Mule deer
Odocoileus hemionus
Year-round
Resident campus herd — sometimes visible from the parking lot itself, particularly in winter when they bed near the buildings for warmth.
Photo: NPS Photo — public domain
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Boulder · Easy
NCAR Walter Orr Roberts Weather Trail
Half-mile interpretive loop at NCAR's Mesa Laboratory
Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks
Distance0.4mi round trip
Elevation75ft gain
High point6,265ft summit
Typical time0.5–1hours
Trip Builder
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Today
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Half-mile interpretive loop at NCAR's Mesa Laboratory. Editorial intro forthcoming.
Trip facts
Typical duration0.5–1hours
Trailhead6,190ft elevation
High point6,265ft summit
Dogs: leashes required.
How you'll find it
Drive to the west end of Table Mesa Drive in south Boulder. Free parking at the NCAR Mesa Laboratory; the Weather Trail begins from the visitor signage area.
Drive time
Personalize with your ZIP
We'll calculate drive time + a leave-by recommendation to beat the lot fill.
What you'll get
- 0.4-mile interpretive loop at I.M. Pei's iconic NCAR Mesa Laboratory
- Signage explains local ecosystem, weather, and climate science
- Connects to longer Mesa Trail + Bear Canyon for fitness extensions
- Free parking + spectacular Boulder city + Flatirons views from the mesa
What locals know
Practical-craft notes for this specific trail — timing, route, photo, etiquette.
Trail tips
- Etiquette
Hand-held leashes only — NCAR is federal property
Voice-and-Sight tags don't apply at NCAR (different jurisdiction than Boulder OSMP). Dogs must be on hand-held leashes the entire trail or you risk citation by NCAR security.
- Photo
Mesa Lab architecture + Flatirons composite
I.M. Pei's brutalist concrete Mesa Lab is iconic in its own right. Frame the building with the Flatirons behind for one of Boulder's most distinctive architectural photographs. Best in late-afternoon side light.
- Food
Visitor center has free Wi-Fi + restrooms
Unique among Boulder trailheads: the NCAR Mesa Lab visitor center is free, has flush restrooms, and serves coffee from the cafe (when open). Perfect pre- or post-hike stop with kids.
- Route
Connects to longer Mesa Trail extensions
The 0.4mi Weather Trail itself is short — but the connection to Bear Canyon and the longer Mesa Trail extension makes this a viable fitness add-on. Visitor center has a free trail map.
- Weather
Wind exposure — bring a layer year-round
The mesa is consistently windier than Boulder Valley below. Even on a warm day, a windbreaker keeps the experience comfortable. Lightning exposure is real if storms build.
Where you'll start
NCAR Mesa Lab parking is the rare Boulder trailhead with FLUSH restrooms, free Wi-Fi inside the visitor center, and a near-zero chance of being full. The 0.4-mile loop is paved and ADA-accessible from the lot. No overnight stays.
Parking cost
Free
Overnight
Not allowed
NCAR Mesa Lab visitor lot closes at sunset; visitor center hours apply. No overnight parking.
Park entrance
Free
Restrooms
Flush toilets
Fills by
Mid-morning summer when NCAR visitor center programming runs
Cell service
Reliable
What's at the trailhead
- Restrooms — Flush toilets
- Water spigot
- Information kiosk
- Reliable cell service
When to go
Highlighted months offer the best conditions.
Who shares the trail
NCAR Mesa is one of Boulder's most reliable mule-deer viewing spots — a resident herd has acclimated to the campus and frequently bedds near the trail. Red-tailed hawks and golden eagles ride the mesa thermals year-round; coyotes are heard at dusk.
- Common
CommonRed-tailed hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
Year-roundSoaring the Table Mesa thermals daily; nests in the nearby cliffs.
Photo: USFWS — public domain
OccasionalGolden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
Year-roundPhoto: USFWS — public domain
OccasionalRed fox
Vulpes vulpes
Year-roundDawnDuskNightDen sites reported near the lower trail margins — most active dawn and dusk.
Photo: USFWS — public domain
What to watch for
What to watch for
- Sun-exposed mesa — bring water and sun protection even on short loops
- Lightning exposure on summer afternoons — descend if storms build
- Wildlife sightings (deer, occasional fox) — keep distance, no feeding
- Hand-held leashes required — NCAR is federal property and the Voice and Sight Tag off-leash exemption does NOT apply on the Walter Orr Roberts Trail
On the map
Overnight camping
Day-use only — overnight not permitted
Day-use only — NCAR Mesa Lab is federal research property; no camping permitted on the campus or connecting trails.
Trail-tested picks for NCAR Walter Orr Roberts Weather Trail
Curated for this trail's terrain, elevation, and typical conditions.
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