NCAR & the Mesa Trail
The NCAR trailhead, at the west end of Table Mesa Drive in South Boulder, is a free gateway into the Flatirons, with the wheelchair-accessible Walter Orr Roberts Nature Trail and direct access to the Mesa Trail, a foothills path that runs along the base of the Flatirons between Chautauqua and Eldorado Springs.
Outdoor Boulder › Destinations › NCAR & the Mesa Trail
NCAR & Mesa Trail quick facts
| Location / access | West end of Table Mesa Drive, at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Mesa Laboratory in South Boulder. The large NCAR lot doubles as an OSMP trailhead into the Flatirons. |
|---|---|
| Distance (Mesa Trail) | Roughly 6 to 7 miles one-way along the base of the Flatirons, between Chautauqua in the north and Eldorado Springs in the south. From NCAR you join it partway, so you can walk as little or as much as you like. |
| Elevation | The NCAR trailhead sits at about 6,180 feet (1,885 metres) at the foot of the Flatirons. |
| Difficulty | Moderate. The Mesa Trail is long, rolling, and hilly; the Walter Orr Roberts Nature Trail is an easy, gentle loop. |
| Dogs | On OSMP land, dogs may be off leash only with a City of Boulder Voice and Sight tag; otherwise a hand-held leash. On NCAR (federal) property, including the Walter Orr Roberts trail and sections of Lower Skunk, Bear Canyon, and Kohler Mesa, all dogs must be on a hand-held leash. |
| Fee | Free. NCAR is not one of the OSMP trailheads that require a paid parking permit, so access and parking are free for everyone. |
| Parking | The large paved NCAR lot is the trailhead, open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. It's a research facility with limited spaces, so it fills on sunny weekend mornings; come early or midweek. |
| Best season | Year-round. Spring and fall are ideal; in summer, start early to beat the heat on the open mesa; winter can bring snow and ice underfoot. |
NCAR and the Mesa Trail at a glance
The NCAR trailhead is one of Boulder's best gateways into the Flatirons. It sits at the west end of Table Mesa Drive, at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, where a large parking lot doubles as an OSMP trailhead. From here you can take the gentle, wheelchair-accessible Walter Orr Roberts Nature Trail, or connect into the Mesa Trail and the web of canyon trails that climb toward Bear Peak and South Boulder Peak. It's free to park and free to hike, which makes it a friendlier starting point than some of the busier pay-to-park trailheads in town.
The Mesa Trail
The Mesa Trail is the classic Boulder foothills traverse. It runs roughly 6 to 7 miles one-way along the base of the Flatirons, linking Chautauqua Park in the north with Eldorado Springs in the south. The City of Boulder describes it as long, sinuous, and hilly, meandering through forests and meadows with connections to nearly all the canyon trails along Boulder's mountain backdrop. Because you can join it from NCAR partway along, you don't have to commit to the whole thing: turn it into a short out-and-back, or shuttle a car and walk the full point-to-point. It's a favorite for long trail runs, too.
The Walter Orr Roberts Nature Trail
Right behind the Mesa Laboratory is the Walter Orr Roberts Nature Trail, named for NCAR's founding director. It's a gentle loop of about 0.4 miles, and the UCAR Center for Science Education calls it the only interpretive weather trail in the United States: signs along the way explain weather and climate features of Colorado's Front Range. It's wheelchair accessible and open year-round, which makes it a lovely short walk for families, or a warm-up before you head out onto the Mesa Trail.
Parking and hours
Parking is in the large paved NCAR lot, open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Restrooms are inside the NCAR building during its open hours. Remember this is a working research facility, not a park, and the lot has a finite number of spaces, so on sunny weekend mornings it can fill up. Come early or midweek, and if the lot is full, be respectful and try one of the nearby trailheads like Chautauqua or Enchanted Mesa rather than parking where you shouldn't.
Fees
There's no fee here. NCAR is not one of the OSMP trailheads that require a paid parking permit for non-resident vehicles, so parking and trail access are free for everyone. That sets it apart from trailheads like Chautauqua, Gregory Canyon, and the South Mesa lot, where drivers whose vehicles aren't registered in Boulder County need a daily or annual permit.
Dogs
Dog rules change depending on which land you're standing on, so watch the signs. On OSMP land, dogs may be off leash only if they meet the voice and sight control standard and display a City of Boulder Voice and Sight tag; otherwise they must be on a hand-held leash, and you always have to pick up after them. On NCAR (federal) property, including the Walter Orr Roberts trail and sections of Lower Skunk, Bear Canyon, and Kohler Mesa, all dogs must be on a hand-held leash, no exceptions.
Best season and time to go
You can hike here any time of year. Spring and fall are the sweet spots, with cool air and long light. In summer the mesa is open and exposed, so start early to beat the heat and the parking crunch. Winter is quiet and often beautiful, but snow and ice linger in the shaded canyon sections, so bring traction and watch your footing.
Nearby trails and guides
- All hikes in Boulder: the full hiking hub, sorted by difficulty.
- Chautauqua Park: the Mesa Trail's north end, and Boulder's most iconic trailhead.
- Royal Arch Trail: a steep, rewarding climb to a stone arch, reached from Chautauqua.
Recommended nearby
A few local spots we'd point an NCAR or Mesa Trail day toward.
[CLIENT SLOT: featured cafe near NCAR / Table Mesa]
[One honest line: coffee or breakfast on the way to the trailhead.]
[CLIENT SLOT: featured gear shop near South Boulder]
[One honest line: last-minute layers, water, or trail shoes.]
[CLIENT SLOT: featured restaurant near NCAR]
[One honest line: where to refuel after the Mesa Trail.]
NCAR & Mesa Trail FAQ
Where do you park for NCAR and the Mesa Trail?
You park in the large lot at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), at the west end of Table Mesa Drive in South Boulder. The lot is the OSMP trailhead and is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. It's a popular spot that fills on sunny weekend mornings, so arrive early or come midweek.
Is there a fee to hike at NCAR?
No. NCAR is not one of the OSMP trailheads that require a paid parking permit, so parking and trail access are free for everyone. (Some other Boulder trailheads, like Chautauqua, do charge for non-resident parking, but NCAR does not.)
How long is the Mesa Trail?
The Mesa Trail runs roughly 6 to 7 miles one-way along the base of the Flatirons, between Chautauqua Park in the north and Eldorado Springs in the south. The City of Boulder describes it as long, sinuous, and hilly, with connections to nearly all the canyon trails. Starting from NCAR you pick it up partway, so you can make it a short out-and-back or a long point-to-point.
Can dogs go off leash at the NCAR trailhead?
It depends on where you are. On OSMP land, dogs may be off leash only if they meet the voice and sight control standard and display a City of Boulder Voice and Sight tag; otherwise they must be on a hand-held leash. On NCAR (federal) property, including the Walter Orr Roberts trail and sections of Lower Skunk, Bear Canyon, and Kohler Mesa, all dogs must be leashed.
What is the Walter Orr Roberts Nature Trail?
It's a gentle, wheelchair-accessible loop of about 0.4 miles behind the NCAR Mesa Laboratory, named for NCAR's founding director. The UCAR Center for Science Education calls it the only interpretive weather trail in the United States, with signs about weather and climate along the way. It's a great short walk for families before or after a bigger Mesa Trail hike.
Sources
Facts on this page are drawn from these authoritative sources: