South Table Mountain and its Castle Rock might be the iconic face of Golden, but North Table Mountain has just as much to offer as its sister park, if not more.

With almost 2,000 acres, 17 miles of trails and three formal trailheads, North Table Mountain has a myriad of hiking and biking opportunities. It's also well-regarded for its rock-climbing features, with avid climbers like Arvada's Ethan Crosby frequently testing their mettle on the mountain.

Like its sister mesa, North Table Mountain was formed about 60 million years ago by lava flows. Today, it is home to a variety of birds, including raptors; small animals like rabbits and prairie dogs; and, on occasion, larger mammals like deer.

While a moose was recently sited in northern Golden, the western edge of the park was moose-free in late evening on July 21.

However, the evening did offer a few scattered sunshowers — where it rains while the sun is shining — and dozens of hikers, bikers and climbers making the long but worthwhile trek from the west trailhead up to the mesa.

Whether it's at sunset, sunrise or somewhere in between, there's plenty to see and do atop North Table Mountain.