I have not been able to get to this park for years. It was one of my regular walking paths when I…read morewas able to drive here. I no longer am able to do that. But a friend who likes to walk there too, offered me the option to do it today. She used to live nearby Viele Lake but now has moved to my neighborhood. We headed out mid-morning and though it was a cool, slightly wet start, it warmed up quite quickly when the sun was fully out. My friend had heard that there was a heron in residence this year and we found it on our first turn. We also saw a tree near the bridge that had snagged some debris from fishing supplies. I was unaware that fishing is allowed there. The view of the Flatirons backdrop of Boulder is fully complete from this lakeside path. It's especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset. Unfortunately, like most summers, there were a lot of droppings from the resident geese. Beware, even on paved surfaces.

Great place for dog walks, picnics, and sunsets! You can see far into the flatirons and the…read morereflection across the lakes are spectacular! Winter is a great time to explore with the colors you can see. The pond scum comes a bit more in the summer but beautiful nonetheless. I've seen people fishing and kayaking there though I'm not sure either are allowed. I love being here for the nature! They have tennis courts and lots of walking trails. This is a great south boulder park that everyone should visit!

The trail was well maintained and the area was beautiful with great views. This park is off leaf…read morefor dogs. Parking lot is small.

Nice open space to walk the dogs, run, fish with the kiddos, or just sit with a to go order of food…read moreand enjoy the views. Unfortunately the parking lot is extra small right now because they're doing construction... 4 standard and 1 accessible space is all they have right now right on the water. Across the street is a larger parking area though and that's got plenty of spaces. Very dog friendly trail so if your pup is extra chaotic around others might want to have that in mind. The piece I traversed didn't have much shade so recommend sunglasses and a hat at the very least. Enjoy!

This is a great leash free trail! It does get steep in areas and it does get hot so make sure your…read morewater and your pup's water is easy to tote. Be aware there's water so you might need a towel for the ride home.

Not sure if this place is considered one of the largest dog parks in the US, but it might be…read more According to the Westminster Hills website, It has 470 acres of open space for your pup to roam freely. My pup and I live in NoCo so it's a bit of a drive for us, but I love taking her to new spots so she can explore new places and scents. I'm glad we made the trek here to check it out. We visited on a Monday around 1pm and there was plenty of parking available; It's also free to visit! There's a couple portapotties at the entrance and spots to grab some baggies if you forgot them at home. It's an open natural area so there's signs at the trailhead with warnings of rattlesnakes and coyotes so keep that in mind as you're exploring to keep an eye on your pup. We stayed for about an hour and she loved every minute of it, but it was a really windy day so we called it a day earlier than anticipated. I'm thankful we spent the afternoon exploring this beautiful area together.

I was traveling with my husband and daughter and we wanted to stop for a hike/walk…read more The path follows the St. Vrain Creek to the ponds. We said hello to horses along the way. It was interesting to see the flood lines on the trees along the river. This is a free hike. We parked at the Rogers Grove Park lot and picked up the trail from there. It crosses under Hover St/N 95th St. It is an easy walk with very little elevation gain. We walked to the St. Vrain River Waterfall and watched the ducks for a bit. This was a lovely stop while making our way up to Fort Collins.

Golden Ponds is great for what it is. Is it secluded with no sight or sound of roads, houses,…read morepeople? No. Does it feel like a bit of untapped nature within a short drive of your neighborhood making it easy to frequent? Absolutely! Many people walk, jog, and take their dogs here. I often see fishing as well. There are not too many bicycles. It is also great for any birders interested in water fowl, such as pelicans, cormorants, blue heron, and ducks. We have enjoyed taking our dogs to Golden Ponds over the years. With the area having a few ponds, you can switch up your walk. Some areas around the ponds are full sun and others offer a shaded reprieve. I have not had any issues finding parking, which is free. The park also has benches around ponds, canopied picnic tables, and flushing toilets in the restrooms near the entrance.

Beautiful trail. Great views. There is a trail area and an off leash dog park area. Parking lot is…read moresmall.

Amazing classic view of Boulder, as you arrive by car from Denver metro area. It can be beautiful…read moreon a blue sky day but you can also see to the continental divide. Today the high winds up there swirled snow and clouds almost vertically. To the right in this view is Longs Peak in RMNP. To the left is the Indian Peaks Wilderness area due west of Boulder. You might not use this this approach to Boulder on a weekday commute in when it will likely be bumper to bumper going very slow for several miles. And a bit dangerous with snow and ice and high winds at ground level. But on a beautiful clear dry winter day, it is classic and how so many people see Boulder for the very first time.

Scotty Carp Park is a great place for a little greenery in the city. You can get here easily from…read morethe 28th St Mall, or if you are driving on Canyon. It's a nice sized park offering many things! Very diverse, you can swim in a big pool, visit the water park, stroll the grounds, play frisbee, have kids play on the jungle gym,, and use the big skate park! It's been clean and tidy for me and everyone is nice. There's a connection to Boulder Creek Path down the way a bit so it's very handy for a quick parking area. You can get great shots of the mountains here as well.

Great family park and swim area. Killer outdoor slides, diving boards (even a high dive platform),…read morerock climbing wall that goes into the water as well as a skate park.

I was only in the Denver area for a week, so wanted to keep it lowkey with the hikes and went to…read morethe Flatirons to do so instead. Given that the Flatirons essentially sit at the base of the Rocky Mountains, this is a much more doable area for those who are just visiting and haven't acclimated to the change in elevation! There are a ton of hiking trails that stretch for miles and can be explored all throughout the Flatirons, but the best part of the Boulder Flatirons is its proximity to the city of Boulder! Boulder literally sits at the foothills of the Flatirons, so its a quick jaunt from the mountains to the city in this area and the city of Boulder has a great downtown, college town, and just generally a ton to offer to tourists and locals alike! A must visit when you're in the Denver area!

Absolutely breathtaking views from the top. It's so high up and was a challenging hike up to the…read more1st and 2nd Flatirons. Highly recommend if you're in the area.

What a fantastic trail! There's views for miles here. The parking area is fairly large with…read moretoilets, and there's another a bit fatter for non Boulder county folks who don't feel like paying. Come now for the best flower show! With lupines, sunflowers and more, plus roaming cows, the pastoral scene here will take you away from the bustle of nearby parks. There's a big loop trail up the hill, and numerous bike paths to follow. I had a lot of fun here!

Located at the intersection of HWY 93 and Marshall road in south Boulder, Marshall Mesa is a great…read moreplace to go hiking or mountain biking if you like steep and rough terrain. Trail maintenance is very little if not at all so get ready for some extremely rocky, muddy, and partially washed out trails. The good thing about Marshall Mesa is its expansive trail network, one can connect up to the Marshall Valley Trail, Coal Seam Trail, Cowdrey Draw Trail, Greenbelt Plateau Trail, and Community Ditch Trail. All trails are hiker and mountain biker friendly but most of them are very narrow and only allow a single direction of traffic at one time. Good hiking footwear or a strong, well built professional grade mountain bike is required as well as sunscreen and a couple of bottles of water since most of these trails are fairly long (10+ miles long one way). There is a large free parking lot across the street from the entrance or a pay for parking lot on the park property itself. So go out and enjoy the sights and sounds of the great Colorado outdoors.