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Directions:  From Boulder head east on 36 or from Denver take I25 North to 36 west.  Exit McCaslin Blvd north.  Head north on McCaslin for a few miles and Davidson Mesa Open Space will be on the left (west).  There is a small parking lot but if it is full you can park at Harper Lake just across McCaslin and walk through the pedestrian tunnel to the Davidson Mesa Trailhead.

Davidson Mesa Open Space is a popular park among the Louisville residents.  On the weekends the park is full of hikers, walkers, bikers, and trail runners.  From the parking area there are enticing views of the Boulder Mountains and the Indian Peaks towering above.  The best views are from the trails just past the parking area, unfortunately the further you hike, the worse the views get. 

From the trailhead kiosk and map start off on the main trail.  Don’t take the trail to the far left (southern-most trail), the views are better from the middle trail.  Start hiking west among the grassy mesa top and enjoy the wonderful views.  You can see the Boulder Flatirons, S. Boulder Peak, Bear Peak, Green Mountain, Eldorado Mountain, and behind some 7,000ft higher, the snowy Indian Peaks and Longs Peak are in clear view.

As you continue to hike west you’ll come to a trail junction, turn left and head south towards the open space boundary fence, the trail turns to the right and continues west towards Hwy 36.  From here power lines and suburban development start to erode the views.  Follow as the trail turns north and then back east skirting the edge of the housing development.  Turn left at the next junction, heading north, as the trail turns back east, there is a faint trail that heads down the mesa to a stand of trees and farmland, the trail then meets back up with the main trail.  I did not take this trail, but it looks very nice.  If you stay on the mesa top you get some of the best views in the park.  Follow the trail to the dog park and back to the trailhead.