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Dakota Ridge to Sanitas Valley Loop

 4.0 (6)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. …Boulder
  5. Mount Sanitas
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2.3 Miles 3.7 Kilometers


85%

Runnable

458' 139 m

Ascent

-458' -139 m

Descent

8%

Avg Grade (4°)

21%

Max Grade (12°)

5,961' 1,817 m

High

5,503' 1,677 m

Low

Shared By Dan Gleason

Conditions

All Clear 96 days ago
Dry History
Getting forecast...

“A technical ascent with a great view of Boulder, followed by a nice, open downhill pitch.”

— Dan Gleason
Driving DirectionsGPX File

Dogs Off-leash

Features Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Overview

Rocky, technical terrain on Dakota Ridge and a few short steep climbs lead to a great view of Boulder. Turning around on Sanitas Valley Trail is a welcome relief. It's a wide gravel/dirt trail with a manageable downhill pitch, allowing you to cruise back down.

Runner Notes

This is a great, quick loop that can easily be done from town. The perfect mid-day "runch" break.

Description

Start on Sanitas Valley Trail. Keep an eye out for the Dakota Ridge Trail sign about 0.2 miles in. Dakota Ridge is a rocky and rooty singletrack, which makes for a great challenge. Follow Dakota Ridge north, paralleling the Valley Trail. There are a few forks that lead back to the Valley Trail. Be sure to stay on Dakota Ridge.

Go easy on the stairs, as they're pretty steep, and it doesn't really level out until you reach the turnaround. Be wary of rocks and roots - keep your head down. You'll know you've reached the end of the uphill when you see a bench to the right overlooking a sweeping view of Boulder.

Stop and enjoy it for a minute. Then head to the gravel/dirt path, and head south (left) down the Sanitas Valley Trail back to the trailhead. Be wary on this path as it gets a lot of visitors.

Flora & Fauna

You're unlikely to encounter much other than squirrels and chipmunks along this trail.

Contacts

Land Manager: Boulder County, CO - Parks and Open Space

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Your Check-Ins

Check-Ins

Aug 29, 2018
James Carson
Nov 11, 2017
Hrishi Chandanpurkar
Did it twice: once a loop and then just going up again on the gentler (west) side and back. — 0h 50m
May 30, 2017
Kristan Uhlenbrock
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 6 votes

#3

in Mount Sanitas

#2287

Overall
  4.0 from 6 votes
5 Star
17%
4 Star
67%
3 Star
17%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Rankings

#3

in Mount Sanitas

#344

in Colorado

#2,287

Overall
93 Views Last Month
1,575 Since Feb 1, 2016
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
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Photos

Trail runners enjoy their winter workout
Trail runners enjoy their winter workout
 3
View from the top of Dakota Ridge
View from the top of Dakota Ridge
 3
Beautiful broad valley views to the south
Beautiful broad valley views to the south
 3
Views of Bear Peak and the edge of the Flatirons
Views of Bear Peak and the edge of the Flatirons
 3
View up-valley from the Dakota Ridge Trail
View up-valley from the Dakota Ridge Trail
 3
Late season flowers on the Sanitas Valley Trail
Late season flowers on the Sanitas Valley Trail
 3

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