We hiked in heavy snow using snowshoes. We took it slow and easy. Although the views were largely hidden by snow and fog we still had great views and a good hike I will go back when I visit in the summer.
Jim W.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Los Angeles, CA
Colorado residents and visitors should make the time to take in this Rocky Mountain experience. This is a moderate hike for those in decent shape, just remember if you’re not acclimated, you are hiking roughly from 7900ft to 8900ft. Sugarloaf Mountain is about a half hour outside of Boulder. It is easily seen from the plains-it’s the mountain just behind the foothills that is uniformly cone shaped. Let me cut ahead to the pay-off before I fill in the details: A hike up Sugarloaf Mountain from the parking area pays off with magnificent 360 views. The Continental Divide is spread out before you in spectacular fashion. Long’s Peak(one of the 14teeners) views are fabulous. To one side are steep drops down talus slopes into Four Mile Canyon. Turn around and you can see Denver and on a cool, clear day, probably Kansas.(not really but it seems that way). I have knocked around the high country quite a bit and been to the top of several peaks, and for the accessability and proximity to Denver and Boulder, Sugarloaf Mountain has some of the best panoramic views. Some of my personal highlights from Sugarloaf hikes: –Watching an eagle glide along on thermals, sometimes above me, sometimes below. –Waving at people in a glider and actually being able to hear the wings of the glider whistling through the air. –Watching the sun set below the snow-capped divide(you can see the Indian Peaks and Never Summer range from here) while sitting in adirondack style chairs made from loose slabs of stone on the western facing side of the peak. Drive west out of Boulder on Canyon(toward Nederland). About 5 miles. Turn right on Sugarloaf Rd., follow it about 4 miles to a right, watch for signs. Trailhead is just a dirt lot. Trail starts with gravel/dirt, becomes very rocky as you climb. Not very steep or challenging if you take your time. Also views of forest fire damage from recent years in surrounding foothills. Just don’t do what I did with a visitor: Hiked up sugarloaf one day, biking the next day, on the third day of their visit(they were visiting from an elevation of 600ft.) we went to play racquetball in the morning. Ten minutes into racquetball my guest says«Are the lights in here flickering? Wait, I think I might pass out…» Oops. Altitude.
M E.
Boulder, CO
Great hike, pretty easy. Very beautiful. The seven year olds basically ran all the way
