Boulder Trails | Mallory Cave
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Recreation Trails Mallory Cave
Mallory Cave is one of the very few accessible (previously) caves in the area and serves as the home for roosting Townsend's Big-Eared Bats that sleep upside down in the cave during the day. Even though the cave itself is now closed all year, the trail is well worth doing and rewards you with an incredible view at the top.
The trail is a rather steep ascent, climbing an average of 854 feet per mile. The upper section of the trail has some nice fir pine areas lined with ferns.
The cave was originally noted by loggers in the area and was later rediscovered by a University of Colorado student named E.C. Mallory in 1932.
Mallory Cave trail makes for a nice short relatively strenuous climb if you are looking for exertion and not distance.
Due to the national outbreak of white-nosed syndrome the cave itself it now closed all year long.
- Trail Stats
- Connections
- Photos
- Directions
Distance |
1.1, One Way |
Miles |
Physical Difficulty Technical Difficulty Elevation Gain Starting Elevation Max. Elevation Min. Elevation Facilities Fees Wheelchair Use Mountain Bikes Dogs Horses Fishing Snowshoe X-Country Ski Agency Trail Map |
Moderate - Strenuous, steep ascent Easy - Moderate (rocky scramble to cave) 940 (854'/mile elevation change) 6080 7020 6080, trail junction None None Not Accessible No Yes Yes, not recommended None NA / Unknown NA / Unknown |
Feet Feet Feet Feet
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Highlights |
Bat cave at the trail end, closed seasonally. Final 100 feet to the cave is a rocky scramble. Great view of Boulder from the top. Ferns line the upper trail sections. |
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Comments |
Relatively steep ascent, great workout.
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Cave is closed the entire year for the sake of the roosting bats. Please be respectful of the bats, since bats all over the nation are struggling to survive against an infection that is wiping out their numbers in many places.Connects to Mesa Trail behind the NCAR area. |
Mallory Cave trail segment
Mallory Cave Trail
Rocky scramble section on Mallory Cave trail
Photos courtesy of J. Thomas Colorado Photographer - All Rights Reserved©
Directions to Mallory Cave Trail
Mallory Cave Trail pulls off of Mesa Trail, just behind the NCAR parking and trailhead area. If you are headed directly to Mallory Cave, the easiest thing to do is park at NCAR and follow the connection between the small Weather Loop at NCAR and Mesa Trail. The junction for Mallory Cave trail is roughly where the NCAR connector meets Mesa Trail. Look for signposts.
NCAR is at the west end of Table Mesa Dr. Table Mesa is easily accessed from Broadway/CO 93. Drive slowly on the road in as it often has bicyclists and deer on it.
