A short, scenic hike to the top of Bald Mountain rewards you with a spectacular panorama of the Great Plains and Continental Divide. The perfect place for an afternoon picnic, Bald Mountain is ideal for both family time and contemplative solitude.
Bald Mountain Scenic Area
Documents, Field Guides & Plans
Parking
- 19 car spots available
- Horse trailer parking not available
Picnic Areas
- Picnic tables located near trailhead
Restrooms
- Seasonal restroom available during summer months
Visitation
Along Colorado’s Front Range the sweeping grasslands of the Great Plains rise to meet the rugged peaks of the Southern Rocky Mountains. Where they meet we find the foothills – a zone of geological and biological transition. Foothills ecosystems are made up of myriad landforms such as cliffs, canyons, hills, and plateaus. Plant communities range from grasslands to shrublands to forests which provide a variety of habitats for a rich diversity of animals.
Due to the park’s relatively small size and scarcity of water, animal diversity is low here.
Birds
- Common raven
- Downy woodpecker
- Hairy woodpecker
- Steller’s jay
Mammals
- Abert’s squirrel
- Least chipmunk
Flowers
- Common harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
- Fringed sage (Artemisia frigida)
- Mouse ear chickweed (Cerastium spp)
- Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens)
Shrubs
- Bushy cinquefoil
- Wax currant
Trees
- Ponderosa pine
- Rocky Mountain juniper
Homesteading, Mining, and Ranching
Pioneers grazed livestock, mined and logged here. Cattle grazing occurred on the open space meadows as early as 1886. An old livestock loading corral and chute still stand near the entrance and were once a part of the Jones’ homestead across the road.
Boulder County’s First Open Space Property
In 1973 Boulder County Parks and Open Space leased the area from the Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners. The lease is still active today.