SAN001
Location: 40.0206298828125, -105.29167175293
Walk west along Mapleton Avenue for roughly 750 feet to the Mount Sanitas Trailhead on the right side of the road.
SAN002
Location: 40.0207748413086, -105.294143676758
Leave the sidewalk and bear right onto the marked Mount Sanitas Valley Trail. Walk northwest on wide, dirt path.
SAN003
Location: 40.0212326049805, -105.29524230957
Continue straight @ signed 4-way junction onto the Mount Sanitas Trail (Mount Sanitas Valley Trail veers to the right). Ahead, trail cuts through a grassy field punctuated with rocky outcroppings.
SAN004
Location: 40.0214729309082, -105.295860290527
Keep straight @ 4-way.
SAN005
Location: 40.0215759277344, -105.296569824219
Climb up several log steps shaded by trees, then cross a short wooden footbridge. Ahead, the trail winds to the west through open pine forest.
SAN006
Location: 40.0214157104492, -105.29761505127
The steep, rocky ascent begins. Tackle a series of log and rock steps that climb up the ridgeline.
SAN007
Location: 40.0223007202148, -105.298095703125
Pass a popular bouldering site on the right. Continue climbing north.
SAN008
Location: 40.022834777832, -105.298561096191
Pass another climbing access on right. Giant sandstone outcrops flank the trail on the right.
SAN009
Location: 40.023738861084, -105.298698425293
Continue steep climb up ridge.
SAN010
Location: 40.0256271362305, -105.299797058105
The trail skirts a massive boulder on the left. Stand on top of this rock overlook for views into Sunshine Canyon to the west.
SAN011
Location: 40.0266990661621, -105.300285339355
This ridgeline vantage point offers expansive views east across Boulder.
SAN012
Location: 40.0279388427734, -105.301376342773
Climb steep rock steps; vibrant wildflowers pepper the grassy slopes that border the trail to the east.
SAN013
Location: 40.0288734436035, -105.302352905273
Squeeze through a narrow gap in boulders that block the trail, then climb northwest up rock slabs dotted with seasonal wildflowers.
SAN014
Location: 40.0298080444336, -105.303062438965
Trail briefly curves around the west side of the mountain. Continue hiking northwest up ridge.
SAN015
Location: 40.0331993103027, -105.305114746094
The final 500-foot stretch to the summit travels up another set of rock steps; pine trees flank the trail.
SAN016
Location: 40.0344009399414, -105.305297851562
Mount Sanitas (6,863 ft.): A metal rod marks this small, rocky summit. Rest your legs while taking in the expansive views of Boulder and the eastern plains. Next: Begin the steep and rocky descent of Sanitas' eastern slopes.
SAN017
Location: 40.0346870422363, -105.304359436035
Terrain levels out for next 0.1 mile. Ahead, trail switchbacks to the right, heading southeast.
SAN018
Location: 40.0345687866211, -105.303764343262
Travel beneath a gigantic boulder that towers over the trail. Next, the trail cuts between two tightly-spaced boulders (follow the small trail signs attached to a fallen log).
SAN019
Location: 40.034610748291, -105.301048278809
Trail cuts to the right, heading south.
SAN020
Location: 40.0343208312988, -105.300315856934
Bear left @ 3-way. Trail descends to the north.
SAN021
Location: 40.0349502563477, -105.297370910645
Bear left @ Y-junction onto the Dakota Ridge Trail (Sanitas Valley Trail forks to the right down the drainage). Hike south along rolling ridgeline.
SAN022
Location: 40.0324440002441, -105.296562194824
Continue heading south on gentle trail. Views extend across grassy, pine-dotted hillsides to The Flatirons.
SAN023
Location: 40.0275115966797, -105.296142578125
Keep straight @ 3-way.
SAN024
Location: 40.0250396728516, -105.29615020752
Turn left @ T-junction.
SAN025
Location: 40.0234031677246, -105.295188903809
Turn right @ T-junction for gentle descent to the Sanitas Valley Trail.
SAN026
Location: 40.0236740112305, -105.296195983887
Turn left @ T-junction onto the Sanitas Valley Trail. Head south to Waypoint 3, then turn left and retrace steps to trailhead.
Mount Sanitas Trailhead
Location: 40.0207824707031, -105.29411315918
First Trail Junction
Location: 40.021240234375, -105.295257568359
Continue straight on Mount Sanitas Trail.
Rock Outcrops
Location: 40.0213661193848, -105.295593261719
Log Steps
Location: 40.0215644836426, -105.296501159668
Trail Views
Location: 40.0215301513672, -105.296859741211
Open Woods
Location: 40.0214614868164, -105.297149658203
Steep Steps
Location: 40.0214042663574, -105.297607421875
Climbing Access
Location: 40.0228233337402, -105.298545837402
Rocky Overlook
Location: 40.0256500244141, -105.299797058105
Wildflowers
Location: 40.0259170532227, -105.299873352051
Wildflowers
Location: 40.0263137817383, -105.300003051758
Views to the Southwest
Location: 40.0265007019043, -105.300155639648
Views of Boulder
Location: 40.0266990661621, -105.300285339355
Wildflowers
Location: 40.0275115966797, -105.301063537598
Rocky Ascent
Location: 40.0279197692871, -105.30135345459
Views to the South
Location: 40.0283851623535, -105.301948547363
Rocky Terrain
Location: 40.0290946960449, -105.302612304688
Wildflowers punctuate the rocky terrain.
Summit Views
Location: 40.0343780517578, -105.305252075195
Views stretch across Boulder from the summit of Mount Sanitas.
Trailside Boulder
Location: 40.0345764160156, -105.303749084473
Trail Sign
Location: 40.0345306396484, -105.303298950195
Views to the West
Location: 40.0358352661133, -105.298980712891
Dakota Ridge Trail Junction
Location: 40.0349617004394, -105.297370910645
Views from Dakota Ridge Trail
Location: 40.0324363708496, -105.29655456543
Dakota Ridge Trail
Location: 40.0303649902344, -105.29630279541
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