When people talk about heaven on earth I'm pretty sure they're talking about Chautauqua Park. I…read morefeel so lucky I got to experience this beautiful place! Our hike was extra special because it was led by Maria the Park Ranger. Maria's knowledge and passion for Chautauqua was incredible to witness. You can tell these mountains mean so much to her! We learned about the landscape, wildlife, Natives, and so much more. Our hike was simple but we saw so much along the way. The views of the flatirons are hard to beat. The path was busy but it was a beautiful saturday morning and it still didn't feel overly crowded. We saw lots of doggies, runners, and families and friends meeting for a morning hike to kick off their weekend. It was pure magic. I hope I get to come back one day!!

I feel like if I lived in Boulder I would go elsewhere since this is the more popular,…read moreclose-to-town option that pulls in tourists and the like. Well guess what? I'm a tourist and the like and I enjoyed it! We lucked into parking on a beautiful, busy Saturday morning. They have very nice restrooms at the Ranger station, and more overflow port a potties around if needed too. The nearby trail is highly accessible and it doesn't take long for some views to pay off. It's a decently steep incline, but nothing crazy at all. Once you're into the trees the shade helps against the thin air and the sun, and it's so quiet and serene. No mosquitoes like I'm used to back home. Loved all the birds (shoutout magpies) and also seeing everyones' dogs.

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.

Wonderful place for families to gather and connect with friends. We've been to a good handful of…read morebirthday parties hosted here and always love it. Plenty for kids to do and a warm, welcoming community all around.

What a fun day we had with our grandchildren. Great equipment in a fun and beautiful setting. Good…read morejob Niwot!

The playground at North Boulder Park is just part of the experience. It is small but updated and…read morelittle kids love it, even on a snow day when most of the rest of the family is xc skiing. I went there to ski after close to a foot of snow had fallen over the previous 24 hours and observed others skiing, dog walking around the edges of the park and the family on the playground. Dog walkers need to be courteous and keep their dogs leashed and away from the ski trails, especially when they need to relieve themselves. The Boulder Nordic Club voluntarily grooms this park which is several blocks long and wide and is located on the west side of of north "old Boulder." They need at least 8" of fresh snow to bring out the equipment and more is always better. Setting classic tracks along the edge of the skate groom strip is best when nearly a foot of snow has fallen. Many people come out to ski a few laps as a workout before heading off to a job or on their lunch break. The snow doesn't last long given that warmups in town usually come right after the snow but it is fun while it lasts. The views are classic, a straight shot at the Flatirons and located along the edge of a neighborhood of older, classic homes. In the summer this field is used for picnics, informal soccer games and frisbee activities.

A creek that flows through Boulder. I've heard people go fishing and tubing here. I didn't do any…read moreof that; I merely walked/hiked alongside, and also randomly encountered the creek or one of its offshoots. You don't have to be an outdoorsy type to appreciate the creek.

I love Boulder Creek. It did take a bit of work to forgive it post flood but I am happy to announce…read morethat my relationship with the creek is no longer on the bedrocks. Year round I have seen people fishing in it's crisp waters and you just know summer is near/here with the CU students bouncing through the rapids on air mattresses, bike tubes, and inner tubes. I highly recommend bringing out of town guests to dip their feet or just gaze at it's beauty from the shore.

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!

A wonderful secret in Westminster! Hidden among the neighborhood, is a medium sized park with a…read moreseasonal outdoor pool, tennis courts, beach volleyball court, and newer playground. It's like the type of facility you would find with an HOA minus the expensive fees.

The historic Harbeck house sits at the corner of Beach Park. The home and the Park were donated to…read morethe city decades ago. The Harbeck house had been the home of the Boulder History Museum until fairly recently when the acquired the former Masonic Lodge downtown and morphed into the current Museum of Boulder which is far more comprehensive than this space allowed. If you visit the new Museum, you can see why. Also this property on the Hill is in the middle of a residential neighborhood near campus and parking is scarce. Downtown, there are multiple parking garages to accommodate the visitors. This building is now the headquarters for Women's Wilderness, which leases it from the city. They have a good mission too, so stop in and see what they have to offer.

Neat park up in the hills of Boulder near the Boulder History Museum. I chilled here for a bit…read morewhile I waited for the museum to open. The park is in top notch condition with lots of well kept grass, trimmed trees and zero litter. There's a playground, too!