Sunshine Canyon Trail out and back from Centennial Trailhead
Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks · 2.34 mi out and back · about 55 min
- Highest
- 5,893 ft
- Lowest
- 5,594 ft
- Route type
- One way or out and back
- Surface
- Not mapped
- Offline
Overview
Sunshine Canyon Trail out and back from Centennial Trailhead is mapped as a trail of 2.34 mi in Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks. It is not a loop: you walk it one way or out and back.
It runs between 5,594 ft and 5,893 ft above sea level, a difference of 299 ft.
Estimates
- Computed effort band: easy (from length and climb; not an official difficulty).
- Estimated time 55 min one way by Naismith's rule, which assumes steady walking and adds time for climbing. Real time varies.
Before you rely on this
- No water source is mapped for this trail. That may only mean nobody has mapped one, so carry your own water.
- Check the land manager for closures, seasonal rules and permits before you go; none of that is verified here.
Elevation
Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys on the chart to read a point; it is shown on the map too.
Before you go
- Parking
- 2 parking areas mapped near the start (nearest about 164 ft away). Fees and limits are not included. mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors
- Trailhead and directions
- Start at 40.01965, -105.29804. Directions to the start ↗
- Permits and fees
- We have no verified permit or fee details. Official pages: Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks ↗, Boulder ↗, Boulder County ↗ (we have not recorded when these were last checked). not verified
- Dogs
- No dog rule is tagged. not verified
- Water
- No water is mapped. Carry your own. not verified
- Toilets and facilities
- 1 toilet mapped. mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors
- Accessibility, bikes and horses
- No access details are tagged. not verified
- Seasonal rules, closures and hazards
- Not verified here. Check the land manager (Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks ↗) and read the hiker condition reports below. No report does not mean the trail is open or safe. not verified
Weather at the trailhead
Today: sunrise 7:14 AM, sunset 6:17 PM (computed from the trailhead location).
Forecast for the trailhead area from the U.S. National Weather Service, updated Oct 18, 12:46 AM. Mountain weather changes fast and can differ a lot by elevation: check the official forecast for your route before you go.
Recent conditions
Reports come from Arête members, not from land managers. They show when something was seen, not whether it is still true. Check official sources before you go.
No condition reports in the last 30 days. Conditions are unknown, not necessarily good.
Reviews
No reviews yet, so there is no rating to show. We never invent ratings. Sign in to be the first to review this trail.
Photos and places from hikers
Added by community members and checked by our team before they appear. Photos have their location data removed. These are not official information.
No approved photos or places yet.
Along the way
Trailhead and facilities
Parking and toilets shown are within about 0.25 mi of the trail start.
Points come from OpenStreetMap contributors and can be missing, moved or out of date. How we label data.
Nearby trails
- Sunshine Canyon Trail1.17 mi · 303 ft gain · 0.0 mi away
- Red Rocks Trail + Anemone Loop Trail out and back from Centennial Trailhead5.65 mi · 1,120 ft gain · 0.0 mi away
- Red Rocks Trail + Red Rocks Spur Trail + Anemone Loop Trail out and back from Centennial Trailhead3.44 mi · 1,010 ft gain · 0.0 mi away
- Red Rocks Trail + Red Rocks Spur Trail out and back from Centennial Trailhead2.75 mi · 881 ft gain · 0.0 mi away
Arête-built route from mapped trails
Assembled by Arête from mapped trail segments. Not an official or recommended route.
- Sunshine Canyon Trail · 0.35 mi
- Sunshine Canyon Trail · 0.82 mi
- Sunshine Canyon Trail · 0.82 mi · walked back
- Sunshine Canyon Trail · 0.35 mi · walked back
Starts at a derived trailhead (2 mapped trails start within 150 m), 73 m from mapped parking (Centennial Trailhead); the route starts at the nearest mapped trail junction, 56 m from that point. Built by Arête from the graph of mapped trail segments (OpenStreetMap). Segments join where their ends are within 12 m of each other or one ends on another's line (a T-junction). A loop returns to its start without repeating a trail section; an out-and-back goes to a mapped trail end and returns the same way, so its length counts both directions. Names come only from the mapped trails it uses. Length is measured on the joined line; elevation is computed from USGS 3DEP. Not an official or recommended route.
Data, sources and how the numbers are made
| Length | 2.34 micomputed |
|---|---|
| Route type | Out and backcomputed |
| Surface | Unknownunknown |
| Difficulty | Unknownunknown |
| Elevation gain (as drawn) | 313 ftcomputed |
| Elevation loss (as drawn) | 304 ftcomputed |
| Estimated duration | about 55 min one way as drawn (Naismith's rule)computed |
| Official verification | Not verified by an official sourceunknown |
Length is measured from the route geometry in the source data, so it can differ from signed or official distances. Gain and loss describe the direction the line is drawn; the route view above shows the other direction and out and back. Elevation is computed from USGS 3DEP 1/3 arc-second DEM (public domain), sampled about every 10 m and smoothed.
© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Route assembled by Arête from mapped trail segments.. Arête-built routes from mapped trails. Licence: ODbL 1.0 (derived from OpenStreetMap).
Frequently asked questions
How long is Sunshine Canyon Trail out and back from Centennial Trailhead?
Sunshine Canyon Trail out and back from Centennial Trailhead in Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks is 2.34 mi long, measured from its route geometry in OpenStreetMap data. Signed or official distances can differ.
How much elevation does Sunshine Canyon Trail out and back from Centennial Trailhead gain?
Walking from the start to the end as drawn, it climbs about 313 ft and descends about 304 ft, between 5,594 ft and 5,893 ft. These are computed from the USGS 3DEP elevation model and can differ from other apps; the other direction swaps climbing and descending.
How hard is Sunshine Canyon Trail out and back from Centennial Trailhead?
Difficulty is unknown: no source we use rates this trail, and we don't guess. Use the length and elevation gain to judge it for yourself.
How long does Sunshine Canyon Trail out and back from Centennial Trailhead take?
About 55 min one way for a fit hiker, by Naismith's rule from the length and climb. It is an estimate: allow more for rest, photos, heat, altitude and weather.
Where does Sunshine Canyon Trail out and back from Centennial Trailhead start?
The route starts near 40.0196, -105.2980 (Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, Boulder, Boulder County). Use the Directions button to open it in your maps app.
Are dogs allowed on Sunshine Canyon Trail out and back from Centennial Trailhead?
Not tagged in OpenStreetMap, so it is unknown. Check posted signs and the land manager's website.
Is there water, parking or a toilet at Sunshine Canyon Trail out and back from Centennial Trailhead?
Mapped in OpenStreetMap near this trail: 0 water points, 2 parking areas, 1 toilet. Mapped water is not tested or guaranteed: carry your own. Fees and permits are not included here; check the official page.
Trail data can be wrong or out of date, and Arête is not an emergency service. Check official sources, weather and closures before you go.