City: Boulder, CO

Category: Parks & Recreation

Description: Cruise right onto the very popular Boulder Creek Path, the backbone of the city’s bike path network. The path, which also accommodates pedestrians and in-line skaters, is most easily accessed at Central Park (Broadway and Canyon), Eben Fine Park (Fourth and Arapahoe), the Millennium Harvest House Hotel (1345 28th Street, just south of Arapahoe), or Scott Carpenter Park (30th Street south of Arapahoe Avenue). Most major intersections crossing Arapahoe Avenue have a sidewalk ramp onto the bike path.Head east or west—both directions offer a great ride and scenery. Going west, the paved section ends about a half-mile into Boulder Canyon, and a wide packed-gravel path continues a little more than 2 miles (from Eben Fine Park) up to Four Mile Canyon, where the Creek Path ends. It’s not a steep or difficult ride to the end of the path, but those new to Boulder’s elevation might be a bit breathless as the trail gradually climbs the canyon, paralleling the highway. It’s best ridden on a mountain bike, but skinny tires can make it, too, with care on the gravel and “curbs” at the bridges.For those who prefer no hills, ride east, where the Creek Path sweeps out onto the plains past 30th Street and CU-Boulder’s Research Park for a panoramic view of the Front Range, past duck ponds, cottonwoods, and prairie dog towns. See the Attractions chapter for a detailed description of the path.