Trail Description

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The Mallory Cave Trail in Boulder's front range is a short but steep hike to a large cave first discovered, but not recorded, by loggers cutting down trees on Dinosaur Mountain. The cave was then re-discovered in the summer of 1932 by a young University of Colorado Student named E.C. Mallory.

Begin by heading out on the Walter Orr Roberts Trail, an interpretative trail just west of the NCAR parking lot. Head west on this trail for about .6 miles before hitting the Mesa Trail. Turn hard left on to the Mesa Trail and then quickly head up the clearly marked trail to Mallory Cave.

Upon turning onto the trail to Mallory Cave, the hike will get quite steep. The narrow trail leads you up Dinosaur Mountain through towering sandstone formations with outstanding views of Boulder and the plains back to the east.

As you near the end of the hike, keep an eye out for a red rock staircase which leads straight up to the final staging area before climbing to the cave itself. There will be signs directing you to the cave so be sure to pay attention.

The final 50-75 feet of the climb are difficult. While not a technical climb, the route is steep, rocky and slick. Be very careful in wet or cold weather, as the final ascent to the cave can be very dangerous.

After the final ascent to the cave, enjoy spectacular views of NCAR, Boulder and the eastern plains. While the cave itself may appear a bit "used", people continue to marvel at its history as one of Boulder's oldest recorded front range hikes.

Worth Noting

• The final ascent to the cave can be deceptively difficult under wet or winter conditions. Proceed cautiously.

Camping and Backpacking Information

There is no camping permitted in or around Mallory Cave.

Directions to Trailhead

The Mallory Cave trail begins at the far west end of Table Mesa Drive at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder. Simply park in the NCAR parking lot and begin by heading out on the Walter Orr Roberts Trail, an interpretative trail just west of the NCAR facilities. To get there, simply take Table Mesa Drive west until you dead-end into the NCAR parking lot.

Contact Information

Boulder County Parks & Open Space
5201 St. Vrain Road
Longmont, Colorado 80503
Phone: 303-678-6200
Fax: 303-678-6180
www.co.boulder.co.us/openspace