Overview
View towards the summit of Bald Mountain There are a number of Bald Mountains in Colorado. Perhaps the most well known is the high 13er found near Breckenridge in Summit County. The Bald Mountain described here is one of two Bald Mountains found in the foothills just west of Boulder Colorado. Located several miles from town, it provides for a nice hike of a little over a mile to a beautiful summit with expansive views of Colorado's Front Range that is far enough away from downtown to avoid many of the crowds seen on Mt. Sanitas or at Chautauqua. The trail has a starting elevation of 6960' and summit of 7160, making it an ideal objective for families with young children or anyone just wanting to enjoy Colorado's beautiful scenery!
Getting There
Boulder County Open Space Map of Bald Mountain. The mountain and hike can be accessed by taking Mapleton Avenue west from Boulder and travelling five miles up Sunshine Canyon. There is a well marked parking area on the left side of the road.
Route
There is a well established loop trail that climbs to the summit of the peak. Leaving from the parking lot, one hikes 0.2 miles to a divergence of the trail. From here, pick a direction and hike to the summit. The entire trail up to the summit and back to the car is approximately 1.2 miles in length. There is a bench on the summit allowing for you to reflect on the scenery.
Red Tape
The hike is on the Bald Mountain Scenic Area and is administered by Boulder County Parks and Open Space. Camping, fires, and firearms are prohibited. There are picnic tables, pets are allowed, and a restroom is available during summer months.
When to Climb
View south east from the slopes of Bald Mountain The peak can be climbed year round. In the winter months, it is possible that ice might build up particularly on shady north facing aspects of the trail, making the use of Yaktrax type devices desirable.
Camping
No Camping is allowed in the Bald Mountain Scenic Area.
External Links
View west from the slopes of Bald Mountain The website for the Bald Mountain Scenic Area can be found
here.
A guide to the hiking trail can be found
on this website.