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Summary: Very popular trail close to downtown Boulder. A classic trail for the area. Take the loop either way, each way is a good workout. The valley is fairly flat with lots of dogs around. Views from the ridges are astounding in all directions. Horses are allowed on trails, but I would not recommend them on the steep ridge trails. Trailhead: In Boulder, take Broadway to Mapleton and turn west. This intersection is just north of downtown. Go about 5 blocks, just past the hospital, there will be the parking area on the north and one further west on the south side. The trailhead is on the north side of the road. (Lat:40.02063 Lon:-105.296) Trail Guides for Mt. Sanitas Loop: Best Seasons: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Horses, Ranger Contact: City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks Department, 303-441-3440. Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Dennis Camell, who has posted 21 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 5 Submit your own review I've really come to like this hike. I prefer starting at the trailhead at the end of Forest Ave, then doing the loop clockwise. That way there's a little warm-up at the start and you get the boring gradual descent out of the early before hitting the main climb. Unfortunately, on warm days the amazing smell of the Ponderosa's is often overwhelmed by the all the dog crap left on the side of the trail. Respect to all the responsible owners and note to the bad apples: they provide those plastic bags at the trailhead for a reason. Wow what a great hike with fabulous views along the way. I did the loop going up the west side to the summit, then down the east ridge to the valley. It was a good workout. There were alot more hikers on the trails than I have experienced on other local hikes. I would recommend this to others for sure. Enjoy!!! a great hike ! the views and the solitude at the summit are worth the effort. one could spend hours at the top. i used one trekking pole and it certainly simplified the climb. this hike may be a little tough for an out of town visitor not accustomed to strenuous climbing in the altitude. returning on the east valley trail was a great way to wind down . overall a great workout and certainly a feeling of accomplishment. will do this hike again. I believe URWhimps is intentionally being an ass. This trail is certainly not "a joke" in terms of the effort required. I run 30+ miles/wk and do a track intervals/hill workout once a week, and Mt. Sanitas is still a tough workout for me. If anyone finds it too easy, feel free to run up the entire west side. If it's still not a challenge, hold your breath the whole way. That review from URWhimps was a bit brash. This hike was beautiful, but from someone who loves hiking AND isnt in perfect shape, i would consider it to be just above moderate in difficulty. We hiked up the west side which was relatively steep, and including the time that we spent enjoying the view, we spent about 2 hours on the trail. I highly recommend it to anyone! It will give you quite the workout, and you may have to take a lot of rest breaks, but it will be well worth it. Beautiful Hike - great workout. Have to agree with Brad - don't listen to the "Whimp." The trail can be difficult if you are not in shape or not used to hiking in Colorado. Local Hikes categorized correctly. Great hike for those looking for both a workout and beautiful surroundings. I generally power up the west trail and jog down the east, then run down the valley. Takes me about 1 hr to do the full trip. Great local hike, decent bouldering as well if you don't mind hiking up with a crash pad. A great hike. The URWhimps review was written by a 22 year old meat-head jock jerk. Insults spelled correctly carry more weight (it is spelled wimp, not whimp). It is between difficult and moderate, and does have one or two spots on the east side where it is a little hard to see where the trail is. If you aren't used to hiking, or aren't in good shape, it will kick your rear. The west side is really steep and may be tough for older knees. It does get very crowded at times. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Colorado Hiking, Colorado Trails, Colorado Hikes, Boulder County Hiking, Boulder County Trails, Boulder County Hikes |