Peaks to Pines Trail

Peaks to Pines Trail

If male pattern baldness could strike a peak, Bald Mountain would be a textbook case. The ponderosa forest that circles its base is like the fringe of hair that often circles a shiny pate; the few trees that adorn the colorful meadow at the apex of the trail are those last, proud shoots that sometimes sprout from a denuded scalp. Lest the analogy trouble you, this is a remarkable place (as bald men are often remarkable people). Wind, seasonal weather extremes, and coarse, shallow soil have conspired to make the summit of Bald Mountain a tough place for a forest to take root. This relative lack of fruitfulness has its advantages, however; the views from the summit are among the best in Boulder’s back yard, ranging west to the Indian Peaks, south to the backside of Flagstaff Mountain and the Flatirons, and east to Boulder, Denver, and surrounding plains. A thoughtfully placed bench in the shade of some ponderosa pines is a perfect spot for contemplation.

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