AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Snow-covered Flatirons from NCAR - panoramio.jpg
Wendell Smith · CC BY 3.0
Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks

Bear Peak–Bear Canyon - NCAR Trail, 5 sights

4.8 mi · ▲ 2,744 ft · 2 hr 58 min

Bear Peak–Bear Canyon - NCAR Trail, 5 sights is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks near Boulder, CO. The route reaches Bear Peak at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It climbs 2,744 ft, with sections as steep as 46% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 21/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,860 – 8,419 ft · steepest grade: 46%5.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.97797, -105.27413
Nearest town Boulder, CO
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Bear Peak–Bear Canyon - NCAR Trail, 5 sights

4.8 mi · ▲ 2,744 ft · 2 hr 58 min

Elevation 5,859–8,417 ft

Out & Back · Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks

Trailhead: 39.97797, -105.27413

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:30 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  3. 0.1 miTurn right onto N.C.A.R. - Bear Connector, heading W.
  4. 0.1 miTurn right onto Bear Canyon - NCAR Trail, heading W.
  5. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Mesa Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.5 miTurn right onto Fern Canyon, heading S.
  7. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Fern Canyon Trail, heading W.
  8. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Bear Peak, heading S.
  9. 50 ftReach Bear Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 50 ftContinue straight onto Fern Canyon Trail, heading S.
  11. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Fern Canyon, heading E.
  12. 0.3 miTurn left onto Mesa Trail, heading NE.
  13. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Bear Canyon - NCAR Trail, heading NW.
  14. 0.4 miTurn left onto N.C.A.R. - Bear Connector, heading E.
  15. 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
  16. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  17. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/bear-peak-bear-canyon-ncar-trail-out-back-5-sights

Trail surface

94% dirt6% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:33 AMSunset 7:30 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Boulder, Colorado