Royal Arch Trail

Our focus for the past few months has been decorating our new house and getting ready for the surprise birthday trip we planned for David’s parents (post coming soon!). Towards the end of July, it dawned on us – we have not been hiking very much this summer! We immediately started looking for one to do that weekend. It needed to be close to home because we just spent hours in the car on a long road trip. The Royal Arch Trail in Boulder just reopened after being closed last year due to flooding, so we decided to go for it.

David and I stopped by the Chautauqua ranger station to pick up a map and get details on the route. Royal Arch is about three miles roundtrip and starts near the base of the Flatirons. The trail climbs through Bluebell Canyon before arriving at the unique rock formation with an amazing panorama of Boulder and the surrounding foothills.

Even though we started early that morning, the sun was already in full swing. The section leading up to the mountainside had little to no shade from the brutal sun. We were relieved to reach the wooded pine trees that provided some shade for the rest of the path. The trail itself was challenging – very rocky, uneven and comprised almost entirely of tall stone stairs. It quickly became apparent why this trail was nicknamed the “Boulder Stairmaster.”

When we reached the top, we found a shady spot at the base to rest and enjoy the view. Royal Arch towered over us, with several people and their dogs squeezing through its opening to catch a glimpse of the expansive vista. Although the trail was strenuous, and we knew our legs would be useless the next day, there was a huge feeling of accomplishment finishing the trail and reaching the natural arch.