North Table Mountain

6 miles
2hours
easy
Hiking, Wind/Kite/Surf
Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring
Golden, CO

aegora

sides overlooking the town of Golden, Colorado, and offers stunning

views of the city and the lowlands to the east as well as unobstructed

views of the foothills to the west. There are a couple trail networks

throughout the park, though due to the steepness of the mountain, the

trails circumnavigating the mountain and the ones that access the flat top

rarely cross.

The trail is fairly easy, with the exception of the initial ascent, which is

rather steep. Once beyond this, however, the trail undulates gently

across the plateau and is perfect for jogging or a leisurely walk.

The mountain's location and the fact that it is almost exclusively covered

in grassland means that exposure to the elements is high. There is no

shade to protect against Summertime sun, nor against the wind that can

occasionally howl through with some force, so make sure to bring plenty

of water and wind protection. The unobstructed view does let you get a

good look at the herd of deer and several coyotes that inhabit the upper

ranges however.

Also, the rim rock trail terminates in a spectacular view of the cityscape

below, which I highly recommend late in the afternoon so you can catch

the lights coming on in the dusk before sunset.

Directions:

Head North on highway 93 through Golden and take the first Right past Pine

Ridge Rd into the parking area. Signage is mediocre, so keep a sharp

lookout for the parking access.

Closest bus access is via RTD-Denver. Take the GS Boulder via GS Golden

and get off at the Hwy 93 & Virginia St stop. Parking entrance will be two

streets north.