A few summers ago, my two college friends and I decided to bite the bullet and move to Boulder without jobs or knowing anyone. I like to reference this summer as “my summer into adulthood,” because truthfully it was the first time living on my own, buying my weekly groceries, and juggling jobs. In retrospect, this experience was a glorified and simplified version of true adulthood and Boulder set my expectations sky high for future living spaces.
During that summer, I was in the best hiking shape of my life, squeezing in hikes before going to Biology class, racing to the trail head to beat the sunset, and having my main activity be surrounded by finding a new favorite trail. If you are unfamiliar, Boulder offers world class hiking in a beautiful little town, with skies painted with the enchanting flat irons, and lush greens and blues filling the landscape. Boulder I think is a great place to start your hiking adventures, and now in contrast I use Boulder hikes as more as a quick workout rather than an immersive nature experience due to the large crowds and popularity, but nonetheless it’s an awesome spot close to Denver to get me outdoors.
The hikes I will list are some of the most popular so I really encourage going on weekdays after work and enjoying these trails during sunset hours.
One. Royal Arch– This trail is based out of Chautauqua Park, an absolutely stunning area filled with multiple hikes. For many Boulder people, this spot is very popular for light nature walks, a haven for trail runners, and a popular spot to take incredible photos. This area is probably the most popular in Boulder, and therefore super crowded (which is a bit of bummer), but totally understandable, especially for people new to hiking. Royal Arch is a 4 mile out and back that offers a pretty generous incline and always feels like an outdoor stairmaster excursion. I love this hike for the way it increases my heartbeat, gets me sweating, and tones my legs as I climb the seemingly never ending rock stairs. This hike is my go to post work hike because I know I can bust it out pretty quickly and the finishing moment at the Royal Arch is always peaceful and beautiful.
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Two. Sanitas– This hike is another super popular trail and again a quick but difficult loop to get your heart rate bursting and to strengthen your legs along the way. This hike has little coverage so definitely recommend a super early morning (if you’re hiking in summer), or my personal choice, a sunset hike. At 3.2 miles, this hike is again a perfect smaller hike to smash in an afternoon after work, or an awesome way to start your day. Again this hike offers a decent elevation gain and always makes you feel accomplished.
Three. Betasso Preserve– This is a spot I actually stumbled upon one Sunday morning after feeling pretty defeated. I had tried to hike a 13r that had been on my bucketlist for a while only to find Nederland, the town where the hike was based out of, completely traffic filled and over crowded. While driving back, I desperately looked for an alternative and found Betasso Preserve along the way. This hiking area offers super easy and doable loops that you can add onto to create a decently long hike. My favorite part, the hike was completely empty. I haven’t seen a hike that empty close to Denver all summer, so it was extremely pleasant to walk the rolling hills without seeing a single soul. I highly recommend this hike if you want a long nature walk that isn’t too hard on the knees. Also from the base, you can walk over to Bummer Rock which is a quick 5 minute walk with a super rewarding view.
Four. Bear Peak– Bear Peak is one of my favorite challenging Boulder hikes. There are many approaches to this strenuous climb, but the only one I have tried is the Cragmoor Approach. This is my little secret, but I find starting at Cragmoor, because it begins in a neighborhood, is a lot easier to find parking. I still recommend going super early in the morning because there can be traffic jams at the actual peak which isn’t my desire after a tough hike. The Cragmoor Approach is no joke and gives a steep 2000+ elevation gain, which is why this trail is perfect for 14r training. This hike is one of my favorites because of the different landscapes it offers. Starting off on a flat path out of a neighborhood, you’re able to enjoy the wild flowers, then you reach a more shaded and spooky forrest filled with trees, finally you get to the steep incline at the end, and begin soaking up the panoramic views. This hike is no joke and my favorite to see how good of shape I’m in.
Five. Lost Lake- Okay this hike is actually in Nederland, a town about 40 minutes outside of Boulder, but one of my favorite and not so secret anymore gems. When I first did Lost Lake, I found it to be an absolutely magical experience. The hike wasn’t too challenging and the lake at the end was absolutely stunning. I go multiple times a year and it’s one of my favorites to bring visitors on. Unfortunately, this area is SUPER popular now and finding a parking spot on the weekend is tricky. But as with all my recommendations, go later in the day or on a week day to score a spot!
Boulder really is a special spot. Living in Colorado so long, I really do take it for granted but remember how magical it is when I have guests here and show them this gem of a city. The flat irons are undeniably beautiful and while the town is for sure a bubble, it’s fun to spend a day there and pretend the world is really that perfect.
Have you ever been to Boulder? And what are your favorite hikes there?
Hailee Boyle Social Media Management 