Mesa Loop 15 Miles

15 mi/25.5 km Loop. Bear Canyon Creek-Mesa-Big Bluestem-S Boulder Creek-Centennial Trails.

Go up Bear Canyon Creek Trail for 1.9 mi starting at the junction with the Centennial Trail. Once under Broadway this route becomes 1.25 mi of street running. Go up Table Mesa Rd after the Broadway underpass, turn left on Lehigh then right on Bear Mountain Dr to the Bear Canyon Creek trailhead. Proceed up the service road for 1 mi where the Mesa Trail coming from Chautauqua joins. Follow the road up the North slope of the East ridge of Bear Mountain. This .5 mi section of the Mesa trail is a real thigh-screamer. Turn right onto the Mesa trail, the second trail that intersects the road. After 1.33 mi turn left onto the Big Bluestem trail and follow it 3 mi to the South Boulder Creek trailhead. Cross Highway 93 and through a short Eastbound connector trail to the paved road. Go North on the paved road for about a quarter mile to the gate to the South Boulder Creek trail. After 1.8 mi turn right at the South Boulder Rd Gate and run a quarter mile to the underpass. Head North 1.5 mi until Bobolink trailhead, through the underpass to Gapter Rd. Turn left at the first road to the trail, then a quarter mile to the junction with the Centennial trail. Turn left, being mindful of bicyclist, onto the Centennial trail, under 55th street, until a right turn onto Centennial Street. Left on Centennial street through a narrow path at the end of the cul-de-sac. Through the Eisenhower playground, left on the bridge, cross Eisenhower St, Foothills Parkway to the junction with Bear Canyon Creek.