Being a resident of Colorado, over the last few years, have had some downsides as people continue to move into the state. The influx of people might drive us locals a little crazy (been here 16 years so I count myself among that group), however, honestly, who can blame people for moving to Colorado? 300 days of sunshine, a health conscious mentality, and of course the outdoors! You are never far away from a national park or some sort of wilderness to unplug and get away from the non-stop flow of everyday life. Recently, one of my favorite hikes has become Bear Peak Trail near Boulder.
For me, hiking isn’t about the challenge or the fitness, but those are excellent secondary benefits! While it is always fun to talk about the trails you have hiked and how challenging it was, hiking for me is about getting lost in nature. To just unplug for a few hours without listening to music, on a screen or the constant bombardment we have become accustom to in today’s world. My viewpoint just comes from getting lost, appreciating nature and trying to take that time to both unload from a busy work week and preparing for the next week.
DISCLAIMER!
This viewpoint is coming from somebody who runs several days a week, hikes quite a bit and spends several hours in the gym 5 to 6 days a week. (Just a friendly heads up, not bragging.)
First thing is first, a little bit about this hike. Trail starts about 10 miles outside of Boulder. The trail is roughly 8 miles long and can be done as a loop or as an out and back, with a hard difficulty. The out and back option will reduce the number of miles you do, which could be more advantageous. Honestly, in my personal opinion, the difficulty comes from the end of the trail that is steep and requires some scrambling. The first few miles are relatively easy, so if you are not an advanced hiker or just starting out that is ok!. The trail is popular and gets busy over the weekends, so those wanting to do it should get there early, and I mean early! Parking lot fills up by 7-8 a.m. during the summer and fall. You can always park along the road if there is no available space, just make sure to watch out for traffic coming around turns. Hiking time varies on your pace, but the view are worth it, some of those images to the right! Key piece of information though; ALWAYS pack water, and it is better to bring more than less, even if it means you have a heavier pack going up.
Now let us begin!
My hiking bag consists of: my cameras, several different lenses, a tripod, a portable battery, sunglasses, a rain coat, sunscreen (most of the time), a whistle, occasionally my climbing shoes and two 64 oz. containers of water. That is just a little overkill, but I would rather be safe then sorry. All in all, somewhere between 10 and 20 pounds, but my camera backpack has straps that help take pressure off of my shoulders and back so it does not feel that heavy.
For me, most hikes and adventures begin around 4 a.m., with an hour variability up and down. (I am a mad man, I completely understand and accept this about myself!). My last hike up to Bear Peak was mainly a chance for me to go play with my new camera and see what I could come up with.
I arrived at the main parking lot at 5 a.m., put on my headlamp, threw my backpack across my back and started walking. It was a cool morning, in the 40 degree Fahrenheit range. However, about an hour into my hike I took off my coat and continued with just a long sleeve. Could have gotten away with a T-shirt by ~7 a.m. but I’ve spent the majority of the summer getting tattoos so had to stay covered!
Unfortunately, I started a little later then I had wanted so my first sunrise pictures were only about a mile into the hike. Sunrise at this time of year is ~6:30 a.m. The first part of this hike is a relatively even and smooth trail of dirt, so gaining in elevation does not require as much effort as climbing over rocks. The trail has plenty of markers to keep you on the right track, so just keep an eye out. You can go either right or left at the start, the left option will be more straight forward and the right will take you out into the plains before moving up into the tree line. I went out right with the hopes of getting more open views to take sunrise pictures. Worth it!
If you should choose to go right, I would say about one and a half miles in you will have to watch the trail markers for the correct path to start heading up. You can choose one of two different routes at this point, going left and sticking to the “correct” trail or going right and going off trail, and eventually coming back to the trail. I would highly recommend going left and staying on the trail, it just makes things simper as you head to the top. However this time around I went right, which took me up a roundabout way that added miles to my hike.
The hike starts to gain in elevation pretty quick, so I would recommend to begin taking breaks between the two and three mile point. Take your time, breath in the fresh air and enjoy the peace and quiet. The last mile and a half is where you start to gain the vast majority of the ~2,800 ft of elevation, so take it slow and easy. Hiking should not be considered a race unless you are trail running. Enjoy the adventure and keep telling yourself that you’ve got it, that will be what keeps you going out time after time!
Once you reach the top several hours later, depending on your pace, you will be floored by the 360 degree views. I certainly was! This is where you sit down, look out at the beauty of Colorado, drink some water, eat a snack and take some time to recoup. The top is the whole reason for the hike, so don’t rush heading back down!
Once you have had your fill of the top, and as the temperature starts to rise with the sun, start your trip back down. Going back down is much quicker and easier, however the initial descent will be steep, so be careful! Take the first mile and a half of the descent at a slower pace, you will pick up pace after that. Once you’ve gotten past that point, the next two miles are quick and you can start looking forward to whatever you plan to do next: grabbing a coffee, lunch or a beer at a local brewery (personal favorite!).
As far as hiking in Colorado goes, this is just one trail of hundreds. This is on the more difficult side of the scale, so if you don’t think this would be for you, do not worry! There are trails that are not far that are much easier and can offer you the same views! Colorado is a place to experience nature and there is something out there for everybody! Hopefully I will be able to put up more posts about other trails of various difficulties, to help visitors and residents alike find their perfect fit!
