WE SWEAT ON THIS ONE. Shoooooweeee. Beautiful views from the top and pet friendly but i would say leave your small less athletic pups at home. This is a toughie. I would say this hike is moderate for the most part, some of the rockier parts are more strenuous. About 7000 ft elevation.

Great hike for beginners to advanced hikers with a very rewarding view at the finish line. You are definitely going to burn quite a few calories on your way up.Kid and pet friendly. Parking lot and trails are crowded during warmer months.

Pretty good hiking trail. Great views of boulder from the arch view point. Pretty slippery right row . Took about 2.5 hours to complete, switch backs are a bit steep and slow you down.

Hiked up here on Sunday afternoon and it's Beatiful. At first I thought it would be an easy hike but once I passed the shelter on the gravel road it turned into a pretty serious cardio workout. The trail is well maintained and lots of steps to help you along the way. Surrounding scenery is Beatiful and natural as well. Arches are a natural beauty and view of Boulder is awesome. Figure about 2 hours round trip and good physical activity.

This trail took about 4 hours from start to back down. It was a strenuous hike with uneven rocks to go up. Definitely need to take a couple breaks headed up. Remember to bring water and snacks. The view at the very end is beautiful. Just sat there for a few minutes to really soak it in. Good hike

Amazing views at the top and a beautiful arch! Short but strenuous hike. You can use hiking poles going up/down as the terrain is quite slippery/dusty and there are lots of rocks. It gets pretty crowded on the weekends, so start early! Overall a great hike!

This trail is said to be one of the best hikes in Boulder and I would have to agree! We started on the trail to the Flatirons…also amazing!! Lots of folks brought dogs!

It’s a great hike. It’s very rocky and there’s allot of stair like climbs. However the view you get at the end is amazing! 100% worth it! With breaks and stops it took us about 3 hours to hike this trail. It’s a great view and you can get your workout in! I highly recommend it! Reminder: don’t forget to bring plenty of water!

A recommended place by local friends if you're looking for a hike that's a closer drive to Denver. No entrance fees are required if you're unable to find a timed entry reservation at the other parks. Finding parking wasn't too difficult. There's additional parking by the nearby houses. Restrooms are available. Love that it's a dog-friendly trail. Bring snacks and extra water to hydrate. We ran out of water during our hike. Recommend good hiking shoes and prepare for an uphill and downhill climb with rocks. I would not rate this as a beginner's hike, but if you're looking for a good leg day workout, come with an open mind, and you can power through it. 👍 It took us about 3.5-4 hours roundtrip (5 miles) with plenty of breaks. There is limited seating once you reach the top, but the view is beautiful.

Beautiful semi challenging hike, very much worth the elevation changes. Perfect photo op.

This is a great hike. Not extremely difficult and really cool view of the prairie. Enjoyed the nice day on the trail and glad to find this gem.

As an avid hiker, I couldn't resist the allure of the Royal Arch hike in Boulder, Colorado. This renowned trek offered me a blend of challenge and reward, culminating in a breathtaking view of the iconic natural rock formation – the Royal Arch. From the moment I began my hike at Chautauqua Park, I found myself immersed in the glorious landscape, surrounded by lush greenery and stunning vistas that exemplify Boulder's immense beauty. I reveled in the physical challenge of the ascent as the trail increased in difficulty along the way. The well-maintained path, pepper-bottomed with rocks and steep inclines at times, truly tested my stamina, providing the perfect balance between adventure and difficulty. I appreciated the numerous opportunities to catch my breath and gaze at the phenomenal surroundings, taking in panoramas of the Flatirons and the city of Boulder below. Upon reaching the Royal Arch itself, I was rewarded with the spectacular sight of this magnificent rock formation, for which words cannot do justice. I allowed myself to soak in the moment, marveling at the sheer splendor of nature's handiwork. The fulfillment of conquering the challenging terrain and witnessing this extraordinary sight was undoubtedly worth every effort exerted on this hike. A word of advice to fellow hikers: come well-prepared for this journey! I found it essential to bring along snacks, O2, and plenty of water to ensure my well-being throughout the trek. This is an outing that demands the necessary resources for an enjoyable and safe experience. In conclusion, the Royal Arch hike in Boulder, Colorado is a remarkable journey that bestows both challenge and reward upon its explorers. The grand finale, that impressive stone gateway framing the sky, validates the efforts put forth in conquering this remarkable trail. This is a five-star experience not to be missed by hikers and nature enthusiasts alike!

Absolutely gorgeous and difficult hike. I underestimated the black difficulty designation, but I still had a great time hiking over all those rocks. There was a minor section where hands and knees climbing were necessary, but otherwise, it was a lot of walking up and down stairs-like rocks. It took our group 2 hours and 30 minutes to get to the royal arch trailhead, do the trail, and walk back to the visitor center. I wore my regular tennis shoes, but I also did fall and scrape my knees in the descent back to the visitor center. It would be a good idea to wear hiking shoes so you’ll have more grip going down. Otherwise, a very beautiful destination.

This is a hard hike. The way down is tough on the knees and ankles if you go too fast. Really an incredible sight seeing hike and the royal arch itself is very beautiful. Definitely a cool and unique rock formation. There’s plenty of people going up and down. It’s a pretty busy and crowded hike during the day. I made it up and down in slightly less than two hours but I was pushing it and by myself. If you’re with others or go at a normal pace I could see it easily taking over two hours. Definitely some balance and athleticism required but I saw a wide range of ages going up and down. Definitely one of the hardest and rewarding hike around the way! A solid workout for certain! Bodies by Farny approved!

The Royal Arch was amazing to see. I hiked this trail back in July, and although it was tough, the views from the arch were worth it. I would suggest going early to avoid the crowds as the trail and parking lot get busy quickly.