Mountain Hiking

by Harold Sears

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Our Local Three

Take A Day for Green Mountain, Bear Peak, and South Boulder Peak

These three are right at the edge of town. We see them often, much like family, but we should not take them for granted. One or all three make a great outing.

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I recently drove west on Baseline and up the Flagstaff Road. Almost at the top, just where you leave Boulder’s Parks and Open Space and on the left, the Green Mountain West Ridge Trail begins. The sun was warm, new grasses were emerging greenly through the dry brown litter, and of course the firs and pines were green with life. Pasqueflowers were up in sunny, open areas, with their pale lavender sepals and bright yellow centers on soft fuzzy stems. Chickadees and Juncos darted about shyly, and I could hear the young calling insistently—feed me, feed me.

The final approach takes you among rocks and cliffs, but true to its name, Green Mt. is green all the way up. On top, 1.4 miles from the trailhead, is a pile of rock that makes a good observation tower and a brass plaque that helps us identify the prominent mountains that make up the Continental Divide, white on the western horizon—from James Peak to the south through the Indian Peaks to Mt. Audubon and Long’s Peak, tall to the north.

The long segment of this trek, 2.8 miles, carries us from Green over to Bear, along the Green Bear and Bear Peak West Ridge Trails, a high traverse behind Green and its shoulders, down into Bear Canyon and then up to Bear Peak itself. There are views into valleys to the west, views of Boulder and beyond, and opportunity to admire the backs of the Flatirons and other craggy cliffs.

The final approach to Bear snakes in and out among great boulders. There are sharp hairpin switchbacks up steep talus slope and then a scramble to an exposed and rocky top. I found a protected alcove below the peak and settled myself back into some welcome shade for lunch. I slowly ate and gazed over crumpled forest and field out to Eldora Ski Resort and James Peak. The sun moved around and warmed me into drowsy vagueness. I napped.

The Bear Peak trail runs south 0.7 miles through dry forest, down into a saddle, and then up again. South Boulder Peak is another big pile of lichen-covered rock. By mid-afternoon, strong winds were whipping through the trees and trying to blow me off the ledges. I sat in a little shelter and watched ravens soaring and riding the gusts. I enjoyed the views back toward Bear, and Green, and the twisting way back toward Flagstaff. The path is just next-door, but it is well worth the visit.

Originally published in the
50 Plus Marketplace News, 11:1, 5/2006.

Getting There

In Boulder, take Baseline Rd. west toward Flagstaff Mt. Almost at the height of land, just where you leave Boulder’s Parks and Open Space and on the left, the Green Mountain West Ridge Trail begins. An extensive trail map for Boulder County is available from BATCO.

Warning—If this hike sounds 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 my description to be an unqualified recommendation.

This page was last modified on 5/17/08