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.

Great local park to cool off. My dog especially loves it here because being by the creek, it's…read moreusually ten degrees cooler than in the city. You can approach off Arapahoe Ave. There's parking for about a dozen cars, and more up on the top of the hill. There are plenty of picnic tables, and I think only once on July 4th I've seen them all used at once. There's a ton is spots for creek access for swimming, kayaking, tubing, or fishing! I love the nature as there are a ton of beautiful big trees. The creek path runs through the park so you can walk, bike, or hike for several dozen miles in each direction. There are a few houses less folks but I've never had an issue with anyone at this park. Everyone is typically very nice and having fun.

A lovely neighborhood park along a bike trail. Picnic tables and playground and spots to just hang…read moreout. Limited parking spaces.

AWESOME!!!!! This was the perfect hike for a quick trip to Boulder. It took us about 4 hours…read moregoing super slow with lots of breaks and a nice lunch stop. The trail was well maintained and the rangers in the visitors center were super friendly. During the summer Sunday we were there, the park had a free shuttle back to town which was super helpful.

One of my favorite trails in Boulder located in Chautauqua park. It's a little over 3 miles with…read moresome elevation, but I think it's relatively easy. My friend who was visiting from sea level who doesn't hike much was able to do it with no problems. It's a beautiful hike through tree line, nice vertical and stone steps and a unique arch at the top! There are big rocks to sit on and enjoy the stunning vistas and observe sweet chipmunks running about.

This view never gets old any time of year. But a warm day in Feb is rare in most years but not this…read moreyear. We took a ride up to this point just as another was leaving from sunrise viewing. I just don't need to be up that early these days. There is a display with information describing the parts of the view and since this is my little city, I know what is where. In some light and times of year you can easily see my street if you know where to look. The campus and downtown are easy to identify. Enjoy a ride up but know the gates to all viewing spaces on Flagstaff are now locked at night to prevent issues that might start a wild land fire that could sweep down into town.

Baseline Rd (40th parallel north) defines the Nebraska/Kansas border. At Base-Mar shopping center…read moreyou can actually land one foot on the south side of the USA and the other foot on the north side slicing our country in half. Directions from downtown Boulder: drive 15 minutes west on Baseline road all the way up the hill to arrive at a parking lot for panorama point. They have picnic tables and benches for your ultimate make out sesh.

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.

Now named "The People's Crossing" to emphasize the variety of founders, both indigenous and…read moreEuropean, this is a fine park situated across Boulder Creek from Eben G Fine. You can also connect to many trails north, west, and south! A true crossing of people. With massive Red Rocks and lots of nature, you can do a great amount of exploring here. There's two lots for parking, one off Canyon, or you park on Arapahoe and walk over. Most folks enjoy doing the rocky scrambles near the beautiful sandstone outcrops. They are similar to Garden of the Gods or Red Rocks Amphitheater! Several trails wind around the rocks allowing for plenty of views. You can even find an old foundation on a cliff! If you want to make an adventure out of it, try heading up Anemone Loop for a beautiful forest jaunt! It took me around 2 hours at a moderate pace with plenty of options for exploring.

This is an easy yet nerve-wracking hike. Sections of the trail are slick, so the entire time you…read moreare climbing up you're kinda concerned "how am I gonna get back down??" As it turns out, when you reach the top, there are other trails you can take down. The one closer to the creek is notably less slick and less steep. I unfortunately do not remember the name. Once you get to the top though, wow! Gorgeous views of Boulder and the surrounding foothills. Climbing on the rocks at the top is pretty fun too. Overall this was probably the most "scary" hike I did while in Boulder (but not the most demanding) because it is less maintained than the Eldorado Canyon State Park and the Rocky Mountain trails that I did. But it is still pretty easy, just a bit slippery. Use hiking sticks and you should be fine. I think this is a must do when in Boulder.

Look for side trails near the creek to avoid bikes. There is a great blue heron that lives on the…read morecreek. Contemplative and serene

Our plans changed today. We planned to.go to Boulder Falls,.but it was closed. We saw this path…read morerunning along the creek and decided to.go for a short hike. We started by a nice entrance (great parking) just outside the Roosevelt National Park. Excellent place to bike, although we were on foot. We enjoyed our 3 mile hike. Creek running next to us, a few bridges to cross, and few tunnels to pass thru. The bikers on the path are extremely polite and friendly. Definitely would recommend getting out un the fresh Colorado air! We had perfect weather and enjoyed the creek!

This was an amazing trail near boulder! We decided instead of trekking the beginning we drove to…read morethe top of the mountain instead for the vantage points. It was high up (over 9000k ft) and I've never experienced elevation like that before so taking a few steps made me out of breath very quickly. The views were incredible though! Seeing the valley of Denver and the Rocky Mountains on the other side were breathtaking. There wasn't much snow for March as you could only see it on mountains that were much farther west and taller. It really gives you an idea of how high up the mountain is when you see people and trees look like the size of ants. The drive to the top was also wild with a twisty road that definitely felt like something that would be extremely difficult if it were icy out which thankfully it wasn't when we visited! Highly recommend checking out if you are in the boulder area.

This easy loop trail is great if you're looking to get out into the mountains but don't want to…read morehike anything hard. Its a mellow trail that is great for letting your dog run and play without being too exhausting for you. Just drive 5 minutes past the crowded Chautauqua parking area up Flagstaff Road (look out for deer!) and park at Realization Point. The best part is I went here on a Saturday afternoon and hardly say anyone except some deer.

This trailhead is a hub with access to many other trails. I wanted to climb Flagstaff Mountain and…read morethere are multiple options to get to the top. I started with the GC trail and created a loop with Rangeview and Flagstaff. Rangeview delivered an amazing view of the Rockies. GC is on an incline so you get to look down into the creek and canyon. The western side also offers views of the adjacent Chautauqua Park. Flagstaff summit was not as dramatic, and upon the descent you look out onto Downtown Boulder. I inadvertently took Crown Rock trail, which I do not recommend. It has a lot of loose rocks and gets slippery. Trails were easy to follow and major intersections had clear signage. Only six parking spots! However, you can park for free with some off-road spots on Baseline Rd. I regret starting at 9:30 as trails were pretty sunny. Rangeview offered some needed shade.

Wow what a marvelous trailhead! The other reviewer was right, you could get to all of Boulder…read moreMountain Parks from here. I arrived around 11am on a weekday and the lot was about half full. There's a few trails that all connect up to Green Mountain, so take your pick. It too me about an hour to summit. The trail was beautiful and in better shape than the Bear Peak trail. It's less steep, but still pretty long and can be an adventure. You get some amazing views, better than Bear I think. Seeing the first flatiron above the fog was so pretty. The summit sports a register and a lot of chickadees begging for food. Don't feed them! Enjoy the mountain air and sunshine, and the fact your so close to town after your hike!