Boulder
714 Lincoln Pl, Boulder, CO
Boulder, CO
A creek-side college town pressed right up against the mountains, where the tilted slabs of the Flatirons stand over a lively downtown.
Boulder is a Front Range town that feels shaped entirely by the mountains at its back. The tilted red slabs of the Flatirons rise directly above the western edge of the city, and much of Boulder's character, its trails, its climbing culture, its love of the outdoors, flows straight out of that dramatic setting where the Great Plains run headlong into the Rockies.
Long before the town existed, this land was home and hunting ground to Native peoples of the plains and foothills, among them the Arapaho and Cheyenne, whose homelands stretched across this stretch of the Front Range. A gold rush and the founding of the University of Colorado later gave rise to the town, and the university and its students still set much of Boulder's tone today.
What Guests Love
- The Flatirons standing over town, a short walk or hike from downtown
- The pedestrian Pearl Street Mall with its shops, patios, and street performers
- Miles of creek paths and mountain trails right from the city
- A relaxed, outdoorsy, university-town energy
Worth Knowing
- Boulder sits at high elevation, so take it easy the first day and drink plenty of water
- Popular trailheads fill early on weekends, so arrive in the morning or use the shuttle where offered
- Mountain weather changes fast; afternoon storms are common in summer
- The town is very bike and pedestrian friendly, so plan to walk or ride once you park
Details
Boulder, CO
Learn about Boulder
A town at the edge of the mountains
The country around Boulder has long been home to Native peoples, including the Arapaho and Cheyenne, whose homelands and travel routes crossed this meeting place of plains and foothills. The mountains and creek that define the city today were part of that older landscape long before any streets were laid.
Prospectors arrived during the gold rush era of the mid-nineteenth century, and Boulder grew as a supply town at the mouth of the canyon. The founding of the University of Colorado gave the young town an anchor that has shaped it ever since, drawing students, researchers, and scientists, and lending Boulder its studious, forward-looking, and famously outdoorsy character.
The Flatirons and the trails
The Flatirons are Boulder's signature, a row of steeply tilted sandstone slabs that lean against the foothills like giant flat plates set on edge. They were once flat-lying sedimentary rock, later heaved up and tipped by the same mountain-building forces that raised the Front Range, and erosion has since carved them into the bold shapes seen today.
The city protects an enormous ring of open space and mountain parkland, so trails begin almost from the sidewalks. Hikers and climbers head straight up toward the Flatirons and the foothills, while the paved Boulder Creek Path threads the length of town along the water, an easy walk or ride past parks, cottonwoods, and swimming holes.
Downtown and Pearl Street
The heart of downtown is the Pearl Street Mall, several blocks closed to cars and given over to shops, bookstores, restaurants, patios, and a constant flow of street performers and buskers. Flower beds, fountains, and public art fill the spaces between, and it makes a genial gathering place in every season.
Boulder's food and drink scene punches above its size, with a strong tradition of local breweries, coffee roasters, and farm-focused kitchens, much of it clustered within an easy walk of Pearl Street. The university district nearby brings its own energy of cafes, bike shops, and bookstores.
Season by season
Spring is changeable, with warm days, late snow squalls, and greening foothills, and the creek runs high with snowmelt as the season goes on.
Summer is warm and lively, ideal for hiking, tubing on Boulder Creek, and long evenings on downtown patios, with afternoon mountain thunderstorms to watch for.
Fall brings crisp air, golden foliage, and clear light on the Flatirons, one of the best times to hike the foothills.
Winter is cold and often sunny, with snow on the peaks, easy access to mountain skiing nearby, and a lively holiday season downtown.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Boulder
Chautauqua Park
About 2 miles southwest
A historic park and trailhead at the foot of the Flatirons, with a great lawn, a summer concert hall, and popular foothill hikes.
Boulder Creek Path
Through town
A paved creek-side trail running the length of Boulder, threading parks, cottonwoods, and swimming holes.
Denver
About 30 miles southeast
Colorado's capital and biggest city, with museums, sports, and a lively dining and arts scene.