Green Mountain hike
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Green Mountain hike
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The hike to the summit of Green Mountain takes you to one of the five highest peaks near Boulder. This is a popular training route for hikers aspiring to tackle some of Colorado’s many 14ers. After hiking to the summit of Green Mountain, you can enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding peaks. This hike does not disappoint!
Getting there
Take Baseline Rd. towards Flagstaff Mountain. Turn left onto Gregory Canyon Road, which dead ends into the parking lot at Gregory Canyon Trailhead.
About
| When to do | Year round |
| Backcountry Campsites | No |
| Toilets | Yes, primitive pit toilet |
| Family friendly | Yes |
| Route Signage | Average |
| Crowd Levels | Moderate |
| Route Type | Out and back |
Green Mountain
Elevation Graph
Weather
Route Description for Green Mountain
Begin the hike from the Gregory Canyon Trailhead. Head right, hiking along Gregory Canyon Trail, slowly gaining elevation as you climb your way up the canyon.
Towards the top of Gregory Canyon, you will run into a trail junction. Go left here and take Ranger Trail towards the historic Green Mountain Lodge and then continue on towards Green Mountain. Ranger Trail is a steep hike through a dense pine forest.
On the Ranger trail you will go through a junction, go right, staying on Ranger Trail (left goes on the Saddle Rock Trail). Continue on Ranger trail, here the hike follows a ridge until it meets up with EM Greenman Trail.
Turn left to take EM Greenman Trail, and a final steep climb gains the summit. On the top of Green Mountain (8144ft) a single large boulder caps the top of the mountain. For the best views, climb the easy ramp up the boulder to the summit marker which serves as a guide for the surrounding peaks. From here you can see Mt. Meeker (13911ft), Longs Peak (14255ft), North Arapahoe Peak (13506ft), Mt. Evans (14259ft), and many more.
To descend from Green Mountain, continue along EM Greenman Trail as it snakes its’ way down from the peak. Soon the Saddle Rock Trail connects onto the EM Greenman trail. The two trails split a short while later. Go right, onto the Amphitheater Trail.
Please note that there is a section of the Saddle Rock Trail that was damaged during the Boulder floods. This section is now a steep washed out section of trail, which has a steel ladder in place for down climbing. If you don’t like ladders you can also return from the summit of Green Mountain by hiking back the way you came, along Ranger Trail. This return is longer than the circular route we describe.
Find more amazing hikes around Boulder:
Insider Hints
Pay to Park at the trailhead unless your vehicle is registered in Boulder County.
Green Mountain is one of the five tallest peaks along the Boulder Front Range, which can all be linked via the Skyline Traverse.
Green Mountain, with its considerable elevation gain, is considered excellent training for hikers aspiring to step up to the 14ers (Colorado summits >14000ft above sea-level).
Dogs are welcome on leash on this trail. Sections of the EM Greenman Trail is designated Dogs Prohibited; More details can be found here.
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BoulderBound 4 years ago
Good trail. The views are remarkable, this is a good training if you are planning to go for higher peaks.
merry g. 5 years ago
This is the kind of hike you would enjoy a lot. The best views await at the summit!
Michael L. 5 years ago
The greeneries were so amazing. The environment was so relaxing. I've read in some research that exploring nature every once in a while is good for health.
Kelsi Honet 5 years ago
Outstanding scenery. Well worth the climb. The last section was the most challenging.
Jeff Axe 5 years ago
It was a pleasing experience. Nature have its own way to improve my mood.
Susanne P. 5 years ago
Astonishing views and lovely trails. This hike was not as easy as I expected because of some steep sections but saw some children manage to do it without any trouble.
Irish L. 5 years ago
Beautiful hike. Took us 5 hours to complete. Worth every stop. Lot's of great spots to rest along the way.
Earl M. 5 years ago
Terrific scenery awaits at the top. The trail was well-maintained and ensure safety.
Ricky J. 5 years ago
The views of the surrounding peaks were impressive. What an incredible hike. We enjoyed it a lot. So amazing.
Tim Charlton 5 years ago
Great hike. Quite hard. Would not choose it as my first in the park for a warm up. It was our third one so we were well prepared.