Big grassy area with a stream/creek running through it in downtown Boulder. Very pretty, very…read moregrassy and definitely the spot where the "home-challenged" hang out. Lots of joggers and walkers and picnickers. Big bandshell thing going on, too!

Central Park is a great park. It hosts many events such as the Boulder farmers market and other…read moreholiday themed events. It also houses the band stand clam shell which also is very accommodating when it comes to free shows and concerts. Since the Boulder creek runs through this park, it is very prone to flooding and has been shut down several times. I like this park for its central location, being that its next to the library and that one can take the walking/biking path that will connect to to many different parts of the city.

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.

As a visitor to Longmont this was a great well developed and beautiful little find behind our hotel…read moreand connecting to downtown Longmont. Beautiful new and well developed paths and a nature exploration area along St. Vrain Creek. Great for walking, running and biking. The Nature Area featured purpose built nature play structures which were creatively and naturally playfully designed. There was an area with parking for tubing and water explorations for kids and kids-at-heart. Perfect!

Dickens Farm Nature Area is an ok place to walk, bike, run, etc. within town. It is right behind a…read morestrip mall with a bridge leading from the strip mall to the nature area. Many people visit to take a dip in St Vrain Creek, some on tubes. My dogs definitely loved splashing through the area. There is no playground equipment for kids if that's what you are looking for. There are stumps and logs to climb and explore. There are not too many shaded areas, so be aware during the heat of summer. There are a couple of covered picnic tables available. Be aware of your surroundings when visiting. There was trash left around part of Discovery Island & tent in some bushes. During one morning visit, I was followed, harassed and cursed at by a homeless man. I reported it, but I don't think it was taken seriously. During another visit, we saw someone who appeared to be some type of security, but we saw that he only visited the parking lot - that's not going to deter much. This place would be five stars if it was safe and you didn't have to watch your back when visiting.

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.

Located right off Boulder Canyon Drive- a scenic, small, beautiful trail that leads to a waterfall…read more When it's not winter, it's an easy & short walk to get to the waterfall. I'm sad the Falls have been closed since November 2024 and that may be indefinitely due to a catastrophic rockfall. I'm glad I got to see it when I did!

This is a local attraction in Boulder Canyon that I have visited occasionally since 1974 but…read more probably not in the last 20-30 years. With out of town guests who wanted to see it, we went up with them today which was hot even by 9am. Not ideal for me. There was adequate parking in a small lot on the south side of the Canyon, just before the crossover to the entrance to the short but steep hike.Being a Monday morning, not very busy. Be aware that weekends are extremely busy and not enough parking. I believe that the trail has been improved some over the years from our past memory of it. There are actually some steps cut into the steepest of the rock surfaces and some heavy duty chain handrails in the areas with he steepest drop off. We saw little kids as well as grandparents. so if I can still do it, many others can. Cooler weather would have been nice. The waterfall is quite pretty. It was roaring even in a drought because of a few heavy rains last weekend and such hot weather in this climate change era that the snow pack in the mountains is melting too quickly this summer. A must see if you are visiting this area. A many athletes do visit too.

Loved this place!…read more Brought my 2 and 4 year old to check out the educational center and just enjoy the area. They loved playing with the interactive games exhibits. And honestly, so did I. My 2 year old took a nap in their courtyard. It was a gorgeous day and just a very peaceful area. Would love to come here again.

Visiting NCAR is an extraordinary experience that should be seized by any visitor to or resident of…read morethe area. The complex was designed in 1961 by I. M. Pei, one of the greatest architects of the 20th century, and completed in 1967. Although this was his first major project, it received immediate recognition as a masterpiece of modern design and caused Pei's career to rocket. The buildings are inspired by ancient Pueblo ruins and fit seamlessly into their spectacular foothills setting, rather than trying to dominate the landscape. Meteorology first became criticality important during WWII, but basic research into our weather declined drastically after the war. The National Academy of Sciences approached Congress in 1956 to fund an institute for basic climate research. NCAR has been funded by the National Science Foundation since 1960 and is managed by a consortium of universities. One of NCAR's basic functions is to develop models of our climate and the facility has housed a series of state-of-the-art supercomputers for this purpose. Alas for computer nerds, since 2012 the latest generations of systems are now at the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center in Cheyenne (there is a nice visitor center and tour if you visit there). NCAR encourages visits by the public and is open every day at no charge. The complex sits at the top of Table Mesa and takes up 28 acres of 565 acres of City of Boulder open space. Getting there is a little tricky. You take Table Mesa Drive through a residential development. The houses suddenly end and you're on NCAR Road which twists seamlessly into the landscape and leads past the main entrance to the huge parking lot. Be careful on the rather steep road as it is used by lots of bicyclists and runners. There's a path from the parking lot to the rear of the complex. A staircase leads to the plaza and public entrance. The setting is gorgeous and there are eight hiking trails of various lengths and levels of difficulty. The main public parts of NCAR are the lobby and adjacent two-level science hall which are packed with dozens of interesting and well-done exhibits, many interactive, that explain the functions of weather and scientific research about it. There's also a small theater, a research library, and Pei's original model of the project. The public is welcome to use the large cafeteria (follow the signs from the exhibit hall) which has great views and hosts a continuing series of art exhibits. I usually stop at NCAR whenever I visit Boulder and always enjoy my time there.

Great trail. Nice views. A little over 4 miles with a manageable, gradual incline. I'd say it's…read moremoderate but not particularly challenging. Saw a lot of people running. The trail is well-maintained and marked. The trailhead sign isn't readily apparent from the road so we had to pull over and check that it was the right one. The GPS did have the trailhead as slightly further down the road but we ended up in the right place. There's parking along the road, FYI. The trail will take you to the top of Mount Sanitas. Take a look at the map I posted -- there are multiple trails that take you to the peak.

Beautiful hiking trail just outside of Boulder. I freaking love this trail. I was in Denver and…read moreBoulder for a conference & to see friends. This was one of the short hikes I was hoping to squeeze into my busy day so that I could get that amazing mountain view that I don't get to see in the city. The trail itself is not too steep, and offers beautiful views all around, no matter where you are on the trail. When you are navigating to the trail, you will be driving uphill, and lose cell signal as you approach the base. There isn't really any signal on the trail in general. Parking is all roadside parking at the curved bend of a road. There are clearly areas to park for hikers. This trail when I was hiking was populated by locals either hiking solo or in a small group. Would definitely recommend for a couple hour hike. Only took me about 2 hours.

Easy access from Boulder for visitors who want a gentle introduction to hiking in the Rocky…read moreMountains. Beautiful vistas, and many restful bench stops. I was greeted by a friendly hostess before starting the 5K loop around the Canyon Loop Trail. No bikes allowed Wednesday and Saturday. With close proximity to Boulder, it's a crowded trail, and bikes would represent something of a challenge for those hikers not fleet of foot. But I bet it's a fun mountain bike track!

I really, really enjoy Betasso. It is so beautiful - rolling hills, loads of trees, and well shaded…read moreonce you are in the woodsy portion. There are multiple parking lots and bathrooms! Not to mention, picnic tables near some of the trail heads. This area is open for use sun rise to sunset. Sorry, no campers permitted. The best days to go as a hiker or horseback rider are Wednesday and Saturdays (when bikes are not allowed on the trail). When visiting on the other days definitely watch your back (and this is where the three star removal comes in). I was visiting the morning of the 4th to give the good old walk jog routine a spin (having recently improved mobility), and boy did it feel good to get out. There are "right of way" signs sprinkled throughout the preserve. While about 10% of the bikers actually bothered to slow down or yield for me (these were the families and older bikers) most I had to physically jump out of the way of. If you've been here you know the trails can be narrow in some spots. So tree hugging, slope slipping, and ankle busting I did, just to avoid being collided into by a rowdy biker. It was really quite upsetting as we all have the same goal - being outside and moving around in nature. I'll definitely be back but will make my best attempt to go on the non-bike days.