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Boulder might be a small city, but it’s loaded with
huge outdoor adventure opportunities. The city is home to a little
under 100,000 residents but in the area’s 27 square mile borders
are over 200 miles of hiking trails as well as 41,000 acres of
open space. The city lies at the foot of the Rock Mountains and
has an extensive park system not only within its boundaries but is
also surrounded by national and state parks. The city also
receives about 300 days of sunshine a year, providing ample
conditions to enjoy these surroundings. With credentials like
these, it’s easy to see why this city was recently named the “
Best Place to be an Uberjock” by Outside Magazine.
The author looks out at the
Flatirons (Dean Clift)
Here are a few of the outdoor adventures the city has to offer
your inner uberjock:
Hiking
Many prime hiking can be found in Boulder as the area was one of
the first cities in the U.S to establish an open space program in
1964. A popular and nearby destination is Chautauqua Park, where
paths lead hikers into the foothills of the Flatirons, a mountain
whose three primary formations stand out as a signature emblem for
the city. There are miles upon miles of hiking paths in the park
and a good place to start researching for specific trail paths in
the area as well as in surrounding parks is at the City of
Boulder’s
Open Space and Mountain Parks website. Here
information on topics such as popular trailheads, basic trail
information, regulations, hiking guides, and an overall summary of
the Boulder Mountain Parks trail system can be found.
Biking
Riding up Flagstaff Mountain is a true test of
endurance, challenging both heart and legs to the extent. The
route is infamous for it’s rapid rise in elevation and might be
painful going up, but riders will be rewarded with the journey
back down.
Another option is
Boulder Creek Path. This 16 mile path goes right through the
middle of town so is a great opportunity to see the city, as well
as local cyclists going about their business. With 35 miles of
bike lanes, biking is a popular alternative to driving and many
residents opt to get around the city by pedal power.
A good spot to start research on local routes is the
Colorado Mountain Bike Web Search site, which gives descriptive information on biking trails around the
Boulder and Longmont area. Also check out the
Boulder Off Road Alliance site
for additional options.
Rock Climbing
About 8 miles southwest of Boulder is Eldorado Canyon State Park:
in short a climber’s paradise. The park offers some 500 technical
rock climbing routes and is a mecca for enthusiasts around the
world. Aside from climbing, the park is also overflowing with
hiking and biking trails.
Both bouldering and rock climbing ventures can be based
from the Flatirons. The mountain is divided into three sections—north,
south, and central—and diverse climbing opportunities can be
found in each area. A great place to practice sport or lead
climbing is at Flatirons south.
For detailed information on routes available at both Eldorado
Canyon State Park ,the Flatirons, and other nearby areas, check
out
Climbing Boulder.com. This site is an invaluable route
database collection and provides up-to-date information on
climbing areas and routes from around the state of Colorado.
Kayaking
Boulder Creek runs through Eben G. Fine Park, and
kayakers can take on the 20 slalom gate kayak course west of the
park all year round. Other areas to check out include Clear Creek
as well as South Boulder Creek.
Kayaks can be rented from a variety of outlets including the
Boulder Outdoor
Center. This site also includes useful information such as
drop in and take out points for river runs on South Boulder Creek,
Boulder Creek, and Upper Boulder Creek.
Snowshoeing
When conditions are right, this sport can be enjoyed on basically
any hiking trail. A great place to check out though is the Eldora
Nordic Center, which is located at the county’s only ski resort,
Eldora Mountain. On average, the mountain receives about 300
inches of snow a year.
The center has 37 miles of trails to cross-country ski and
snowshoe on and is only about 20 miles from Boulder. The center is
open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the week and 8:30 a.m. to
4.p.m. on weekends and holidays. Trail maps and directions can be
found at www.eldora.com.
Outdoor enthusiasts should have plenty to do in the Boulder, but
just in case you might be looking for more terrain to conquer,
Estes Park, which is Rocky Mountain National Park’s eastern
gateway, is only around 30 miles away.
Zoie Clift
is a freelance journalist who thrives on traveling, photography,
backpacking, snowboarding, scuba diving, rock climbing, adventure racing,
and mountain biking through trails or big cities. She can be reached at
zoieclift@hotmail.com.
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