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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

91%

Runnable

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 run 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 run, 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

#128

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

#128

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

2 Comments

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Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 63 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Sep 23, 2024
Paul Allam
Took Kenji on walk up NT. — 1h 30m
Sep 19, 2024
Conor Lamb
10mi — 2h 03m
May 5, 2024
Andrew Lee
1 gel right before, 1 halfway 7.3mi — 1h 29m
May 4, 2024
Ray Rowland
Mar 12, 2024
Atsuko Ohtake
Dec 2, 2023
Andrew Lee
Clockwise 7.1mi — 1h 26m
Feb 28, 2023
Atsuko Ohtake
Dec 1, 2022
Trevor Edie
Good loop. 7.5mi

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