31. Gold Hill
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: For a ride right out of town, go west on Mapleton Avenue, which becomes unpaved in Sunshine Canyon and continues to the historic mining town of Gold Hill, about 10 miles uphill. From there you can continue to Nederland and return down Boulder Canyon. Or, start the ride at the mouth of Boulder Canyon along the Creek Path, which ends in 2 miles at Four Mile Canyon (County Road 118). Then, proceed up Four Mile Canyon and turn right at the sign for Gold Hill—also about 10 miles uphill from the mouth of Four Mile Canyon.
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Parks & Recreation
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Parks & Recreation
34. Switzerland Trail
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: The historic Switzerland Trail, a former single-gauge railroad track, makes for some scenic riding with spectacular mountain views and reasonable climbing grades. Most riders start at the town of Sunset and go south toward Bald and Sugarloaf Mountains. To reach Sunset, head up Four Mile Canyon (see “Gold Hill,” listed previously), and stay on CR 118 past Salina and Wallstreet until you reach Sunset, 17 miles from Boulder. Go right to reach Gold Hill or left to Glacier Lake.
35. Golden Gate Canyon State Park
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (303) 582-3707
Address: 10 miles south of Nederland on Highway 7
Description: Golden Gate offers many miles of hiking plus backpacking, fishing, and camping at 7,900- to 10,500-foot elevations. You’ll find 155 sites, including some in the backcountry. Fees are $18 per night for RV or motor-home sites with electricity, $14 for drive-in tent sites with showers, $8 for walk-in hut and tent sites. There’s a one-time reservation fee. Golden Gate is open year-round, weather permitting. A day pass costs $6. For reservations, call (303) 582-3707.The park’s north entrance is 10 miles south of Nederland on Highway 72 and 2 miles east on Gap Road. For the south entrance drive 3 more miles, then 4 miles east on Highway 46.
36. Kelly Dahl
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (877) 444-6777
Address: 3 miles south of Nederland on Highway 11
Description: This campground offers a scenic view of the Continental Divide and limited hiking. There is a small playground, but no electrical hookups, dump stations, or showers. There are 46 sites at an elevation of 8,600 feet. The season lasts from late April or early May through October 31 or the first snow, whichever comes first. The fee is $16 with water.
37. Pawnee Campground
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (877) 444-6777
Address: 5 miles west of Highways 119/72 on CR 10
Description: This extremely popular (and heavily used) campground offers beautiful views, fishing, and nonmotorized boating with access to the wilderness area. The 55 sites lie at an elevation of 10,400 feet, and the brief season lasts from the first Friday after the Fourth of July through Labor Day. Half of the sites may be reserved; the rest are first come, first served. There is a $9 reservation fee. The site fee is $16.
38. Rainbow Lakes
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (877) 444-6777
Description: Rainbow Lakes campground is set near several small but lovely lakes. There is no available running water, but good fishing is nearby in the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area. There are 18 sites at an altitude of 10,000 feet, available on a first-come, first-served basis. The season runs from mid-June through mid-October, or the first snow. The fee is $6.
39. Buckingham Campground
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (303) 444-6600
Address: 12 miles northwest of Nederland
Description: The campground is at an elevation of 10,160 feet and is accessible to Indian Peaks Wilderness. Buckingham’s 8 sites, available on a first-come, first-served basis, are heavily used. Camping is allowed only in the designated sites, as the surrounding vegetation is easily damaged. The season runs from early June until snow season. No ground fires or charcoal fires are permitted; only gas grills or camp stoves may be used for cooking. No reservations are required, and there’s no fee charged for camping, but no water is available.Buckingham Campground is at the Fourth of July trailhead, 12 miles northwest of Nederland. Take County Road 107 west through Eldora to County Road 130 (a rough road) and proceed to its end.
40. Colorado Mountain Club
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (303) 554-7688
Address: 633 South Broadway
Description: The CMC, as it is known, offers mountaineering classes that will take you from rank beginner to advanced mountaineer. Learn all the basics of rock climbing and mountaineering in these courses. CMC also offers advanced mountaineering courses, as well as many scheduled trips both locally and internationally. Many of the classes and outings are free, and the prices of others are very reasonable.
41. East Boulder Recreation Center
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (303) 441-4401
Address: 5660 Sioux Drive
Description: The city offers rock-climbing and mountaineering courses for adults, teens, and children as part of its Adventure Program. There’s a climbing wall at the East Boulder Community Center.
42. Neptune Mountaineering
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (303) 499-8866
Address: 633 Unit-A, South Broadway at Table Mesa
Description: Another excellent resource for climbing and mountaineering information, books, and equipment (though no instruction is offered) is this shop owned by Gary Neptune, a prominent U.S. mountaineer who has stood on the top of Mount Everest and many other peaks worldwide. The shop hosts talks by adventurers and authors fresh from conquering peaks around the world, free or for a minimal fee. The museum located in the shop includes boots and crampons from Sir Edmund Hillary’s first ascent of Mount Everest, a Russian oxygen bottle brought back from Everest, and antique ice axes, alpenstocks, pitons, and carabiners dating back more than100 years. It’s the most extensive collection of its kind in the country.
43. Total Climbing
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (800) 836-4008
Address: 2829 Mapleton Avenue
Description: Total Climbing has an indoor climbing wall and offers instruction. A full range of lessons and outdoor clinics are available, as is rental equipment. The club’s building has 10,000 square feet of climbing surface, 35-foot lead walls, and a 2,000-square-foot bouldering cave.
44. Boulder Reservoir
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (303) 441-3468
Address: 5100 North 51st Street 1 mile north of J
Description: Out on the eastern plains, with a nice mountain vista, Boulder Reservoir is loaded with crappie, catfish, and largemouth bass. It’s open year-round. The best place for bank fishing is the deep water near the dam embankment at the eastern end. Boating is prohibited on weekends unless you are a Boulder resident. Drive toward Longmont on Highway 119 to reach 51st Street.
45. Diamond Lake/Indian Peaks
City: Boulder, CO
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: For those who desire more solitude (which you won’t find at Brainard Lake), hike up to beautiful Diamond Lake, from the Fourth of July trailhead. To reach Fourth of July trailhead, travel west from Nederland for about 7 miles on CR 107—you’ll pass through the rustic town of Eldora—then continue up CR 130 (a rough, dirt road) for about 5 miles. It’s about a 2.5-mile hike up to Diamond Lake from the trailhead.