Mountain Hiking

by Harold Sears

Hike Home | Site Home | Search Site

NAVIGATE SITE

Why Hike?

In and Around
Boulder, Colorado

Front Range and East

Central Foothills

Back Range and
Indian Peaks

Rocky Mt. Natl. Park
South

Rocky Mt. Natl. Park
North

Farther Afield

Back East
In the Carolinas

Happy Highways

Sourdough Trail

The Sourdough Trail extends all the way from forest road 116, north to the Brainard Lake Rd., 102, and on past Beaver Reservoir and into Peaceful Valley and the Middle St. Vrain Creek. Here at the southern terminus of the trail, the area is open woodland. We walked past a teepee constructed of poles and crossed a slender irrigation ditch, flowing well in early June. From a height, about 3/4 mi. from the trail head, we had a good view of Niwot Mt. at the eastern end of Niwot Ridge. The mountain slopes were dry, but the wind in the tree tops were like rushing white water. About 1.5 mi. in, there is an intersection with a closed trail heading left and east and a sign telling us that the Red Rock Trailhead on the Brainard Rd. is 5 mi. farther.
In early May, the trail was mostly clear, but there were scattered snow banks and ridges, up to four feet high. Some of these snow banks followed the trail and contained a solid core compressed by the season's skiers and snow-shoers, so I could walk along the peak of the ridge pretty comfortably. It was all melting, though. At 2.0 mi., I came to the Peace Memorial Bridge (1981) over Fourmile Creek -- these waters were tumbling joyously. There was therich, moist smell of fir in the air. I wonder what "peace" the name of the bridge commemorates. Is there any connection with Peaceful Valley at the northern end of the trail?
A nice lunch spot a little farther upstream.
Wildlife -- a Gray-Headed Junco.

Getting There

From Boulder, drive west on Canyon Blvd. and 119 to Nederland. At the intersection with 72, turn north, drive past mile marker 39, and left onto forest road 116. There are signs to the CU Mountain Research Station and to Rainbow Lakes Campground. Drive 0.5 mi. to the parking lot on the left and the trailhead on the right. Click on the thumbnail above for a part of the kiosk trail map. A trail map for all of Boulder County is available from the Boulder Area Trails Coalition (find link on home page).

Search for other books on hiking in and around Boulder's, Indian Peaks:

Cautionary Note -- If any of the hikes described on this site sound like something you would like to do yourself, please use good judgment and prepare yourself according to your skills, your interests, and the season. What was fun for me under one set of circumstances might not be fun or even safe for another under other circumstances. Do not consider these descriptions to be unqualified recommendations.