South Boulder Peak, Boulder
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South Boulder Peak, Boulder
| type : | hiking |
|---|---|
| state : | colorado |
| city : | boulder |
| country : | united-states |
| difficulty : | strenuous |
Adventure Tag Name
At 8549, South Boulder Peak is the highest of the three tall peaks close to Boulder. It's profile is the least familiar however, because it is hidden by Bear Peak. The top offers some amazing views of the back range and eastern plans.
Summary
| Distance: | 2.5 miles one way |
| Difficulty: | Strenuous (very) |
| Hike Time: | 2:30 to 3 hours one way |
| Elevation: | 5570 to 8549 |
| USGS Maps: | Eldorado Spring |
| Directions from Boulder: | To find the South Trailhead of the Mesa Trail take Highway 93 (Broadway) south from Boulder and turn right on Eldorado Springs Drive. The trailhead is 1.7 miles from this intersection on the right side of the road. |
Details
There are three tail peaks close to Boulder, South Boulder Peak at 8549, Bear Peak at 8461, and Green Mountain at 8144.
The hike to the top of South Boulder Peak starting from the South Trailhead of the Mesa trail take you over all of or part of several trails. Starting at the trailhead, take either the [[towhee-trail-boulder]] or [[homestead-trail-boulder]] trails west. These trails are pretty easy hikes with gradual elevation gains. The Towhee trail will end at the [[mesa-trail-boulder]]. Continue west on this trail until you see the marker for [[shadow-canyon-boulder]]. Hike Shadow Canyon to the top. This is a very steep hike giving this hike an overall Strenuous rating. The Shadow Canyon trail, ends at the top at a ridge trail that goes between South Boulder Peak and Bear Peak. Take the trail south to go to Bear Peak. The final segment is 0.4 miles with another 500 feet of elevation gain. At the top, there is a bit of a scramble up some large rocks to get to the peak.
The views from the top are amazing of the back range and eastern plains. This peak is usually less hiked, so you have a good chance to be on the peak without any other parties. It is also a pretty easy hike to walk over to Bear Peak, meaning you can be on both peaks in a single hike.
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