Green Mountain - Bear Peak Trail (Green and Bear It) - 12.75 Miles Round-Trip

Green Mountain (8,144') and Bear Peak (8,461') stand high over Boulder, two distinguished summits in close proximity with commanding views of the eastern plains and Rocky Mountains. Boulder's extensive trail network connects the two, with numerous ways to reach both in a day.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

One route begins in Gregory Canyon and joins the Ranger Trail to scale Green Mountain; it continues on the Green-Bear Trail to the Bear Peak West Ridge Trail and up to Bear Peak.

Sometimes referred to as the 'Green and Bear It' for its vertical profile, this challenging route follows steep terrain, quiet forests and high ridges with excellent views en route to the summits. The following description summits both peaks, and omits re-summiting Green Mountain on the return:

The Gregory Canyon Trail rises steadily to a stream crossing (.5 miles : 6,162'), then climbs steeply on a twisting, rocky path to milder switchbacks in the upper canyon (1.0 miles : 6,670').

The 2013 floods stripped away much of the corridor's vegetation, revealing portions of stream that were typically veiled. Look for bears foraging apple and plum trees throughout the canyon.

The trail gradually levels and curls SW, following a nominally re-routed path beside a newly carved gorge to the historic Greenman Lodge at the Ranger Trail split (1.48 miles : 6,754’).

The Ranger Trail moderates through tall, mixed pine to the E.M. Greenman Trail split (1.7 miles : 6,965'), past which it steepens on a winding, business-like climb.

The Ranger Trail crests at the Green-Bear Trail - Green Mt West Ridge Trail split along a narrow ridge below the summit (2.55 miles : 7,860'). Turn left toward Green Mountain.

The summit access trail scrambles over rock and root to Green Mountain (2.7 miles : 8,144'). The summit is small but topped by a rock-spire and peak-finder that illustrates a 100-mile span.

From Green Mountain, head back down to the Green-Bear Trail (2.85 miles) and turn south downhill. Portions of this descent are steep but the majority is moderate and smooth, an ideal track for runners. A few thinly treed meadows along the way provide good habitat and viewing lanes for wildlife.

The Green-Bear Trail drops 680' in 1.75 miles down the south flank of Green Mountain to the Bear Canyon Trail - Bear Peak West Ridge Trail split  in the saddle between the summits (4.65 miles : 7,181'). Turn up the West Ridge Trail for the 1.9 mile, 1280' push to Bear Peak.

The West Ridge Trail is initially moderate, tracing a well-defined ridge with emerging views of Bear Canyon, South Boulder Peak and Walker Ranch.

Fire scars are visible from a distance, but you’ll abruptly enter the burn area at 5.8 miles (7,706’). Despite a ghostly appearance the area is well on its way to recovery. Though it will be many years before healthy pine return, grasses, flowers and ground cover have already rooted.

Switchbacks steepen considerably at the base of Bear Peak’s conical summit (6.0 miles : 7,805’). Anticipate quick turns up rugged terrain on this final approach; snow and ice can make this strenuous section precarious and difficult to read.

The trail emerges from timber in a scree field that wraps (right) to the Shadow Canyon Trail split (6.48 miles : 8,395'), just below the summit on the west face. Here several intuitive scramble routes lead up to Bear Peak (6.55 miles : 8,461').

The most popular route curls back NE to the Fern Canyon Trail split, then up. No matter how you tackle it these final yards are steep, challenging and exposed.

The pointed, wind-swept summit is little more than a jagged boulder pile, however cautious maneuvering leads to safe viewing areas across the plains, foothills, and Rocky Mountains. Keep an eye on weather, as there's still considerable elevation gain and exposure on the return.