Iconic Mount Sanitas, one of Boulder’s most distinctive and popular natural landmarks for hikers and trail runners, will undergo a multi-year project for trail improvements, summit maintenance and new trails.
With a trailhead located less than a mile from the Pearl Street Mall, Sanitas attracts more than 300,000 visitors annually, according to Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks. The main Mount Sanitas trail extends 1.3 miles from the trailhead to the summit with a rocky ascent of 1,323 feet, offering panoramic views of the Boulder Valley.
High visitor traffic on trails susceptible to erosion require significant, long-term maintenance, open space officials say. Work will be supported by a $1.1-million grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and community fundraising from the Boulder Open Space Conservancy, a non-profit supporters group.
“We’re very fortunate to work with the Boulder Open Space Conservancy, which is helping us leverage philanthropic dollars,” said Phil Yates, spokesman for Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks. “Mount Sanitas is one of our more remarkable, popular and iconic locations within the city of Boulder’s open space system. One reason it’s so unique and so popular is its easy accessibility from the city. It provides a unique mountain foothills experience right in the heart of Boulder.”
Improvements will begin with repairs on the main Mount Sanitas trail, maintenance work at the summit, improving the East Ridge trail, which provides an alternative route to the summit and working on undesignated trails created by visitors hiking off-trail. Future plans include building new trails and installing infrastructure around eight bouldering areas.
No closures are anticipated during construction, but officials say intermittent delays may occur.
“When we construct ongoing trail maintenance and construction, the desire is to keep trails open to the greatest extent possible,” Yates said.
Sanitas is a challenging hike and is rated hard on the Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks website.
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This hidden state park offers solitude, glorious views in northern Colorado Mount Galbraith offers a great way to squeeze in a hike before work“The Mount Sanitas Trail has high foot traffic and meanders both sides of the ridge leading to the Mount Sanitas summit,” according to the website. “The terrain varies from open meadows to rugged boulders and projected rock outcrops. This hike has great rock formations, views above Boulder and optional bouldering areas.”
According to a description in “60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Denver and Boulder,” a guidebook by Kim Lipker and Mindy Sink, the mountain was once home to rock quarries named after a sanitarium dating back to 1895.
“The sanitarium eventually became Boulder Memorial Hospital Mapleton Center for Rehabilitation,” according to the guidebook. “During the 1920s, the University of Colorado owned and operated the quarries. Many of the older buildings on campus were built from the sandstone pulled from the Sanitas Quarries. The city of Boulder purchased the quarry and surrounding land in 1969, creating a nature and wildlife preserve.”
Since then, it has become a treasured landmark for Boulder hikers and runners.
“I have memories of people having very special moments on that perch at the top where you can take in remarkable views,” Yates said.
The Mount Sanitas trail offers panoramic views of Boulder and its surroundings. The trail climbs 1,323 feet and measure 1.3 miles from trailhead to summit. (Matthew Jonas/Daily Camera)Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Adventurist, to get outdoors news sent straight to your inbox.
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