Day Hike in Boulder: Green Mountain

Our Local Expert Says:

Chautauqua Park is the best place to get a stunning view of the Flatirons. Take a picnic and enjoy the park, or explore the Chautauqua Community; eat at the community dining hall and catch a concert at the historic Chautauqua Auditorium.

Description:

This picturesque park located at the base of the Flatirons has many trailheads that are the gateways to the Rocky Mountains. The park is a wonderful place for walking, picnicking, and people-watching. The park is part of the Chautauqua community, an idea built from the Chautauqua movement popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that was based around adult education that attempted to provide entertainment and culture for the whole community. The Boulder Chautauqua community opened in 1898 and contains a public dining hall, lodging, a community house for local events, and the beautiful Chautauqua Auditorium, which houses the esteemed Colorado Music Festival in the summer, as well as other concerts throughout the year.

Our Local Expert Says:

A drive up Flagstaff Mountain is the easiest way to get an aerial view of Boulder and to have a secluded mountain picnic.

Description:

Just west of downtown, the winding road up the mountain provides stunning panoramic views of Boulder, Denver, and the eastern plains after a beautiful drive or a strenuous bike ride. There are many picnic tables just off the road where you can park and walk for a few minutes and find yourself in a relatively quiet and secluded area. Flagstaff Mountain also has mountain bike trails and popular climbing routes, as well as the Summit Nature Center (open weekends in the summer) and an outdoor amphitheater. The Flagstaff House, one of Boulder's most upscale restaurants, is also situated on Flagstaff Mountain, which affords it incredible views and quite a romantic atmosphere.

Description:

The Boulder Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest contains the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Area attractions include the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, the Eldora Ski Resort and the Brainard Lake/St. Vrain Recreation Area.

This area offers plenty of recreational activities from mountain biking, climbing (both rock and ice), hiking, fishing and sightseeing along the Peak to Peak Highway. Winter activities include skiing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

The Boulder Ranger District is located just west of Boulder in the Rocky Mountains. The main route of travel through this area is the Peak to Peak Highway. This consists of Colorado State Road 119 from U.S. Highway 70 to Boulder and Colorado State Road 72 from Nederland to Estes Park.