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North Table Loop Trail

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 3.9 (114)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. …Golden
  5. North Table Mountain
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“A rolling grassland trail that circumnavigates North Table Mountain. ”

Tom Robson
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Map Key

7.7

Miles

12.3

KM

Loop

6,486' 1,977 m

High

5,851' 1,783 m

Low

1,058' 323 m

Up

1,056' 322 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

25%

Max Grade (14°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · River/Creek · Views

Rattlesnakes are commonly seen on North Table Mountain!

Snakebite Identification and First Aid

Overview

This is a nice hike that feels somewhat remote despite being right on the edge of Golden and Denver. There's a decent amount of elevation change so this isn't a trivial hike, but it's not overly technical, and the trail is easy to follow.

Be sure not to miss the viewpoint off of Lichen Peak, the park's highest peak.

Description

Start this trail at the northern end of the main North Table parking lot, located just east of CO-93. Follow the mesa's contours as you take in the beautiful views of the nearby Hogsback hills, White Ranch Park and the surrounding front range mountains.

After bearing left at the junction with Mesa Top Trail you'll encounter a small climb that quickly becomes a descent after the Y-intersection with Tablerock Trail. Continue to follow the contours of the mesa as North Table Loop Trail skirts the northern end of North Table Mountain.

Shortly after the trail passes the other end of Mesa Top, you'll encounter the most difficult feature of this trail - a steep, switchbacked climb. Take this torturous ascent past Cottonwood Canyon Trail, and Neighborhood Access Trail. Shortly after these trail junctions, the climb becomes shallower and you'll find yourself on top of the mesa! Take in the beautiful front range views, but don't linger long... The smells from the Coors water treatment plant can be brutal depending on wind direction.

Once North Table Loop passes the Tilting Mesa Trail, you'll encounter a minor, but steep descent directly into the North Table parking lot.

Flora & Fauna

Species Highlights:
  • Cliff-nesting Golden Eagle
  • Red-tailed Hawk
  • Rattlesnake

Contacts

Land Manager: Jefferson County, CO - Open Space Dept.

Shared By:

Tom Robson
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.9 from 114 votes

#1

in North Table Mountain

#126

Overall
  3.9 from 114 votes
5 Star
28%
4 Star
43%
3 Star
24%
2 Star
3%
1 Star
3%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in North Table Mountain

#39

in Colorado

#126

Overall
81 Views Last Month
17,380 Since Dec 24, 2014
Intermediate Intermediate
1%
2%
73%
7%
16%
1%
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Photos

Junction of North Table Loop & Mesa Top Trail
Feb 26, 2018 near Golden, CO
Beginning of trail.
Nov 4, 2020 near Golden, CO
North Table Loop and Cottonwood Canyon Trails split
Apr 29, 2018 near Golden, CO
View of Coors Brewery and the town of Golden from the base of the North Table Cliff
May 21, 2015 near Golden, CO
Going up North Table Mountain
Sep 19, 2017 near Golden, CO
North Table Loop looking northeast toward Denver.
Mar 14, 2020 near Applewood, CO

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 28 days ago
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Check-Ins

Sep 29, 2024
Private User
Apr 2, 2023
Gio
Awesome hike. Building my high altitude lung strength. — 2h 39m
Jun 4, 2022
Cameron Blizard
Jun 2, 2022
Cameron Blizard
Lichen peak, climb in quarry 6mi
May 12, 2022
Ryan Bowman
Completed around sunset 7.7mi
Apr 7, 2022
Amber Jeffers
Mar 27, 2022
Dan Shanley
Holy hell long hike. Cool views of coors brewery and city. Lots of bikers though. 7.4mi — 3h 06m
Mar 15, 2021
Evelyn Vernon

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