Hiking
Places to Hike
Head to the Chautauqua grounds for several hiking options in the Flatirons, a set of five stunning rock formations near the south part of the city.
There are plenty of hiking trails that explore this area, and all are worth it. Try out the Mesa Trail (6.9 miles) or the steeper Royal Arch (1 mile). The Chautauqua Ranger station has maps for you to explore all of them.
Other great hikes:
- Flagstaff Mountain west of Boulder is a great choice, especially if you want to get a little climbing in and get a panoramic look at the city below.
- South of Boulder is Eldorado Canyon State Park, which has great trails like Rattlesnake Gulch and Creekside.
- Rocky Mountain National Park is about an hour northwest of Boulder. It has 60 peaks exceeding 12,000 feet above sea level, including Longs Peak at 14,259 feet. If you hike one, be prepared for the altitude.
Stores to Check Out
Neptune Mountaineering opened in 1973 initially as a place to go to fix climbing and ski boots. It has moved away from that and into retail for all things outdoors—mountaineering, skiing, hiking, climbing and more.
This is one of Boulder's most beloved businesses.
Other stores to check out:
- Boulder Army Store, 16th and Pearl
- REI (1789 28th Street), or the company's flagship store is down the road in Denver (1416 Platte Street)
One Last Tip
Whatever your skill level, you could learn something from Colorado Mountain School, which offers private guiding on things like rock climbing, mountaineering, ice climbing, avalanche awareness and more.
More: New to Hiking? Top 10 Must Haves
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