Bear Peak

Join us for this day hike near Boulder, Colorado!

Bear Peak, located in the Boulder Open Space mountain park, offers a rugged and steep Colorado hiking experience featuring a dramatic, jagged rock summit with 360-degree views of both the Continental Divide and the plains. The trail winds through dense pine forests and rocky canyons.

RSVP OPENS: Wed, Nov 11, 2026 12:00 pm

✅ START HIKING: 9:00 am
TRAIL RATING: 🟡 Vigorous
HIKE STATS: 5 miles round trip \| 2\,700 feet of elevation gain
HIKING TIME: 4 hours 30 min + breaks

TRAILHEAD: Mitchell Lake Trailhead (Brainard Lake)

LOCATION: GOOGLE MAP LINK
MAP: https://caltopo.com/m/D2ACQ50

CARPOOLING (none):
Use the comments below to find hikers near you.

NOTEABLES:
Hikes may be changed or canceled due to weather, snowpack, smoke, avalanche danger and low RSVPS.
🐶Dogs are fine as long as they can keep up.

⚠️ BE PREPARED:
We’re a community of peers, not guides. Everyone is responsible for their own safety, gear, fitness, and ability to complete the hike independently.

Hosts are there to anchor the group by making sure everyone meets at the right place and time so we can head out together. They are not guides or responsible for keeping anyone on pace. If you can’t keep up with the group, you must be prepared to continue independently or turn back.

Need to check your gear? REI’s Hiking Checklist is a great resource.

A signed Safety & Emergency Form is required to join. The link will appear as a required question when you click "RSVP."

GUESTS: Want to bring a friend? Have them join Gay Men Hike Colorado. We'd love to have them.

GROUP SIZE: Limited to 7 people to ensure a more intimate, close-knit experience for everyone.

RSVP EXPECTATIONS: If you miss 2 events without 48 hours notice, you'll need to wait 90 days before rejoining the group.

TRAIL READY:
Trail-ready means capable, self-sufficient, physically fit for the terrain, and prepared for the conditions. Choose trips that match your current fitness and comfort with distance, elevation, and terrain. It's better to finish strong than struggle through.

TRAIL RATINGS:
🟢 Active \~ 5–7 miles, 3-4 hours, moderate elevation (1,000–2,000 ft). Uneven terrain, steady movement, possible stream crossings. You can hike continuously uphill without frequent long breaks.

🟡 Vigorous \~ 7–10 miles, 4-6 hours, sustained elevation gain (1,500–3,000 ft). Longer climbs, rocky sections, frequent stream crossings. You can maintain a steady, conversational pace while ascending.

🔴 Endurance \~ 10+ miles, 6-8 hours, and/or significant
elevation gain (3,000 ft+). Extended climbs, variable terrain, potential off-trail travel. You have strong endurance and are comfortable being pushed for most of the day.

Hiking times are approximate moving times and do not include extended breaks.