Sunshine Canyon ยท Short summit loop

Bald Mountain Scenic Area

Bald Mountain Scenic Area is a small Boulder County open space on Sunshine Canyon Drive west of Boulder, where a 1-mile easy loop climbs about 200 feet to a summit with views of the Continental Divide and the Great Plains.

Outdoor Boulder › Destinations › Bald Mountain Scenic Area

Bald Mountain quick facts

Distance
1.0 mile. The Pines to Peaks Loop is the only trail here, and it's a loop, so that's the whole outing.
Elevation
About 220 feet of climbing. Boulder County's hiking page says 190 feet; the trail-profile graphic on its park page says 233 feet. The summit sits at roughly 7,170 feet, with the trailhead near 6,950 feet, per USGS elevation data (the county doesn't publish an elevation).
Difficulty
Easy, per Boulder County.
Trailhead
On Sunshine Canyon Drive (County Road 52) west of Boulder, roughly a 5-mile, 13-minute drive from downtown via Mapleton Avenue.
Parking
19 car spots, unpaved, with no designated ADA spaces. Boulder County doesn't list an entry or parking fee for this property.
Dogs
Allowed, on leash. Boulder County lists Bald Mountain under dogs-allowed-on-leash, and county rules require every pet to be leashed and under the owner's physical control at all times. There's no voice-and-sight option here.
Picnic
Several picnic tables near the trailhead. A portable toilet is available during summer months.
Best season
Late spring through fall. May through August are the county's busiest months here. It's exposed and windy, and it holds snow and ice in winter.

Bald Mountain at a glance

Bald Mountain is the rare Boulder hike where the view is far bigger than the effort. It's a small Boulder County Parks & Open Space property on Sunshine Canyon Drive, and the whole thing is one mile of trail. From the summit you get the Continental Divide on one side and the Great Plains running east on the other. Boulder County describes it as a short, scenic hike with a spectacular panorama, and calls it a good spot for an afternoon picnic. That's an honest description: this is a view-and-picnic hill, not a workout.

It also happens to be the county's first open space property. Boulder County leased the land from the Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners in 1973 and finally bought it outright in 2022.

The Pines to Peaks Loop

There's one trail here. Boulder County lists the Pines to Peaks Loop at 1.0 miles and rates it Easy. On elevation gain the county gives two different numbers, 190 feet on its hiking page and 233 feet on the trail-profile graphic attached to the park page, so call it roughly 200 feet either way. USGS elevation data puts the summit around 7,170 feet and the trailhead near 6,950 feet, which lines up. Hiking, dogs, bikes, and horses are all allowed on the loop; e-bikes are not.

Getting there and parking

The trailhead is on Sunshine Canyon Drive, signed as County Road 52, west of Boulder. From downtown it's about five miles and roughly 13 minutes: take Mapleton Avenue west out of town, where it becomes Sunshine Canyon Drive, and keep climbing. The pavement runs as far as the open space, and turns to dirt farther west on the way toward Gold Hill.

Parking is the real constraint. Boulder County lists 19 car spots in an unpaved lot, with no designated ADA spaces. There's no published entry or parking fee. Nineteen spots go quickly on a July weekend, so aim for early morning or late afternoon, and if the lot's full, keep driving rather than creating a roadside spot on a mountain road.

Hours, rules, and dogs

Boulder County parks and open space are open sunrise to sunset, and parking at a trailhead after sunset or before sunrise may result in a fine. That matters here, because the summit is a tempting sunset spot and the clock is not on your side. Bald Mountain is posted day use only, with pets on leash, bikes on designated trails only, no open fires, no hunting or firearms, no camping, and no drones.

On dogs, note that Boulder County rules differ from the City of Boulder's. The county lists Bald Mountain under the properties where dogs are welcome but leashes are required, and county regulations say every pet must be on a leash and under the owner's physical control at all times. You're also required to pick up, carry out, and dispose of your dog's waste. The City of Boulder's Voice and Sight tag program has no standing on county land, so even a perfectly trained off-leash dog needs to be clipped on here.

Picnic tables and facilities

Several picnic tables sit near the trailhead, which is why families keep coming back to this one. A portable toilet is available during summer months, so plan for no facilities in the off-season. There's no water, and the county notes the property is small with little water on it, which is part of why you won't see much wildlife beyond mule deer, Abert's squirrels, chipmunks, and pine squirrels. Mountain lions live in this country too, so keep kids close.

Weather, season, and when to go

This is an exposed, high, breezy hilltop, and the same openness that gives you the view gives you the wind. Bring a layer even in summer, and start early if afternoon thunderstorms are in the forecast, because there's no shelter on the summit. May through August are the county's busiest months here, with weekends peaking between 10 a.m. and noon and weekdays around 2 to 3 p.m., so shift outside those windows if you want the bench to yourself. Winter is quiet and beautiful, but the loop holds snow and ice and the road up is a mountain road, so bring traction and check conditions before you commit. Fires are never allowed, and Boulder County posts fire restrictions for the western part of the county, worth checking in a dry summer.

Nearby trails and guides

Bald Mountain Scenic Area FAQ

How long is the hike at Bald Mountain Scenic Area?

One mile. Boulder County lists a single trail here, the Pines to Peaks Loop, at 1.0 miles and rated Easy. Most people are up, at the summit, and back down inside an hour, longer if you stop for the view.

How much elevation do you gain hiking Bald Mountain?

Roughly 200 feet. Boulder County publishes two figures: 190 feet on its hiking page and 233 feet on the trail-profile graphic attached to the park page. Either way it's a gentle climb, and the summit sits near 7,170 feet by USGS elevation data.

Are dogs allowed at Bald Mountain Scenic Area?

Yes, on leash. Boulder County lists Bald Mountain among the properties where dogs are allowed with leashes required, and county regulations say every pet must be leashed and under the owner's physical control at all times. You also have to pick up and carry out your dog's waste. This is a county property, so the City of Boulder's voice-and-sight tag doesn't apply.

Is there parking at Bald Mountain, and does it cost anything?

There's a small unpaved lot with 19 car spots and no designated ADA spaces, right off Sunshine Canyon Drive. Boulder County doesn't list an entry or parking fee for the property. With only 19 spots, summer weekend midday is when it fills.

What are the hours at Bald Mountain Scenic Area?

Sunrise to sunset. Boulder County parks, trails, and open space areas are open sunrise to sunset, and parking at a trailhead after sunset or before sunrise may result in a fine. Bald Mountain is also posted day use only, with no camping and no open fires.

Sources

Facts on this page are drawn from these authoritative sources:

Summit and trailhead elevations are from USGS 3DEP elevation data at the USGS GNIS coordinate for Bald Mountain (feature ID 178612); Boulder County doesn't publish an elevation for the property. Drive time and distance from downtown Boulder are routing estimates, not county figures.

Last checked . We verify trail facts against the managing agency, and we say so when a figure isn't published.