Despite winter approaching, there will still be many beautiful days for hiking. While you may not be ready for a winter Fourteener, I think you can definitely summit some of these super close beautiful mountains with amazing views. Just be sure to bring your crampons! Although some of these trails at the right time you may not need the crampons. My list gets progressively harder, so start at the top and climb your way up to the tops of those mountains first. 1. Bald Mountain, 1.5 miles one way: From Boulder, head west on Mapleton and on up about 7 miles on Sunshine Canyon. The small Boulder County... 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

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

Let’s face it Colorado is beautiful in the fall but for some, it just is not their favorite time to camp.  While most days are absolutely beautiful and make great camping weather some days see 40-degree swings between the highs and lows and it can get pretty damn chilly at night. Maybe you read my article about the 7 features to consider when buying a winter sleeping bag and you bought that sleeping bag and you’re still cold.  Well, you have a few options, you could go back to California, Texas, or Florida because you clearly aren’t cut out for this state or… you know go camping... 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

I’d expect lots of warm days in Boulder to come, but in the mountains, it is really starting to feel like fall. Once the aspen trees start to turn its a narrow window of time to see the mountains shrouded in gold.  There’s several places a quick drive from Boulder to go check out the leaves. Many people simply drive around and then turn back. But not you! Use this list to do some serious leaf peeping around Boulder. Hessie Trailhead, Eldora, CO  This trailhead into the Indian Peaks Wilderness is super popular on weekends. It is an easy hike to wander around up to a waterfall on... Read More

I stood on a small slanted ledge about two hundred feet above Eldorado Canyon, craning my neck, staring upwards, trying to catch a glimpse of my climbing partner, who had ventured into the third pitch of the classic Bastille Crack. As I stood there anchored into the wall, a number 12 stopper slipped from its carabineer somewhere above and fell, clipping the corner of my helmet as it bounced to the base of the climb. About 30 seconds later I heard my partner’s voice echo against the canyon walls, it was a voice diffused by thousands of pounds of granite, but still saturated with frustration. I... 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

Tube Locations: Boulder Creek: Start at Eben G. Fine Park and follow the creek all the way to 55th Street. Just don’t expect a gentle float — this ride includes rapids and chutes! For a more convenient trip, board at 6th Street or a few blocks east of the Boulder Public Library. Regardless of where you put in, a helmet, life jacket, and water shoes are required.  Read More

Hypothetically, imagine yourself walking in the mountains, enjoying a nice afternoon hike. You decide to stop at a picnic area. Then, as you sit down, you look directly ahead. There’s a really hairy man sitting on the table across from you. This man must have gone years without a haircut. In fact, you realize that that’s no man at all. You notice that it’s actually a black bear. What do you do in such a situation? Step 1: Keep your distance. Normally, you would want to just avoid the bear completely. It’s safest to keep at least 300 feet between you and the bear. Unfortunately,... Read More

Our story begins in the mid 1800’s, when a team of explorers were commissioned to explore the Boulder area. Among these explorers were Zebulon Pike, Stephan Long, and John Fremont. One of Fremont’s men, William Gilpin, told everyone that this particular area had gold. This area was previously considered unfit for settlement, but when gold is involved, people tend to forget about silly things like that. This group of settlers decided to settle in a beautiful area known today as “Settler’s Park,” named for obvious reasons. It’s also pretty obvious why they... Read More

Living in Boulder has countless benefits. There is a coffee shop, trail run, or climbing gym on every corner, but most importantly, the Front Range is littered with boulders and sport crags. If you’ve only got an afternoon to spend climbing, there are a handful of spots within a fifteen-minute drive or short hike. The list here is certainly not exhaustive, but these three locations have some great rock and quality lines. Flagstaff Flagstaff is an epicenter for bouldering. Some love it, some hate it, but if you are looking for roadside boulders, this is the place to go. The rough granite at... 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

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

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

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

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

As the weather gets warmer, the time is now to hit the trails and see some beautiful natural wonders. Lucky for you, there are plenty within an hour or two of Boulder that will make the trip totally worth it. 1. Eldorado Falls For a lovely hike close to home, head to Walker Ranch and the Ethel Harrod Trailhead. Take a nice moderate 1.25-mile hike down about 500 feet through pine forests until you hear the rushing water of the South Boulder Creek hitting the rocks. These cascades are beautiful year-round, and you can bring your pup to frolic in the water after a warm hike. 2. Maxwell Falls This... 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

Boulder is about to make history with Ironman Boulder: the world’s largest triathlon. How large is this triathlon, you ask? Well, let’s look at the numbers: -There are more than 3,000 athletes competing in the triathlon, exceeding the number of athletes who competed at Sochi’s 2014 Winter Olympics (2,873). -It’s a 140.6 mile race, which is considerably longer than the distance from Boulder to Aspen (99 miles). -There are also more than 3,000 volunteers, which is roughly 3% of Boulder’s population. -There will be 15,000 feet of fencing which, if measured vertically,... Read More