BPM001
Location: 39.938793182373, -105.258224487305
Begin hiking NW on the Mesa Trail toward Shadow Canyon. Note: Multiple paths lead to Shadow Canyon, so lengthen or shorten the hike depending on your mood
BPM002
Location: 39.9394645690918, -105.259422302246
Cross Boulder Creek. Bear Peak frames the skyline directly ahead; Devils Thumb—a large cylinder of rock—rises to the NW
BPM003
Location: 39.939826965332, -105.260009765625
Turn left @ 3-way onto Towhee Trail. In 100 feet, veer right, continuing on Towhee Trail
BPM004
Location: 39.9430694580078, -105.26741027832
Catch your breath and turn around for wide-open views that extend to Denver. Most days, the wind funnels down the canyon and races past you on its way to the eastern plains. Surrounding meadows and trees rustle in spurts, breaking the ear-splitting quiet
BPM005
Location: 39.9436912536621, -105.270805358887
Continue left @ Y-junction. Note: Depending on snowpack, unmarked trail entering from right may not be visible
BPM006
Location: 39.9438705444336, -105.276184082031
Continue straight @ 3-way
BPM007
Location: 39.9434204101562, -105.279708862305
Turn left @ T onto Shadow Canyon Trail
BPM008
Location: 39.9442481994629, -105.283554077148
Continue straight on Shadow Canyon Trail @ 3-way. Look NW to view Devils Thumb, which is now only a few hundred feet away
BPM009
Location: 39.9460983276367, -105.287010192871
Turn left @ T and continue up Shadow Canyon. The next 1.5 miles are extremely steep and require sure footing. Winter hiking is possible, but bring your crampons
BPM010
Location: 39.9521789550781, -105.293418884277
This spot is perfect for a quick water break, a well deserved rest, and a peek through the trees at Devils Thumb, directly to your right
BPM011
Location: 39.9566383361816, -105.297180175781
Emerge from Shadow Canyon and onto the saddle between Bear Peak and South Boulder Peak. Continue to Bear Peak's summit by turning right @ T-junction for last few hundred feet. Optional: Turn L to summit South Boulder Peak for a classic foothills doubleheader
BPM012
Location: 39.9602012634277, -105.295333862305
Bear right @ Y and continue up trail, rock-hopping when necessary
BPM013
Location: 39.960563659668, -105.29500579834
Your legs may be hurting, your lungs burning, and your head spinning, but turn right @ T for 50-foot scramble to the summit. Caution: Rocks can be extremely slippery
BPM014
Location: 39.9602661132812, -105.295166015625
Bear Peak (8,454 ft.): Worth every bit of sweat and quad-thumping pain. Spin around and enjoy some of the most spectacular panoramas in Boulder. Start by looking N towards the jagged Front Range, jutting thousands of feet from the plains. Boulder sits to the E and Denver to the SE. Directly S, the Front Range continues to Eldorado Canyon. Next, scramble back down to WPT 13 and retrace your steps back to the car
Etched into the Boulder skyline, Bear Peak (8,454 ft.) beckons to be climbed. Although several routes lead to the summit, ditch the heavily-used Fern Canyon Trail for a quieter climb up Shadow Canyon. Start your hike along CO 93 and climb into the Flatirons over rocky terrain and seasonal springs. At the top of Shadow Canyon, turn right and wind along a ridgeline to the base of Bear Peak's summit. A final scramble leads to the top where 360-degree views of Boulder, the Rocky Mountains, and the Front Range await.
Note: Depending on the season, crampons and snowshoes may be necessary, but it is not uncommon for hikers to complete this hike year round.
Mapped by Tim Shisler
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