Bear Peak via The Mesa Trail and Bear Canyon - 12.95 Miles Round-Trip

Boulder's trail network offers a number of ways to reach Bear Peak (8,461'). The Mesa Trail (2.75 miles), Bear Canyon Trail (1.85 miles) and Bear Peak West Ridge Trail (1.9 miles) form an ecologically varied route through ponderosa forests, meadows and high ridges.

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This route is longer but may be preferable to more direct and challenging ones through Gregory, Fern, and Shadow canyons:

From Chautauqua Park, head south on Blue Bell Road to the Mesa Trail (.6 miles : 6,010). Bear left and begin a steady climb through tall ponderosa stands to the Kohler Mesa Trail split (1.15 miles : 6,250'). The Mesa Trail levels across open contours with good views of the eastern plains.

It dips and rises past the Skunk Canyon Trail junction to a steep, twisting descent on reinforced mud-stairs (1.85 miles).

Once down the trail rises back through open slopes with good views of Bear Peak to the Mallory Cave Trail junction (2.05 miles : 6,207').

Travel quickens through undulating forest and drops to a service road (2.4 miles). Bear right on the service road for a steep climb to the Bear Canyon Trail split (2.75 miles : 6,262'). The Bear Canyon Trail is rugged in places but generally keeps a steady, moderate pace.

The trail follows and frequently crosses Bear Canyon Creek, which can be tricky with heavy snow or heavy runoff. Note the emergence of aspen as you gain elevation.

Though views are limited, Bear Canyon is not hemmed in quite like others in the area (Gregory Canyon, Fern Canyon and Shadow Canyon), generally affording better views.

The trail crosses the creek (right) one last time (4.2 miles : 7,030'), and up a series of steep switchbacks on the canyon's north wall.

Travel moderates in the upper canyon, now centrally positioned with terrific views back down the route you just traveled. It levels through a glade to the Bear Peak West Ridge Trail split (4.6 miles : 7,181').

Veer left here for the remaining 1.9 mile, 1280' push to Bear Peak. The West Ridge Trail is initially moderate, tracing a well-defined ridge that leads into the 2012 burn area (5.7 miles : 7,706').

Switchbacks steepen considerably past 6 miles, where you should anticipate many quick, rugged turns. Snow can make this final approach precarious and difficult to read.

The trail emerges from timber in a scree field just below the summit (6.35 miles). It curls west (right) to the Shadow Canyon Trail split (6.45 miles : 8,395'), where an unmarked but intuitively followed scramble leads up to Bear Peak (6.48 miles : 8,461').

The pointed, wind-swept summit is little more than a few jagged boulders that may restrict movement, however cautious maneuvering leads to safe viewpoints across the Eastern Plains, Front Range and Continental Divide.