Hiking Trails Near Boulder

12 named route entries mapped within 30 km (19 miles) of central Boulder, with real lengths in kilometres and miles — and a straight answer about the data we do not have.

Guide revised: 2026-09-14 · By TrailsPals

Choose an official trailhead before choosing a line on the map

This snapshot contains regional routes, including Denver Orbital Trail segments; it is not a list of the best Flatirons hikes. For a separate, established Boulder starting point, consult the City of Boulder's Chautauqua trailhead guide. It provides access and parking information and links to the surrounding trail network.

Parking capacity is limited. Check the city's Park-to-Park shuttle page for operating dates before relying on the seasonal service. Use the official trailhead directory to check closures and choose the actual start of your hike. These official options are additional planning resources, not claims that every trail appears in our snapshot. Sources checked September 14, 2026.

Explore the area

This is a regional overview, not a drawing of the listed routes. Open a route's source link to inspect its geometry. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Mapped entries may be connectors or regional sections and may include alternatives. Confirm legal access, official closures, the full return distance, weather and daylight. We have not independently surveyed these routes. Report a correction · Editorial policy

The 12 named hiking routes in this saved OpenStreetMap query within 30 km (19 miles) of central Boulder, sorted short to long. Routes under 1 km and over 60 km are filtered out, so this is a filtered snapshot rather than every walkable path. Length alone does not establish suitability for a day hike.

Each length is computed from the route's own mapped geometry, and every name links back to the OpenStreetMap relation it came from, so nothing here has to be taken on trust.

How many hiking trails are near Boulder?

This page lists the saved query of named hiking relations within 30 km (19 miles) of central Boulder that runs between 1 and 60 km, 12 of them. Shorter fragments and long-distance thru-hikes are filtered out, so this is a filtered snapshot rather than everything walkable near Boulder.

How long are the hiking trails near Boulder?

The routes listed here run from 2.6 km (1.6 miles) up to 24.4 km (15.2 miles), with a median of 10.9 km. 2 of the 12 are under 5 km. Lengths are computed from the mapped route geometry rather than taken from signage, so they can differ from the trailhead board.

Which trails near Boulder are shortest and longest?

Of the 12 routes listed here, the shortest is Button Rock Trail at 2.6 km (1.6 miles) and the longest is Boulder Valley Ranch Trails at 24.4 km (15.2 miles). Both lengths are computed from the mapped route geometry, not taken from signage or from a guidebook.

How difficult are the hiking trails near Boulder?

None of these routes carries a difficulty rating, so this page shows none. OpenStreetMap grades hiking difficulty with the SAC scale, and that tag is empty on all 12 of them; a rating we invented would be worth nothing to you. Use length as a first filter, then check the land manager's page for the trail you pick.

How long does it take to hike these trails?

Naismith's rule, the standard planning estimate since 1892, allows an hour for every 5 km on the flat plus an hour for every 600 m of ascent. The median route here is 10.9 km, so about 2 hours 11 minutes before any climbing. These pages carry no elevation data, so treat that as a floor.

Where does this trail data come from?

Every route here comes from OpenStreetMap, the open map database, under the ODbL licence, and this snapshot was taken on Aug 29, 2026. Lengths are computed from the mapped geometry of each route relation. Each trail name links back to its relation, so you can check the source or fix it yourself.

Can you track a hike near Boulder and share it live?

Yes. TrailsPals records your route on your iPhone and gives someone you trust a link showing your last synced position, when it was recorded, and when you said you would be back — they install nothing. Out of coverage the track keeps recording on the phone and syncs when signal returns.

Before you go

Pick the length first, then read up: our day-hike safety checklist covers what to do before you leave, the beginner gear checklist covers what goes in the pack, and what to do if you get lost covers the part nobody plans for. If someone at home wants to follow along, live location sharing explains what they actually see, and the hiking safety app page covers expected-return times and check-ins. Recording the walk itself is its own guide.

Trail guides for other cities

• Hiking trails near Asheville — 30 named routes
• Hiking trails near Denver — 30 named routes
• Hiking trails near Phoenix — 30 named routes
• Hiking trails near Portland — 20 named routes
• Hiking trails near Salt Lake City — 6 named routes
• Hiking trails near San Diego — 5 named routes
• Hiking trails near Seattle — 30 named routes