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Summary: This hike starts in the plains of the foothills along townee trail. It then connects to shadow canyon trail and enters a cool wooded canyon. At the top of the canyon a short trail takes you to the top of Bear Peak. This peak overlooks Boulder. Trailhead: From Boulder, head south on CO 93 for about 1.5 miles. Turn west toward Eldorado Springs and travel about 2 miles to the trailhead on the north side. (Lat:39.93857 Lon:-105.25835) Trail Guides for Bear Peak: Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Summer, User Groups: Hikers, Ranger Contact: Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Dennis Camell, who has posted 21 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 4 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Annie on 9/3/2009 I lived in Eldo for a while, so I did this trip a couple of times. I lived back on Baldwin cir. and my neighbor had a trail about half way up his drive way that we would take to the top. Beautiful hike! I moved out of the canyon but have done the hike twice since, I highly recommend this hike. 
Reviewed by D.S. on 6/14/2009 I've done this hike a few times and really enjoyed it. On my previous outing a couple people I met gave second hand accounts of bear sightings but I didn't personally see one (I imagine the bear prefers it that way :=)). It's a good workout and you'll be rewarded with a nice view in all directions that includes both the city of Boulder and the mountains, when you reach the top.
Reviewed by Josh on 2/24/2009 My dog and I took this hike this morning and it was amazing! Being only my second post-hibernation hike of the year, IT WAS A REAL WORK OUT! There's about 3/4's of a mile of very steep, rugged terrain on Shadow Canyon with little or no switchbacks. The last 1/4 mile of Shadow Canyon took a more mellow pace, swerving back and forth up to the Bear Peak Trail. The path up the trail is pretty mellow and the westward view is UNBELIEVABLE! Great hike, tough work, will definitely do it again.
Reviewed by Gwen on 9/21/2008 We did this on a lovely fall afternoon and the foliage/ground cover colors were beautiful. Shadow Canyon is tough work both up and down, but the last .2 miles to Bear Peak is a much gentler slope and the rock scrambling was a welcome change to the quad-burning terrain of Shadow Canyon. Stunning view to the west. I will hike it again, but only if my body is in shape! 
Reviewed by Almita on 7/20/2008 I enjoyed this hike, but I probably won't do it again. We hiked Fern Canyon to Boulder Peak which was straight up then we hiked Bear Canyon on the way down. I was proud that I accomplished it, but I won't hike this one again... ever. Well, maybe in May when it is cooler. We thought getting there by 8am would help, but mid - July is not so pleasant. FYI, be careful in Bear Canyon. There is a lot of loose rock so please watch those ankles. Happy Trails!
Reviewed by Rick on 5/28/2008 I do enjoy this hike. I've done it before. It's pretty easy except for the approx 3/4 mile up Shadow Canyon. The descent through the Canyon is tougher than going up. Definitely took over than the climb and much harder on the knees. It took me 5 hours rather than 4.5. Yes, bring plenty of water. My latest trip was on 5/25/08 - temp was comfortable, but I still went through about 3 liters of water. From Eldorado Springs trailhead, I recommend taking Mesa Trail to Shadow Canyon, rather than Towhee Trail.
Reviewed by Erin on 5/22/2008 My friends and I decided to try this one yesterday. GREAT HIKE! We had gone up Bear Canyon to the West Ridge to the summit. At one time of the backside of the mountain we lost the trail but we found it again thanks to a pile of rocks that someone put up. The summit was awesome (got covered in knats) and Fern Canyon was amazing, rather hard to get down, kind of hard on the feet, ankles and knees but well worth it! Bring tons of water, I brought three bottles and a gatorade and I drank them all by the time we got to the top so bring a ton. Also if you have someone in your party that is not used to rock scrambling or bouldering I would suggest a rope so they can get down (or up) the Fern Canyon rock scramble.
Reviewed by SJ on 1/22/2008 I loved this hike! The middle section seemed to be the part with the steeper ground, a bit icy this time of year, (we didn't use yak tracks) but not bad! It's a beautiful contrast of some hiking through the fields, the trees, and along the ridge right at the end! The view is awesome from the top, you can see the Rocky Mtns to one side, and all of Boulder and beyond on the other! We made the trip in 3:30, it was pretty snowy in spots, so we'll have to go again with clearer conditions. Nice to have a little bit longer hike with an amazing view at the end! *A note to those looking for the trailhead, it's the Mesa Trailhead on your right as you are going towards Eldorado Canyon! Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Colorado Hiking, Colorado Trails, Colorado Hikes, Boulder County Hiking, Boulder County Trails, Boulder County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
