Boulder, CO: Taylor Mountain Pond Hike

Boulder, CO: Taylor Mountain Pond

co

Distance: 1.7 miles

A picture-perfect pond at the end of this mellow 0.8-mile hike makes this trip in the Roosevelt National Forest an easy overnight option for familiesÛÓand the faint-of-heart.

Trailhead
Trailhead
Footpath
Junction
Meadow
Wildflowers
Pond

Trip Description
Waypoints

TMP001

Location: 40.1932005, -105.4841244

There is plenty of parking at this little-used trailhead, but no facilities. A cattle guard and access gate prevent livestock from crossing, but vehicles, bicycles and hikers are all allowed into the forest past this trailhead, too.

TMP002

Location: 40.1954091, -105.4827726

There's a dip in the road preceding the short, steep climb to this signed junction about 300 yards from the trailhead. Turn left from the rough dirt road onto the narrower foot path here.

TMP003

Location: 40.1967245, -105.4826921

Bear left at this Y-junction and round the side of the hill heading south on the wide, open trail. You'll cruise a meadow before the trail gets rockier and turns uphill in about 300 yards.

TMP004

Location: 40.195069, -105.4882336

At the top of a small saddle, the trail winds just east of an aspen grove (look left for peek-a-boo views of the pond) before rounding and outcropping up ahead and arriving at the campsite.

TMP005

Location: 40.1958804, -105.4892582

This open clearing has a fire ring and makes a great central location for a group of campers who might be set-up along trails branching out from here.

Trailhead

Location: 40.1932169, -105.4842424

Though vehicles are allowed to continue on Taylor Road into the national forest, they have to bypass a gate and cattle guard at this route's trailhead.

Trailhead

Location: 40.1932005, -105.4841888

Heed trailhead regulations about camping, campfires, waste removal and trail access. Though it's close to Boulder, sensitive trail users help protect this area.

Footpath

Location: 40.1955198, -105.4828584

There are several signs marking the turn from the road onto the footpath about 300 yards from the trailhead.

Junction

Location: 40.1967081, -105.4827189

Stay on the larger, doubletrack trail at this junction to round the hillside before the final climb.

Meadow

Location: 40.1960361, -105.4846931

Two small trees guard the trail as it traces the western edge of this meadow.

Wildflowers

Location: 40.1953805, -105.4855728

Spring wildflowers bloom along the shaded climb.

Pond

Location: 40.1958558, -105.4893494

The pond at the campsite fire ring is a peaceful place to visit for the day or night.

QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR NEW TRIP PAGES? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to Backpacker magazine

Sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter

PRINT THIS PAGE RSS FEED

Digg Delicious Yahoo Facebook Reddit StumbleUpon Google Newsvine MySpace Twitter

Between Boulder and Rocky Mountain National Park off the Peak-to-Peak highway, this short hike leads to a picture-perfect lakeside campsite in the Roosevelt National Forest. From the end of the dirt road, hike across the cattle guard and continue on the wide double track 300 yards before tuning left on a signed spur trail, also headed uphill. At the next junction, stay left to wind around the hillside, heading south and dipping into a grassy field before beginning another climb, this time through rocky outcroppings and on a more rugged section of trail. As the climb mellows and curves north, look left through a small aspen grove for views of the lake before rounding the final outcropping to an open clearing and campfire ring on the small pond about 0.8 miles from the trailhead.

There are several trails emanating from the clearing, and plenty of campsites (head west for views of Longs Peak and north for early-morning shade). The pond itself is a great place to while away the afternoon in a hammock, or catching water boatmen and leeches near the murky shore.

-Mapped by Kristy Holland

QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR NEW TRIP PAGES? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to Backpacker magazine

Sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter

PRINT THIS PAGE RSS FEED

Digg Delicious Yahoo Facebook Reddit StumbleUpon Google Newsvine MySpace Twitter

ADD A COMMENT

Related Trails

Boulder, CO: Heil Valley Ranch

Hike or ride smooth singletrack on this 7.2-mile lasso-loop, which climbs gently through rich scrubland and ponderosa forest to a killer mountainside overlook.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Balanced Rock via Cow Creek Trail

Trek from a golden, mountain-rimmed valley to a ponderosa and lodgepole forest with towering rock formations on this 8.3-miler in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Beaver Mountain Trail

Thanks to only a little elevation gain, this 7-mile loop offers flatlanders great rewards (big views, wildlife, solitude) without much suffering. Pack plenty of water and sunscreen.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Boulder Brook to Glacier Gorge

Rushing waterfalls, mountainous views, and a healthy dose of altitude highlight this 6.3-mile loop in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Cub Lake Loop

This 5.9-mile loop is great for eager flatlanders who are acclimating to the thin Rocky Mountain air.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Emerald Lake

Tour two mountain lakes en route to Emerald Lake, a picturesque tarn with stunning views of Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain, on this popular hike in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Glacier Gorge to Black Lake

Waterfalls, alpine lakes, and mind-blowing scenery. It's all included on this 9.1-mile out-and-back hike in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Lumpy Ridge Loop

Go counterclockwise on this 10.2-mile loop touring the rocky cliffs and odd-shaped boulders of Lumpy Ridge to an alpine lake and several campsites in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Sky Pond

This 8.1-mile hike skirts wind-scoured lakes and scrambles up the edge of a waterfall before arriving at Sky Pond, where crumbling spires stretch 2,000 feet into the air.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Twin Sisters

Climb 2,400 feet to twin peaks on Rocky Mountain National Park's east side. Aspen-shaded trails and unobstructed views of Longs Peak are just two rewards of this 7.2-mile out-and-back.

Trip Tools