Boulder is known as one of America’s best bike-friendly cities, and with good reason. There are tons of paths for both road cycling as well as mountain biking, so there’s really something for everyone in Boulder. It can be hard to choose a good path, however, due to the sheer amount of options available. Luckily, in this particular blog post, I’ll point out a few of Boulder’s best bike routes. Boulder Creek Path Boulder Creek Path is one of Boulder’s most well-known walking and biking areas. Its 5.5 miles of beautiful scenery make it a very aesthetic ride, and its... Read More

Bear Canyon, in south west Boulder begins at a trailhead nestled in a neighborhood. Bear Canyon Trailhead is grouped together with the NCAR trailhead and a couple other access points.  The hike begins with several different wide trails that area residents like to run, take their young children to, or walk their dog as there is not too much of a grade and no difficult obstacles. The views include rolling grassy and shrub covered hills, the Flatirons, and a lush riparian corridor. Bear Canyon trail follows the Bear Canyon Creek and intersects with the Mesa Trail and then ends at the junction of... Read More

Mud Lake is a beautiful natural area located just outside of Boulder, Colorado. The lake is surrounded by towering trees and rolling hills, making it a picturesque destination for outdoor enthusiasts. There are several reasons why Mud Lake is a great place to visit. Firstly, Mud Lake offers a variety of recreational activities. Visitors can hike along the many trails that wind through the surrounding forests, or fish in the lake’s cool waters. The lake is also a popular spot for picnics, with several picnic areas available for visitors to use. In addition to its recreational offerings, Mud... Read More

Do you enjoy watching clouds? Do you like reading books in pretty areas? Do you want to become king of the playground? Does your pet need a new place to frolic? Do you need a new place to frolic? If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, you’re probably in need of a park. Luckily, Boulder has a lot of fantastic parks. Here are a few of my favorites: Scott Carpenter Park Scott Carpenter Park has everything a person could ever want. It has a huge open field, an excellent skatepark, an outdoor swimming pool, and a jungle gym with a space ship. That’s right,... Read More

Ah the Grand Canyon. One of America’s best and most beautiful features. And lucky us Boulderites, it is only a 10 hour drive from here! If you leave at 6 am, you’ll be there in time to find the perfect spot to watch the sunset on the canyon. That’s what I did anyways, a couple weeks ago. And it was rough and also a bit colder there than here, but amazing. It’s a great time of year to go; the crowds are at their lowest according to the Visitor Center rangers. I was still amazed at how many people were there, almost as many as Chautauqua on a sunny, warm afternoon.  But it... Read More

Throughout my life, hiking has always been something that both excites and terrifies me. Before I even had ability to walk, my parents would carry me in their backpacks along their hikes. As a very young child, I looked at the environment in wonder. I didn’t have the slightest idea what I was looking at, but the incredible color palette of the Boulder County trails kept me coming back for more. It kept me curious, and gave me an unshakeable feeling of wanderlust many years before I even knew what the word meant. As I grew, I gradually felt more comfortable in nature. My childhood curiosity... Read More

Looking to earn some points with your main squeeze for thoughtfulness and originality? Take your valentine on a hike this long weekend and make it special with these trips and tips. Snowshoeing Hikes 1. Hessie Trailhead: From the Hessie trailhead you can walk a short ways in to a waterfall or make it a 3 mile round trip to Lost Lake. Snowshoeing can be very tiring compared to regular hiking or walking, so be very considerate of your Sweetheart’s energy levels. However it is a great way to see nature during the winter season. 2. Rocky Mountain National Park: The park might be a popular stop... Read More

Now more than ever there are convenient and accessible ways to quickly travel all over the world and visit a variety of interesting locations. From the USA to Greece, people are jetting off for a number of reasons such as ticking things off of their bucket lists or simply getting away to relax and unwind. For those who are keen on visiting the USA, Colorado is one destination that attracts many ever year with statistics showing that the state welcomed 84.2 million visitors (36.3 million overnight) in 2021. In this context, it is worth exploring why Colorado is so popular and the myriad of activities... Read More

As a student, I was witness to the Buffalo Pool’s construction over the course of my most recent semester. I stood on the other side of the surrounding chain link fence, hoping that I would one day get to jump into this mystical animal-shaped pool, which was nothing but a mess of dirt and construction equipment when I first saw it. Well, that day has come, and I have finally gotten to see the finalized pool. It’s pretty freakin’ neat. The pool looks fantastic and the many months of construction have clearly paid off. However, it’s no secret that this pool has been the spark... Read More

If you have lived in Boulder long enough, you have probably noticed climbers with their callused hands and their chalk-covered capris. You can witness climbers in their natural environment at any one of the six climbing gyms in Boulder, or meandering through the prepared foods section in WholeFoods for a post-workout meal. More commonly though, climbers embark on migrations to outdoor challenges, whether that means the thousand feet of climbing up the Flatirons, or the granite boulders in Rocky Mountain National Park, or the day-long climb up The Diamond on Longs Peak. However, long before protein... Read More

Mt. Sanitas has always been one of my favorite hiking areas. I grew up near the Goat Trail, which is an alternative path that some people use to access Sanitas, but I decided to use the more widely-used trailhead on Mapleton Avenue when I went to visit last week. Sanitas is a gorgeous mountain. It’s the crème de la crème. It has sprawling grassy fields and jagged mountain peaks- all in one place! On one path, you can choose to go along the easygoing field trail, which requires little to no effort. Alternatively, there is also the steep incline up to the top of Mt. Sanitas, which requires... Read More

Hiking is one of Boulder’s best activities. It’s a great way to get outside, see some sights, and catch up on the latest gossip with some friends. Nature is unpredictable though, and hikers must always be prepared for everything. That’s why I’ve prepared a list of hiking tips. 1. Stay hydrated. Staying hydrated is absolutely key for hiking. Dehydration causes headaches and altitude sickness, which are the last two things you want to encounter on a trail. Another thing that you don’t want is Giardia, which is a very unpleasant infection that will force you to get comfortable... Read More

Boulder, CO, often known as the Boulder Bubble, is a magical place. It is a place where hipsters, bros, and outdoor enthusiasts gather. There are likely just as many yoga studios as there are dispensaries, hiking trails often appear in the middle of neighborhoods, and you can witness people biking to work in the middle of a snowstorm. The ambiance is so strong it is almost visible, and what better way to view the Bubble than from five separate peaks that make up the Skyline Traverse. In one very long day, you can summit Mount Sanitas, Flagstaff Mountain, Green Mountain, Bear Peak, and South Boulder... Read More

You owe it to yourself to gaze upon the beautiful landscape around Boulder, and the best way to do that is to start exploring some trails. Marshall Mesa Loop Marshall Mesa Loop is a great hiking trail to start with. It’s an easy hike, only 3.3 miles, and it gives you a brilliant view of the Flatirons. This is the kind of trail that you would see on a postcard and say, “Wow, this looks like a pretty cool place, I would probably enjoy walking around there.” This is also a dog-friendly trail, so your four-legged companion can also join you on your outing here. The trail also has seen its fair... Read More

You are a devout outdoorsman or outdoorswoman and nothing less than apocalyptic plague of locust would stop you from racing up mountains, rambling through rivers, or taking Zibeon, your falcon, out for a jaunt. A great place to start is   at the Hessie Trailhead, which leads into the Indian Peaks Wilderness, no matter your level of outdoorsy-ness. I list several hike options below ranging from easy to difficult. Easy Hikes First Waterfalls on Middle Boulder Creek: A very short hike from the actual trailhead, and just over 0.6 mile from parking along the easy access road, you can access the... Read More

There is something about a hike through snow covered trees that leaves you with a sense of calm. The snow absorbs all sound and animals are quiet, snuggled away in their hollows. You can only hear the crunch of snow underfoot and all feels still. Snow really is like a blanket, covering up the world to let it rest. Since the snow melts so quickly here, it is a special experience to stroll snowy paths around Boulder.  Even magical, some might say. For Boulderites, Chautauqua is a special place year around that many visit often, for some even daily. I find the park extra majestic with its frosting;... Read More

Boulder is famous for the majestic sandstone flatirons jutting from the mountainside above the town. Most people probably know that you can hike these soaring monoliths. The first and second flatiron trail is one of the most popular in Boulder County, climbing 2.7 miles through rocky debris and pine forests to sit among the boulders for which the city is named. Our Ratings: Crowd: 2/5. This is a very busy trail. On fair days and weekends you’ll be following a steady stream of other hikers up and down the mountain. Even at sunrise and during the winter the trail is well populated. If you’re... Read More

Until recently, I have always sought the safety of traveling as a group. I rarely hiked alone, rarely drove anywhere over two hours away without a buddy, and would end up sitting at home if no friends had the day off. I love adventuring with others, there is nothing like sharing a sunset with close friends, but there is something to be said for finding a quiet moment to enjoy a sunset without the weight of another conscious. A wild goose chase for a missing climbing shoe sent me on a two-hour drive to Guanella Pass near Georgetown, CO, no friends felt like driving back to where we had climbed... Read More

The desire to adventure, to see the world, to meet the people who reside on far away landscapes, is something that lives in all of us. It is an inherent, instinctual drive that pushes us out of our comfort zone; it is the force that carries us up mountains, the force that wakes you up for sunrises, and keeps you awake for distant sunsets. Adventure is in the face of every climber, of every hiker, or kayaker, or mountain biker. Regardless of the medium, the spirit of adventure lives in all of us, it is founded in a passion for exploration, of both the natural world, and of ourselves. This passion... Read More

  Rabbit Mountain is large wide-open park just north of Longmont and south of Lyons off of Hwy 66. The park boasts a total trail miles of 6.1 and is open to hikers, leashed dogs, equestrians, and bicyclists. I recommend heading for the Eagle Wind Loop Trail, 2.5 mile loop. After you head up the trail from the parking lot, you’ll reach the service road and then begin the Eagle Wind trail. It is not a super steep incline at any point but there is an incline. The trail winds through open meadow to mountain brush and ponderosa pines giving multiple views to the western mountains and then... Read More