Bear Peak Trail

This kicked my butt. But it was so worth it.
I consider myself in pretty good shape. (exercise 5x a week, strength train) But man oh man there were point on that hike i wasn’t sure if i was going to make it. I was visiting town, from sea level so the altitude may have been playing a role. Apparently my boyfriend (who never works out) was immune to it and has no problems what so ever.
Anyway– the views were outstanding at the end. The trial was a little icy at the top, was a bit difficulty getting back down. (did this mid april) It was also very chilly at the top. I went from long sleve, to short sleeve, to long sleeve, to long sleeve with vest, to long sleeve.
I think it was about a 5 hour hike for us. Took a couple 5 minute breaks

A beautiful and challenging hike. There are several route options that vary in steepness and difficulty. We hiked for about 6 hours round trip and it was a good workout. Definitely would recommend, but not to people who are visiting Boulder from sea level.

Okay, we tried this again in December because it was so torturous in July. This is still challenging, but SO MUCH MORE DOABLE when it’s 50 instead of 90. Going down Fern Canyon was still hard (going down is always so much harder, anyway!) so next time, we’re planning to go up Fern Canyon and come down Bear Canyon Trail.

This trial is my new favorite in Boulder. Coming from an avid hiker of local hot-​spots in Boulder, I will definitely make this trek more often. Being the highest peak in Boulder, the views are great the entire way up. Especially once you break even with the tree line, then it is spectacular! It took about 3 hours round trip but that was with some scenic pit-​stops and a semi leisurely pace. There are 2 trail heads, the closer one cuts out some of the“hike before the hike” distance, which I do prefer.

Really Awesome view of Boulder back into the mountains from the top. If you take the back trail up (ie not Fern Canyon, but the Green-​Bear Trail) you will get some beautiful views of the fire damage and the new growth of wild flowers. The hike itself is a longer hike and there are some steep parts, but overall, I’d say the view and the sense of accomplishment from defeating Bear Peak makes it worth it. Also, a word to the wise: Fern Canyon can be quite steep, so if you are ok with increasing the overall distance a bit to get a less steep hike, I’d recommend taking Green-​Bear both up and down.

5 stars for butt kicking good time!
I got this hike from my front range loop hike book, actually it was in my dog hike book, as well as my front range hiking book.
Note: THIS IS NOT A GOOD HIKE FOR DOGS. (unless you go very early, and do not do it as a loop and head back the way you cam vs down the Fern trail which is giant boulder stairs, some shard and hot)
It is definitely a long hike, and an amazing hike. I did it this year 2013 and the remnants of the previous summer’s fire were still there, but there was also some beautiful new growth!
Most of the up of the hike — over 4 miles of it is pretty pleasant and doable — lots of switch backs, a good amount of shade, but on a 90 degree day — it’s still gonna be hot — so bring a ton of water!
The top of the hike turns into a rock scramble. As in — no trail, hold on to rocks and crawl over them to get to the top.
The views are amazing and having lunch in the breeze is sooo great!
It took all day — we started at 9am and finished around 3 with about 30 minutes at the top!
It felt GREAT to accomplish this hike! Been on my to-​do list for a while now!

Absolutely gorgeous view at the top of Boulder, Flatirons, western mountains, Eldorado Springs.
A bit of a longer hike than expected because the trail is moderately steep with lots of uneven and unstable rocks. We started off with Devil’s Thumb as our goal destination so we started at the Shanahan Ridge Trailhead on Table Mesa. This trail has less foot traffic so we enjoyed the initial hike of solitude in the «woods». It merged with the Mesa Trail about 2 miles in then took the same amount of time to reach Bear Peak (about 1.5 more miles). Looped back. A 6 – 7 mile hike took about 7 hours.
For some odd reason, there are a lot of flies near the top of the peak which grossed me out because I wanted a nice quiet retreat up top to enjoy my peanut butter sandwich but instead was bombarded by buzzing noises all around and ungraceful whacking motions which may have caused a few slips here and there. Glad I didn’t fall off the cliff. Can someone please explain why these flies reside on top of the mountain?

Great trail, and a great work out– at least for me. I am active and go to the gym often, but I’m a novice hiker. This was my first experience doing this hike, and did it to get more experience with hiking and gaining elevation.
Here are my words of wisdom:
1. Takes a while, about 5 – 7 hours round trip
2. Once you get closer to the peak, it becomes really steep to get to the top
3. Where hiking shoes, I was in sneakers and going down was slippery and there are a lot of rocks and uneven terrain
4. Bring lots of water and some snacks to keep you moving if you start to lag.
5. Dogs can come on this trail but must stay leashed.
6. Going up Bear Canyon is longer but less steep than taking the Fern Canyon trail. I suggest Bear canyon unless you’re pressed for time. Also the keep in mind the Bear Canyon side was affected by the fires.
7. Bring a jacket even if it’s sunny, the top can be pretty chilly.
I really enjoyed the hike. It was a gorgeous view of Boulder and getting to the top was so worth it. It was a challenge and my legs were so sore the next day. Go prepared and you’ll have a great time.

Only reason I didn’t give this hike 5 stars is because this hike kicked my ass. It is quite strenuous. The view at the top is awesome; great place to sit and take in the world.

How to be the nervous Dad in «Nemo» in a few easy lessons:
1. Allow your 10 year-​old son to convince you that making him wear hiking boots is old school, and instead that wearing sneakers with far less «gription» on a hike to the highest point in Boulder County is just fine, (which it basically was, by the way; he had no problems. I had the problems, and honestly can’t say he would have been far safer in his hiking boots, since there is nothing very risky about the Bear Peak trail. And it didn’t help any there were teen girls all over the trail wearing sneakers. «Dad, see? See what I mean?»
2. Ascend to the Bear Peak Summit via Fern Canyon, which I knew in advance is the steepest, most difficult path to the summit. As reviewer Erin S. said of this hike: «Very, very difficult hike. I didn’t really know what I was getting into beforehand and it totally kicked my ass.»
Well, I knew it would kick my ass, and I am in shape. But hey, my companion is a 10 year-​old who was thrilled to be back on the front range and was eager to show me he can burn my ass, even if he has been at sea level for the last 10 months.
3. Arrive at the summit pretty darn tired, and watch said energy-​oozing 10 year-​old scamper up the final and steepest point on the summit, which is a collection of pretty vertical, jagged rocks that indeed make an awesome but — from a nervous Dad’s perspective — quite narrow perch for the proud kid showing up his Dad.
Here are the narrow, jagged summit rocks I am talking about:
4. Accede to gloating 10 year-old’s demands to take triumph photos after climbing those damn jagged, vertical rocks, which for me were doubly hard to navigate because for the first time in my life, I got a good dose of
Acrophobia. Gad damn it! My stomach was in my throat when I looked down, and here I am, the vanquished Dad:
After the hike, the kid says: «Dad, I can wear my hiking boots from now; it’s okay. Can we climb the second Flatiron tomorrow?»
Melt.

Love this hike. Approaching from east side is strenuous but has a variety of environments. Woods, views… The very top stretch is steep.

I came here to run the Bear Peak loops recommended on the website «Guidespot: Boulder Trail Running.»
(If you have a trail map, it’s the trail head that starts at NCAR. The loop is Mesa Trail, Bear Canyon Trail, Bear Peak West Ridge Trail, Shadow Canyon Trail, Mesa Trail). MapMyRun says it’s 9.6 miles, and 2018 feet of elevation gain (and loss on the return).
Mesa Trail (both out and return) is very run-​able. Bear Canyon is do-​able. Part of Bear Peak West Ridge is a very steep and rocky climb (probably 15% or more). And Shadow Canyon Trail is a very steep rocky decent (most sections –10% to –15%).
Great trail run if you like a hike/​run with great views.

We liked this trail a lot. We started late in the day and we had a choice to select a shorter trail or lengthy trail. We completed Royal Arch and 2cnd and 3^rd Flatiron points. Some of the points have ice and we found a bit adventurous to cross them. This is a memorable trip and definitely worth trying it.

This time we made it all the way to the top, the hike is long, and the ascend is pretty do-​able. Once you get up to almost the top, the winds pick up, and you feel like you are being blown off the mountain, in a good way. At the very top, we saw some bear tracks, so think twice before doing this long hike alone! But its so beautiful, you literally feel like you are on top of the world! Love it!
We tried to loop it on the way down and ended up somewhere in Chataqua instead of Eldorado springs, where we started. So, be careful, the map is a little confusing, and the descent isnt as clearly marked.

I’ve done a lot of the popular trails in Boulder (Mallory Cave, Mt. Sanitas, Royal Arch, Top of the Flatiron), but this one has evaded me since ’04 when i originally tried it but got caught up in a hailstorm and had to turn back. When i drive around and see it up there in the distance, it’s like a big fat middle finger saying «You still have not conquered me you lazy bastard, I OWN YOU». Well, after last weekend, no mas Bear Peak! I have officially been to the highest point in Boulder.
There are two ways up, we started at NCAR and took the Bear Canyon route back and forth, which is the more gradual route. Fern Canyon is half the distance but very steep. The Bear Canyon Route was about 9.5 miles, with 2500 ft. of elevation gain. It took us about 6 hours roundtrip at a medium pace. Tree cover for the majority of the way, lots of criss crossing over a creek on rocks. The last .5 miles is pretty damn steep, but the view from the top is great. Indian Peaks, Never Summer, Longs Peak, Front Range. Gittin’ 360 on it. I was pretty damn tired at the end of it all, but I was still able to game up and go see Mike Doughty and Zee Avi at etown that evening. All in all, a challenging hike, but definitely the best one I’ve done so far in Boulder, even though I probably won’t do it again until somebody forces me to. 14’ers I’m looking at you next!

Very, very difficult hike. I didn’t really know what I was getting into beforehand and it totally kicked my ass. I really wasn’t in proper shape. Still, I did it and it was amazingly beautiful, extremely challenging and very memorable (my husband and I talk about this hike all the time). The view from the top is unreal, totally sick.
If you are adventurous and are in good shape — DO IT!

I am in good shape, but I’m an average hiker. I took this trail trying to challenge myself. I’m not sure it was worth the effort. The Shadow Canyon trail that leads to the saddle is dark, steep, rocky, and frankly a little creepy. I hiked by myself, and I was worried I’d break my neck on the way down. It didn’t help that I was met at the top of the hike by a wonderful view of… absolutely nothing. Avoid hiking this on foggy days. This is probably a better hike for well conditioned athletes than for an average, middle aged woman out for a recreational hike.

I admit it, this trail has whooped my behind every single time I’ve climbed it. Still, I love it.
I hate to admit it, but the rock scramble at the top got the better of me the first time I climbed it. But it’s so worth it. The view here is amazing (though the top can get a bit crowded), and the reward is worth the post-​hike painkillers.
Bear Peak is also part of the Triple Peak Challenge, an all-​day hike spanning the distance of the Mesa Trail that takes the hiker to the three highest points in Boulder County, Bear and South Boulder Peaks and Green Mountain. South Boulder is the highest in the county. Bear is highest in Boulder proper.