South Boulder Peak
South Boulder Peak is the highest of Boulder's three foothill summits at 8,549 feet, reached by a long, strenuous climb up the Mesa Trail and Shadow Canyon from the South Mesa Trailhead.
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South Boulder Peak quick facts
- Distance
- About 8 miles round trip from the South Mesa Trailhead via the Mesa Trail and Shadow Canyon. The City of Boulder doesn't publish an official distance; GPS-based trail trackers put the round trip near 8 miles.
- Elevation gain
- Roughly 3,000 feet of climbing, most of it in the steep upper mile through Shadow Canyon. This is a commonly measured figure, not an official OSMP number.
- Summit elevation
- 8,549 feet. South Boulder Peak is Boulder's highest and least-traveled summit, per the City of Boulder.
- Difficulty
- Hard and strenuous. A long approach, a steep boulder-strewn canyon, and a rocky summit that takes some scrambling to top out.
- Dogs
- Allowed. Dogs must be on a hand-held leash unless they meet the OSMP voice-and-sight standard and display a City of Boulder Voice and Sight tag.
- Fee / parking
- No fee to hike. Parking at the South Mesa Trailhead requires an OSMP permit: $5 daily (ParkMobile zone 24600) or $25 annual. The lot has 48 standard and 3 ADA spaces and fills fast on weekends.
- Trailhead
- South Mesa Trailhead, on the north side of Eldorado Springs Drive (Highway 170), 1.7 miles west of Highway 93. Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. No parking on Highway 170.
- Best season
- Late spring through fall for a dry, snow-free canyon. Shadow Canyon holds snow and ice into spring and can be slow and slick; summer starts should be early to beat afternoon thunderstorms.
South Boulder Peak at a glance
South Boulder Peak is the tall, quiet one. At 8,549 feet it's the highest of Boulder's three signature summits, edging out Bear Peak and Green Mountain, and the City of Boulder calls it the least traveled of the three. That's mostly because getting there is work: a long walk in on the Mesa Trail, then a steep grind up Shadow Canyon to the saddle, and a final rocky scramble to a summit that looks back over the whole Front Range. It isn't a casual afternoon hike. It's a full-day objective, and it rewards you for the effort.
The standard route: Mesa Trail and Shadow Canyon
The usual way up starts at the South Mesa Trailhead and follows the Mesa Trail and its connectors north and west toward the mouth of Shadow Canyon. The lower miles are gentle, rolling through prairie and along South Boulder Creek. Then the trail tips up. Shadow Canyon leads you through a steep incline to the saddle between Bear Peak and South Boulder Peak, weaving in and out of boulders as you stair-step from conifer forest into a large burn zone. From the saddle, a short but rocky push tops out on South Boulder Peak. All in, it's about 8 miles round trip with roughly 3,000 feet of climbing. The City of Boulder doesn't publish an official distance, so treat those as GPS-track figures rather than exact numbers.
How hard is it?
Hard. This is one of the more strenuous foothill hikes in Boulder, and Shadow Canyon is the reason. The canyon is steep and sustained, with loose and boulder-strewn sections that slow you down on the way up and ask for care on the way down. The summit block itself is rocky and takes a bit of scrambling to top out. Come with real hiking shoes, plenty of water, and time to spare. If you're newer to Boulder's foothills, Mount Sanitas or the Royal Arch Trail make better warm-ups before you take this one on.
Combining with Bear Peak
Because South Boulder Peak and Bear Peak share the saddle at the top of Shadow Canyon, a lot of hikers tag both summits in a single trip. From the saddle, one is a short climb in each direction. Doing both is a satisfying way to stand on two of Boulder's three high points in a day, but it adds meaningful distance and climbing to an outing that's already long, so plan food, water, and daylight accordingly.
Trailhead, parking, and fees
The route starts at the South Mesa Trailhead, on the north side of Eldorado Springs Drive (Highway 170), about 1.7 miles west of Highway 93. The trailhead is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily and has a restroom and picnic tables. There's no fee to hike, but parking now requires an OSMP permit: $5 for a daily permit through ParkMobile (zone 24600) or $25 for an annual permit good at all OSMP fee trailheads. The lot has 48 standard and 3 ADA spaces and fills quickly on weekends, so come early. Parking on Highway 170 is not allowed and vehicles in the roadway can be ticketed or towed.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome on this route. They must be on a hand-held leash unless they meet the OSMP voice-and-sight control standard and display a City of Boulder Voice and Sight tag, in which case they can be off leash under your voice control. Pack out waste; there's a dog station at the trailhead. Remember this is bear and mountain lion country, and the upper canyon is steep and rocky, so a strong recall matters here.
Best season and time to go
Late spring through fall is the sweet spot, when Shadow Canyon is dry and snow-free. The canyon is shaded and north-facing in places, so it holds snow and ice well into spring and can be slow and slick early in the year. In summer, start early: afternoon thunderstorms build fast over the Front Range, and you don't want to be on an exposed, rocky summit when they do. Fall brings cool air and gold in the lower meadows, and it's one of the finest times to make the climb.
Nearby trails and guides
- Bear Peak: the neighboring summit that shares the Shadow Canyon saddle, easy to combine into one big day.
- Royal Arch Trail: a shorter, steep classic from Chautauqua if you want a big view on less mileage.
- All hikes in Boulder: the full hiking hub, sorted by difficulty.
Recommended nearby
A few local spots we'd point a South Boulder Peak day toward.
[CLIENT SLOT: featured gear shop near South Boulder]
[One honest line: traction, layers, or trail food before a big Shadow Canyon day.]
[CLIENT SLOT: featured cafe near the South Mesa Trailhead]
[One honest line: coffee or breakfast on the way to an early start.]
[CLIENT SLOT: featured brewery or bite near South Boulder]
[One honest line: where to refuel after 8 miles and 3,000 feet.]
South Boulder Peak FAQ
How high is South Boulder Peak?
South Boulder Peak tops out at 8,549 feet, which makes it Boulder's highest summit, higher than both Bear Peak and Green Mountain. The City of Boulder also calls it the least-traveled of the three, since the approach is long and steep.
How long is the hike to South Boulder Peak?
The standard route runs from the South Mesa Trailhead up the Mesa Trail and Shadow Canyon to the saddle, then a short rocky push to the top. It's about 8 miles round trip with roughly 3,000 feet of gain. The City of Boulder doesn't publish an official distance, so treat these as GPS-track figures, not exact numbers.
How hard is the Shadow Canyon route?
It's one of the harder foothill hikes in Boulder. The lower Mesa Trail is gentle, but Shadow Canyon is a steep, sustained climb that weaves in and out of boulders and stair-steps up through forest and a burn zone. The summit itself is rocky and takes some scrambling. Plan for a full-day outing.
Can you combine South Boulder Peak with Bear Peak?
Yes. The two summits share the saddle at the top of Shadow Canyon, so many hikers tag both in one trip. From the saddle, South Boulder Peak is a short climb one direction and Bear Peak is a short climb the other. Doing both adds distance and climbing to an already strenuous day.
Do you need to pay to hike South Boulder Peak?
There's no fee to hike the trail itself, but parking at the South Mesa Trailhead requires an OSMP parking permit: $5 for a daily permit through ParkMobile (zone 24600) or $25 for an annual permit. The daily permit is valid at all OSMP fee trailheads for that date.
Sources
Facts on this page are drawn from these authoritative sources: