AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks

Mount Sanitas–Lion's Lair Trail, 4 sights

8.7 mi · ▲ 2,638 ft · 4 hr 13 min

Mount Sanitas–Lion's Lair Trail, 4 sights is an 8.7-mile out-and-back in Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks near Boulder, CO. The route reaches Mount Sanitas. It climbs 2,638 ft, with sections as steep as 32% grade. It scores 9/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi5,384 – 6,811 ft · steepest grade: 32%9.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Boulder Creek Path 40.01408, -105.29072
Nearest town Boulder, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mount Sanitas–Lion's Lair Trail, 4 sights

8.7 mi · ▲ 2,638 ft · 4 hr 13 min

Elevation 5,384–6,812 ft

Out & Back · Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks

Trailhead: Boulder Creek Path · 40.01408, -105.29072

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 7:27 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: Canyon Blvd & 3rd St stop 53 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Boulder Creek Path, heading S.
  2. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
  4. 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  5. 200 ftTurn right onto The Peoples' Crossing Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.1 miSharp left onto Red Rocks Trail, heading NE.
  7. 150 ftTurn right onto Red Rocks Spur Trail, heading NE.
  8. 0.2 miTurn right onto Red Rocks Spur, heading N.
  9. 50 ftTurn left onto Red Rocks Spur Trail, heading N.
  10. 0.2 miBear left onto Mount Sanitas Trail, heading N.
  11. 1.1 miPass Mount Sanitas.
  12. 250 ftBear left onto Lion's Lair Trail, heading NW.
  13. 2.4 miReach Mount Sanitas, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  14. 2.4 miBear right onto Mount Sanitas Trail, heading S.
  15. 1.1 miBear right onto Red Rocks Spur Trail, heading S.
  16. 0.2 miTurn right onto Red Rocks Spur, heading E.
  17. 50 ftTurn left onto Red Rocks Spur Trail, heading E.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left onto Red Rocks Trail, heading SW.
  19. 150 ftSharp right onto The Peoples' Crossing Trail, heading SW.
  20. 0.1 miTurn left onto Boulder Creek Path, heading S.
  21. 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  22. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  23. 0.2 miArrive 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/mount-sanitas-lions-lair-trail-out-back-4-sights

Trail surface

52% dirt6% paved42% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:35 AMSunset 7:27 PM

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Transit-accessible: Canyon Blvd & 3rd St stop 53 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Boulder Creek Path Trailhead

Hikes near Boulder, Colorado