Engaging Getaways and Venues for:
USA/West: Boulder County, CO
Few U.S. counties have so many outdoor activities within their borders. Boulder County is a paradise for hikers, cyclists, anglers and others with world-class dining.
Walks and Hikes
Gold Hill. If you arrive by car via Sunshine Canyon from Boulder, park your car off the left-hand side of the road atop the mountain just before you descend steeply into the town of Gold Hill. Walk across the road and proceed for about one minute into a wooded area. Step carefully, and don't do this walk in the dark. You are walking near the edge of a cliff, and a fall could be fatal. There will be a rock formation near the edge of the cliff with a guide showing you what mountain peaks and glaciers you are viewing. You are looking out over the Continental Divide in all its magnificence.
Proceed back to your car and drive down the dirt road to Gold Hill. (If you prefer a workout in the thin 9,000-foot air, walk down the steep dirt road into the historic town). When you arrive in Gold Hill, go straight and park on Main Street near the Gold Hill Inn. Make a complete loop around town by continuing on foot along Main Street. Turn right on College Street, turn right on Pine Street, turn right when Pine Street ends and turn right onto Main Street.
For a map of Gold Hill, click here.
Perched beneath the front range of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder has set aside an extraordinary amount of land for parklands for a town of its size. The town trail map, available on line, could keep a visitor busy for years exploring the canyons, mesas, meadows and forests covering the rugged foot hills crowed by the Flatirons, enormous cliffs said to have been named by early European settlers whose wives thought they looked like irons.
Once the location of the elegant 19th-Century Eldorado Springs Resort that was linked to Denver by train and trolley, the canyon has been returned to its original peaceful setting offering extensive hiking and views of the Continental Divide to the west. Train buffs will enjoy seeing the Amtrak trains occasionally climbing and descending through the pass above the canyon. The park offers several networks of trails. The scenic Rattlesnake Gulch Trail leading up to the Crags Hotel ruin and overlook of the Continental Divide was closed because of a rock fall, but the Eldorado Canyon Trail also leads to impressive views of the Continental Divide. There are also short self-guided nature and geology walks. Pick up park maps at the visitors center.
You can also find maps at:
Cycling
With mostly rolling terrain and an extensive cycling community, Boulder presents many options for cyclists. Click here to chart bike routes within the city—log-in is required but it’s free.
This short scenic bikeway leads east for about 5.5 miles from Boulder Canyon, but it’s part of a much bigger bike way developed by the town.
To connect with the local cycle scene, go to the local magazine for enthusiasts, BikeLifeBoulder.com.
Fishing
The Boulder area is a dream for trout anglers. Miles of nearby pristine rivers and not-too-far away high mountain lakes provide a perfect combination of challenging stream and lake fishing and picture-perfect mountain scenery. Click here for more information.
You can also find out information about horseback riding and other outdoor activities at this link.
