Dark Side Boulders/Area Climbing

There are two main options to getting to the Satellites, both of which start at the Chautauqua Trailhead. Park there or along Baseline Road, and start up the wide Chautauqua Trail. Take the trail into the treeline, over a small wooden bridge, past a large boulder, and then to the next intersection of trails (it intersects the Bluebell Baird Trail). From here, you have two options:

Option 1: most direct, more crowds, and more strenuous. Take the 1st/2nd Flatiron trail which is the trail that goes uphill immediately at a diagonal left at the intersection (not the leftmost, the center-left option is the one you want). Take this uphill, and stay left at the next fork. This will spit you out at the base of the Second Flatiron.

From here, follow the trail heading east away from the Second Flatiron. You'll see The Wave Boulder on your right with a trail going uphill. Follow the trail uphill and past The Stardust Boulder on your right. Continue past The Stardust Boulder, and soon The Girlfriend Boulder will be on your left. Continue just past The Girlfriend Boulder, and the A-7 Boulder will be on your left. Directly across from the A-7 Boulder is the BBC Boulder. Continue uphill past the BBC Boulder, and soon the large boulder with Dark Side of the Moon, V1, will be visible. This area includes all problems in the immediate vicinity of this boulder.

Option 2: less direct, less crowds, and less strenuous. Take a left (the leftmost option) onto the Bluebell Baird Trail. From here, stay right at every trail intersection. This will take you past the Bluebell Shelter on your left and take you across a wooden walk bridge. The last intersection is for the Royal Arch Trail (which goes left), take the trail to the right to continue to the Satellite area. This will take you up a switchback and across a small boulderfield, and then the first boulder you'll arrive to is the Sputnik Boulder.

From here, continue along the trail which goes behind the Sputnik Boulder and then winds up to a trail intersection. The Wave Boulder is now immediately on your left, and access to the base of the Second Flatiron is taking the trail to your right. Take the trail uphill past The Wave Boulder, and The Stardust Boulder will be on your right. Continue past The Stardust Boulder, and soon The Girlfriend Boulder will be on your left. Continue just past The Girlfriend Boulder, and the A-7 Boulder will be on your left. Directly across from the A-7 Boulder is the BBC Boulder. Continue uphill past the BBC Boulder ,and soon the large boulder with Dark Side of the Moon, V1, will be visible. This area includes all problems in the immediate vicinity of this boulder.

There is a on the main Satellites page with a trail map of both options and mileage.

I personally take Option 2, 80% of the time, as it gives you a break from walking straight uphill the whole time, and you get to get off the main trail that all the tourists are on for a more peaceful experience.