Bear Canyon Trail — Attraction in Boulder

Trail run of the Bear Canyon Trail to Bear Peak West Ridge. As a novice trail runner looking for introduction to elevation gain, this trail was incredible. Out-and-back and 1600ft elevation gain in 7.5 miles but it was an easy, steady incline and doable. I used AllTrails to help keep me on the right trail as there are many different trailheads. Mostly gravel but some loose rocky areas I ended up having to slow to a walk to cross. Some shady areas and beautiful landscapes across the few miles. I even got to see some cutie wild turkeys. Other people on the trail were either trail running or hiking. Easy, free parking lot at the base. Will definitely become a staple for...

Bear Canyon trail is currently closed Monday-Saturday for trail maintainence until November 2021, but is open on Sundays.

Hiked from the Bear Canyon Trailhead Mesa Trail Fern Canyon Bear Peak. The Fern Canyon section is kind of a brutal hike even for a more experienced hiker (there are some very high steps that can be hard on the hips) but the views are well worth it. Pace yourself and bring plenty of water.

Starting from NCAR makes the hike a bit shorter and the parking easier, but starting from Bear Canyon means that you don't have any elevation gain on your...

This was a doozie! We did Fern trail and it's not a hike for 1st timers. This was my first time there and I brought my dog, but would recommend not to. I follow leash protocol, but the people who don't made it dangerous for others as the trail is narrow in some areas and very steep. There are quite a few parts where you'll need your hands free to scramble, especially at the top. Overall, it felt like the terrain and difficulty of a 14er without...