Royal Arch Trail is a 3.4 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Boulder, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until October. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail.
dog friendly
hiking
snowshoeing
trail running
walking
horseback riding
forest
views
wild flowers
muddy
rocky
Start on Chautauqua trail by the ranger station. After crossing a grassy meadow you enter a pine forest. Start paying attention to signs for Royal Arch as a number of other trails branch off. You know you're going the right way when you get to the flagstone staircase.
Totally worth the effort of the climb. It is rated hard, but it’s more so a tough moderate trail, if that makes sense. Arrive early as it does get busy quick; you’d want to take your time to enjoy the view
This was a great hike and I understand why it's rated hard, but it really is more moderate. The trails are nice and maintained, it does get pretty busy so come early. It comes to a point where it's almost nonstop stairs and you think you're there but you still have a ways to go. It's worth it though. The arch was lovely, the views and lovely and there's plenty of adorable, fearless chipmunks at the top. It says it's dog friendly but I'd hesitate to bring my dog on this one as there's a lot of steep drop offs once you hit Sentienal pass.
Hiked this the day after the October snowstorm, up until the Royal Arch split off point, it was fine, but beyond that the stone staircase had hard packed slush and traction was rough. Had to turn around then. If conditions were dry, this would have been likely 4 or 5 stars.
Very challenging but worth it! Great view of Boulder once you reach the top not to mention the arch was a beautiful sight to see.