Road in Boulder; the lot and streets charge on weekends and holidays from late spring through early fall, and the free park-to-park shuttle from downtown runs on those days. The South Mesa trailhead is on Eldorado Springs Drive (Colorado 170), 1.7 miles west of Highway 93, with 48 spaces, a daily fee for vehicles not registered in Boulder County, and no parking allowed on the highway itself. There is no public shuttle between the ends; use two cars, a bike, or walk a section out and back. No permit.

Dogs are allowed on leash, or off leash with a Boulder voice-and-sight tag on the sections that permit it; the signs at each junction say which. The full length is long for young kids; any 2-mile section from either end is a good family walk. Carry water; there is none on the trail. Mountain lions and bears use the canyons and the city posts sightings. Boulder is at the north end. The Boulder hikes page lists the summit trails, and Royal Arch, Bear Peak, and South Boulder Peak all start from the Mesa Trail.