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I will be with some work colleagues in the Denver area this summer and am looking for something more then a hike but less then a cat 3 scramble if you know what I mean. We will visit Bergen Peak again this year (we hiked that last year). This time splitting into two groups; runners and walkers (need to summit this time). However, I am hoping to also find an additional trail that provides a little more hands and feet but not something that will scare away the more timid folks in the group. The biggest catch is that unless I can talk some of the people in staying an extra day on their dime, we can not be changed and into the car until 4:30p. Any ideas?

jd138 wrote: something more then a hike but less then a cat 3 scramble if you know what I mean.

Hmm, what DO you mean? Not sure there is much room between a "hike" and class 3. Not trying to nitpick here, just trying to understand what you're looking for so I can make some recommendations.

After some more reading and watching some videos, class 2 or 3 scramble is what I would like to find. Thank you.

OK, so what you probably mean is a rough trail, with the occasional need to use your hands. Just saw the 4:30 PM restriction..man, that's a tough a one. Do you know what part of Denver you'll be in? That actually matters a lot: if you have to drive all the way across town through rush hour traffic to get to where you're going, that really limits your options.

Your going to have a hard time finding something & be back to the car by 4:30pm. Alexy is right, where in Denver you are will matter a lot. Traffic can be stupid in Denver.
My suggestion, is to start looking at peaks around the Boulder area. There's actually a lot of choices around the Flatirons/Bear Peak area. In fact, look into doing Bear Peak & the short
but thigh-burner ridge to South Boulder Peak. It's no harder than class 2+ with the option in places to make it class 3.
Good, easy access too. But as with all things Boulder, plan on getting to the trailhead EARLY. Highway 36 from Boulder to Denver can clog up quickly with traffic in the afternoons. It's currently
undergoing "never-ending" construction. So budget your time at the end.
I'd say for the 'average' person, plan on spending roughly 4 hours from trailhead back to trailhead.
Have a good time!!!

OK, so I live right below Bear Peak (trailhead is about a 5-minute walk from my front door). It's actually a fairly substantial hike: 3000' or so of gain over about 7 miles RT by the shortest route. Honestly, if he's in Denver and can only get off work at 4:30...even if he's Anton Krupicka he better be prepared to hike by headlamp.

Depending on where in Denver, I might actually suggest something with a very high trailhead...maybe Sniktau or "Cupid" from Loveland Pass...or even Spaulding from Summit Lake on the Mt. Evans road. Or Mines Peak or Point 12,391 from Berthoud Pass. All of those are a lot of bang for your buck in terms of scenery, much shorter than Bear Peak, and probably about the same driving distance. Just my $0.02...but then I'm pretty biased toward the high country, so take it as you will.

Anton wouldn't have a problem doing 7 mi/3K in 2-2.5 hrs. He has winter times for both Bear and Green posted in that range.
From downtown Denver, takes me about an hr to get to Boulder, leaving around 4-430.

Class 2+ to 3:
Boulder area peaks are a great suggestion.
Morrison via South ridge
Eldorado Mtn via N ridge
Coal Creek via the S

Class 2:
Pretty much any Jeffco peak. Search around here and google:
http://listsofjohn.com/qmap?Q=10700&P=0&t=u&l=

Watch out for evening rattlers on the peaks close to Denver, particularly N Table and Green Mountain.

Folks:
Thank you very much for the suggestions so far. That afternoon limitation certainly a problem, but now at least I have some locations in mind.

Kiefer wrote:Your going to have a hard time finding something & be back to the car by 4:30pm.

Actually, it is worse then that, we have to work to about 4. By the time we are back to the hotel, changed and into a car, it should be about 4:30. We will be departing from the downtown area, UC Denver campus adjacent. Based on the summer sun, seems like we will have until about 8p before clicking on the headlamps.

I will check on all the suggestions - thanks again.

Well, if you do decide on the Boulder area and find yourself short on time, I'd suggest one of the Flatiron trails from Chautauqua Park. The 1st/2nd Flatiron trail is pretty fun and has some scrambling (more on the sides of the trail, if you want), and should only take a couple hours RT. Don't be tempted to go and solo any of the Flatirons if class 3 is your limit, though! There's also Sanitats...no real scrambling on the actual trail, but there is some on the rock outcrops along the way. I have not done (shame on me!) the Royal Arch trail, but that's supposed to be pretty fun as well. A number of options, as you can see. Good luck!

If it is October through March (bat closures) I highly recommend mallory cave near boulder. It is a short but steep hike that ends with some solid cat 3 scrambles. Torrey's via Kelso ridge is my favorite cat 3 scramble during the summer. it is a longer one and a 14er but cool af