Hiking the Shanahan Trail in Boulder, Co

There are several different entrances to the Shanahan Trail, a hiking trail in Boulder, Colorado. The trail in which we entered started with a relatively steep incline. There are small steps that help you climb to the top. This trail meets with another trail. If you stay to the right you will come a small map that includes the does and don'ts of the various trails. There are several different routes you could take depending on the type of hike you are looking for. In general, this is an easy to moderate trail. Moderate being the few inclines areas.

We selected to do a larger loop that included South Fork Shanahan, a small portion of the Mesa Trail, Big Bluestem Trail and then back to South Fork Shanahan. The first part of the South Fork Shanahan trail starts to the left of the sign and continues up the incline. There is a split in the trail with a sing showing “to South Fork Shanahan”, but we continued upward. This is where the trail meets Mesa trail and the North Fork Shanahan Trail. If you are looking for a shorter hike you can continue to the right on the North trail. Otherwise take a sharp left and it will put you on the Mesa Trail.

The South Fork Shanahan trail is made with well groomed gravel rocks. The Mesa trail is significantly smaller in width and winds more through the woods. You'll stay on the Mesa trail until it intersects with the Big Bluestem trail. I think this trail offered the best views of Boulder. You can see the Marshall Mesa Trail off in the distance and there are wide open views of the fields below. The mountainside is now to your back and you're headed downward towards the cars.

Once you reach the bottom you'll see that the trail meets up with another trail, it isn't marked but to the right is the base of the Mesa Trail and to the left Big Bluestem continues on. We stayed to left so we could head back towards our car. If you are looking for a longer hike then you could loop around the Mesa trail and come back down the Shanahan Trail but this would significantly longer and more difficult. As the loop we were taking was 4.5 miles already, we decided to stay to the left as previously planned.

As you're hiking the bottom half of Big Bluestem trail you'll see a trail off to your left. This will take you back to South Shanahan. It isn't marked so watch for it. If you continue on without taking the left you will end up at the Big Bluestem parking lot. It adds another two miles to your hike so make sure you take the trail on your left if you want to loop around.

The trail back to South Shanahan trail has a few inclines and can be narrow in parts. It winds through the fields and woods. When you intersect a larger trail you will want to stay to the right. This is South Shanahan. Continue past three areas that lead to parking areas. The third trail on your right is where you've parked if you've follow this article.

We found this hike to be beautiful and relaxing, but recommend taking a map with you as some of the turn offs are unmarked. Enjoy!

Directions: From the intersection of Table Mesa Dr and Lehigh Street, follow Lehigh Street south to Cragmoor Road and turn right. Then bear right on View Point Road and follow to the end.

Difficulty: Moderately easy (few inclines)

Length: 4.5 mile loop

Allowed: Dogs (sight & voice control off leash allowed), horses

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