Chapman Drive | Get Away

Making your way in the world today

Takes everything you’ve got

Taking a break from all your worries

Sure would help a lot.  Wouldn’t you like to get away?

The characters down at Cheers sure knew how to take a break but for some of us sometimes a little sweat and strain goes down better than a mug of tasty suds.

Find the Red Lion Restaurant and you find the Chapman Drive trailhead.  The trail is actually a closed road featuring a continuous 2.6 mile climb from Boulder Canyon Drive to Realization Point and Flagstaff Road.  It’s a 7% grade climb which means the climb slopes 7 feet for every 100 feet of length – not particularly difficult by Colorado standards but those from lower elevations may find it strenuous at times.  The tread is fine gravel Dirt road and often loose with fantastic views and if that isn’t enough to pull you off the bar stool you’ll cheer over the refreshing aromas especially after a little rain.

The heavy rains from last year have made their own bas-relief impressions on the trail and some sections get mighty narrow so check your balance because some of the trenches are deep.  Rocks are few but they just so happen to be concentrated around all the eroded parts of the trail so watch your speed.

This is a multi-use trail so be mindful of other trail users and always yield to hikers although most are happy to let you by.  Climbers always get the right of way and since part of the trail gets narrow it’s important to follow trail etiquette.

Most Boulderites ride Chapman Drive as part of a larger loop and if you don’t mind riding the majority of the loop on pavement alongside local Boulder traffic then this loop ride is well worth the effort.  Click here for the trail profile and if you should ever find yourself in need of a little cheer, hop on the bike and give Chapman Drive a try.

Thanks for clicking in and I hope to see you on the trail. 

Dirt Life