Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks
Bear Canyon - NCAR Trail & Skunk Canyon Trail
4.7 mi · ▲ 977 ft · 2 hr 3 min
Bear Canyon - NCAR Trail & Skunk Canyon Trail is a 4.7-mile out-and-back in Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks near Boulder, CO. It climbs 977 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Bear Canyon - NCAR Trail & Skunk Canyon Trail
4.7 mi · ▲ 977 ft · 2 hr 3 min
Elevation 5,702–6,260 ft
Out & Back · Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks
Trailhead: 39.98619, -105.27219
Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 91°F / low 66° · precip 8% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:28 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right onto Skunk Connector, heading W.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Skunk Canyon, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Skunk Canyon Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Skunk Canyon Spur Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Skunk Canyon Trail, heading S.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Mesa Trail, heading SE.
- 0.7 miSharp left onto Bear Canyon - NCAR Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miReach Skunk Canyon Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Mesa Trail, heading SW.
- 0.7 miBear right onto Skunk Canyon Trail, heading NW.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Skunk Canyon Spur Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Skunk Canyon Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Skunk Canyon, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Skunk Connector, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Kohler Mesa Trail–Skunk Canyon Trail, 3 sights 2.4 mi · ▲ 666 ft
- Kohler Reservoir–NIST Service Road, 4 sights 2.5 mi · ▲ 409 ft
- Tour Stop 40–McClintock Upper Trail, 3 sights 3 mi · ▲ 581 ft
- Tour Stop 90–Tour Stop 80, 4 sights 3.5 mi · ▲ 757 ft
- Baseline Trail–Bluebell Hiking Trail, 4 sights 3.7 mi · ▲ 936 ft
- Mallory Cave–Mallory Cave Trail, 3 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 1,639 ft
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