North Table Mountain

North Table Mountain
View looking northeast from the top of Lookout Mountain.
Elevation	6,575 ft (2,004 m)
Prominence	Southwest Palisades
Location
Location	Jefferson County, Colorado, USA
Range	Front Range
Coordinates	39°47′29″N 105°12′03″W / 39.79139°N 105.20083°W / 39.79139; -105.20083Coordinates: 39°47′29″N 105°12′03″W / 39.79139°N 105.20083°W / 39.79139; -105.20083
Topo map	USGS Golden
Geology
Type	Mesa
Climbing
First ascent	1840s by Black Kettle and tribe
Easiest route	Quarry road up west slope

North Table Mountain is a mesa located just northeast of downtown Golden, Colorado in Jefferson County, Colorado. Its most distinctive feature is its cap off basaltic rock formed from Tertiary lava flows from the nearby Ralston Dike. North Table Mountain is a popular scenic and recreational destination of the Denver metro area, and it is preserved as public open space by Jefferson County and the Access Fund. Recent and ongoing projects by Jefferson County Open Space have resulted in the construction of several new trails and eliminated large numbers of unofficial trails. The mountain has a twin of the same formation nearby, known as South Table Mountain, separated by the canyon that Clear Creek has cut in between.

Fire

On July 22, 2005, more than 200 acres (81 hectares) were set ablaze. Two fifteen year old boys were charged with first-degree felony arson and misdemeanor fourth-degree arson for lighting fireworks. They claimed to have shot off a roman candle, which started several small spot fires at the base of the north face. After fleeing the scene, an area resident witnessed the act and reported them to the police after the fire escalated. They were soon found by the police and were cooperative. The fire only burned one structure, a toolshed, and some other small miscellaneous pieces of property. The fire cost to be more than 100,000 dollars (U.S. currency) to contain and extinguish. The fire was contained later the same day, but being summer and the prairie grass conditions, the fire spread rapidly.

Wildlife

Among the animals known to frequent the mesa through time according to local newspaper accounts include mountain sheep, mountain lions, deer, elk and more. Several areas are closed seasonally to protect several species of nesting raptors. Of these most except for the mountain sheep continue to live upon the mountain today. In the late 19th century bees also nested in the cliffs.

Located on the west side of the mesa is the high point, Lichen Peak(6575 ft).

Geologists examining an ancient stream bed deposit exposed below the lava flows on the western slopes of North Table Mountain.

References

• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: North Table Mountain

External Links

• North Table Mountain Park website
• North Table Mountain Trail Group, City of Golden website
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