Flagstaff Summit Trailhead

 

Click the map at left for a larger image.

LOCATION

3.4 miles up Flagstaff Road ( see map, 50KB), to Realization Point, then 0.5 miles on Flagstaff Summit Road. Vehicular access May through October only.

Download the Circle Hikes Guide (382.04 KB), a brochure with map and description of trails in this area.

Please check for temporary or seasonal closures and advisories.

  

 

Update 4/29/09: Due to continued vandalism the well near the Flagstaff Nature Center has been closed and will not be reopened at this time.

PARKING

Parking lots and parking fee.

TRAILS

Flagstaff (moderate/strenuous) (1.5 mi; 1,120ft.) starts where Baseline Road turns into Flagstaff Road and the trail follows up to Panorama Point and up to Flagstaff Summit.

Boy Scout (easy/moderate) (0.8 mi; 140 ft.) begins and ends at the Sunrise Amphitheater and heads west through Douglas-fir forest, providing good views of Boulder Canyon.  The trail gradually rises and falls to May's Point for an excellent view of Indian Peaks.  Return back to parking lot at the west end of Flagstaff Summit via Boy Scout Trail.

Range View (0.6 mi; 170 ft.) provides excellent views of Indian Peaks as it follows the west side of Flagstaff Mountain.  Keep a sharp lookout for birds of prey as the trail returns back to Realization Point.

Plains Overlook (0.2 mi; 60 ft.) a little loop trail that starts at the upper end of the Flagstaff Trail and leads to a clearing with a view of Boulder.  A short branch of the trail goes northeast to the Sunrise Amphitheater.

Ute Trail (0.6 mi; 120 ft.) Skirts the summit of Flagstaff Mountain (7,283 feet) and ends at a picnic area near the summit.  Access to Flagstaff, Range View, and Boy Scout Trails.  This trail was named to honor the Ute Indians, a mountain people of the Boulder area.

If you haven't paid a visit to the Flagstaff Nature Center, located on Flagstaff Summit, please stop by during the summer and fall months. It is open and staffed by volunteers from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

ACCESSIBILITY

This area is identified as being popular with people using wheelchairs. See the Trails Accessibility Guide (TAP) (3.44 MB).

RESTROOMS

Restrooms available at Flagstaff Summit.

PICNIC FACILITIES

Picnic tables, grills, and trash cans located around Flagstaff Summit. Follow this link to learn how to reserve the picnic facilities and the Sunrise Amphitheater.

BIKE REGULATIONS

Bicycles are allowed on Flagstaff Summit Road, but not on the trails.

DOG REGULATIONS

Dogs must be on a hand-held leash at all times unless they meet the voice and sight control standard and display a City of Boulder Voice and Sight tag. Dog excrement removal is required by law.

HORSE REGULATIONS

Horses are allowed on all trails. On-trail riding is encouraged to protect rare plants and wildlife habitat.

WILDLIFE

Black bears and mountain lions inhabit this area. Many other wildlife species are common including songbirds, birds of prey, mule deer, red foxes, and coyotes.

 

HISTORIC INFO

The historic picnic structures and Sunrise Amphitheater were constructed by the CCC in the 1930's, along with improvements to Flagstaff Road (image at right).  Flagstaff Summit was the site of the KKK cross burning in 1922. A large wildfire burned across the summit of Flagstaff Mountain in October 1924, followed in the late 1920's by a large community effort led by Eben Fein to replant trees. Exactly 70 years later, almost to the day, Open Space & Mountain Parks conducted a 20 acre prescribed burn on the same site -- underscoring how our preception of forest fires has changed through the years.

Before You Go

Please know OSMP rules and regulations.

Please study our six Leave No Trace" Principles to protect the land.

Dog owners: see our special dog page.

Hikers and climbers: Please be aware of all area closures.

Mountain bikers: Follow this link for trails where you can bike.

Last Updated on Friday, 09 July 2010 13:08