By Mara Irons, Director of Marketing
I’ve been looking forward to the cool hiking weather, and this October has brought along those fall chills and colors. Although hiking looks a little different now with a 4-month-old. It’s more of a casual stroll (stroller included) on paved paths around the neighborhood than the mountainous adventure I’m used to, but we’ll get back to the mountains soon! Since baby and I aren’t currently in hiking condition, I thought I’d share a trek I did last year.
Start at Chautauqua Park
I met my friend Rachel at Chautauqua Park in Boulder. We parked our cars along one of the neighborhood streets off of Baseline Rd and made sure we had plenty of water and snacks. We went on a Tuesday, mainly because you have to pay for parking on weekends, but parking is free during the week. The park itself is also less crowded during the week.
The hike is fairly short, but it has A LOT of stairs and elevation gain that make it a difficult trail. We chose to start our hike at Bluebell Road and head up towards Bluebell shelter rather than take the more populated Chautauqua Trail. Bluebell Road is a pedestrian-only path, so no need to worry about any vehicles aside from the occasional maintenance trucks which we came across on our journey.
Up We Go
We followed the signs to the Royal Arch trail and only took a couple of breaks along the way. The elevation gain is a bit intense, but the views are worth it. The sun beating down also increases the difficulty of this hike. I think I drank half a liter of water before we even got to the arch.
Before you head out, make sure to check the warnings for the trails. One of our paths ended up being closed, and we had to find a last-minute detour. I highly recommend using AllTrails if you don’t already use it.
Found the Arch
The Boulder County website says that this trail “can be confusing and feel longer than expected,” and they weren’t lying. We traversed several switchbacks that kept us thinking we were just one turn away from the arch, but we were not. Luckily, Rachel had the trail pulled up on her phone so we knew we were still on the right path.
After what felt like hours (probably only 30 minutes), we finally made it to the arch. The sun was bright overhead, and the views were absolutely stunning. As you can tell, I was tired after climbing all the steps.
Time for a Snack
We finally went through the arch, clambering down rocks to an area overlooking Boulder and the Flatirons. This overlook is the perfect place for a snack break. The pines, the reservoir, and the sprawling city of Boulder were breathtaking from our 1153 ft elevation gain.
The Way Back
We packed up all our trash, verifying that we were leaving no trace. Then we made our way back down the steps and returned the way we came.
We made it back to Bluebell Road and looked back at the Flatirons. The view from below was equally as beautiful on this day. I can’t wait to get back to hiking soon!
Mara Irons
Mara Irons is the Marketing Manager at Transformance Advisors. She specializes in crafting compelling content and conducting research to ensure community relevance. With a background spanning education, transportation, digital marketing, health, and nonprofit sectors, Mara brings diverse expertise to her role.
Driven by a passion for assisting small businesses in the digital realm, Mara delivers innovative solutions and fosters meaningful connections.
Outside of work, she loves exploring the outdoors with her dog, Indi. However, if it’s cold or raining, you can find her on the couch watching true crime documentaries with a glass of wine.
To learn more about Mara, visit her LinkedIn profile.
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