Great local park to cool off. My dog especially loves it here because being by the creek, it's…read moreusually ten degrees cooler than in the city. You can approach off Arapahoe Ave. There's parking for about a dozen cars, and more up on the top of the hill. There are plenty of picnic tables, and I think only once on July 4th I've seen them all used at once. There's a ton is spots for creek access for swimming, kayaking, tubing, or fishing! I love the nature as there are a ton of beautiful big trees. The creek path runs through the park so you can walk, bike, or hike for several dozen miles in each direction. There are a few houses less folks but I've never had an issue with anyone at this park. Everyone is typically very nice and having fun.

A lovely neighborhood park along a bike trail. Picnic tables and playground and spots to just hang…read moreout. Limited parking spaces.

Passed by this TH on my way to Lafayette and decided to give it a try. It has a unique view with…read morethe reservoir and meadow with the mountains in the background. I did not bring my phone because the trail is a little over a mile, so did not capture the full beauty. Ironically, it is man's intervention which makes it look natural. There is ugly metal fencing bordering the creek, reservoir, and farm land. In part to contain invasive species. From a distance, it does not mar the view. It is odd that people were swimming in the reservoir, and it is clearly bordering private land. Sadly, it does not look like there is public access. I visited after work, and when I headed back to my car the lot was completely full. I was the only person without a dog. It has become the local dog park. Probably because of the fencing, and it is very flat so Fido can be spotted from afar. The beginning of the trail has powerlines, but when you reach the loop it opens up and very sunny. Glad I stopped but probably won't return because it is so short.

I wanted to go to the beach at dry creek however access is only for locals I assume we we couldn't…read moreget it. We then looked for the trail where dogs could walk off leash but there was no access to the lake. We did fine a little water flow that was perfect to refresh.

I have not been able to get to this park for years. It was one of my regular walking paths when I…read morewas able to drive here. I no longer am able to do that. But a friend who likes to walk there too, offered me the option to do it today. She used to live nearby Viele Lake but now has moved to my neighborhood. We headed out mid-morning and though it was a cool, slightly wet start, it warmed up quite quickly when the sun was fully out. My friend had heard that there was a heron in residence this year and we found it on our first turn. We also saw a tree near the bridge that had snagged some debris from fishing supplies. I was unaware that fishing is allowed there. The view of the Flatirons backdrop of Boulder is fully complete from this lakeside path. It's especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset. Unfortunately, like most summers, there were a lot of droppings from the resident geese. Beware, even on paved surfaces.

Great place for dog walks, picnics, and sunsets! You can see far into the flatirons and the…read morereflection across the lakes are spectacular! Winter is a great time to explore with the colors you can see. The pond scum comes a bit more in the summer but beautiful nonetheless. I've seen people fishing and kayaking there though I'm not sure either are allowed. I love being here for the nature! They have tennis courts and lots of walking trails. This is a great south boulder park that everyone should visit!

Sugarloaf Mountain is an excellent close front range option for a scenic hike. Parking is fairly…read moreeasy off Sugarloaf rd, really not far from downtown Boulder! It's an uphill and sometimes steep drive on dirt, but nothing a small car can't do. The hike itself starts unmarked but easy to spot the wide gate and uphill trail. You're in the woods for about the first third, then get some great views after some switchbacks. The top is denuded from a fire over 30 years ago, the Black Tiger Fire. Many large trees and stumps can be seen. This is a fantastic view and you can see in 360 degrees. It's particularly great for mountain views, sunrise, and cool clouds. The trail is pretty short 1.5 miles and around 300ft gain, with a broad open top. It's a great trail for most any skill level!

Colorado residents and visitors should make the time to take in this Rocky Mountain experience…read more This is a moderate hike for those in decent shape, just remember if you're not acclimated, you are hiking roughly from 7900ft to 8900ft. Sugarloaf Mountain is about a half hour outside of Boulder. It is easily seen from the plains-it's the mountain just behind the foothills that is uniformly cone shaped. Let me cut ahead to the pay-off before I fill in the details: A hike up Sugarloaf Mountain from the parking area pays off with magnificent 360 views. The Continental Divide is spread out before you in spectacular fashion. Long's Peak (one of the 14teeners) views are fabulous. To one side are steep drops down talus slopes into Four Mile Canyon. Turn around and you can see Denver and on a cool, clear day, probably Kansas. (not really but it seems that way). I have knocked around the high country quite a bit and been to the top of several peaks, and for the accessability and proximity to Denver and Boulder, Sugarloaf Mountain has some of the best panoramic views. Some of my personal highlights from Sugarloaf hikes: -Watching an eagle glide along on thermals, sometimes above me, sometimes below. -Waving at people in a glider and actually being able to hear the wings of the glider whistling through the air. -Watching the sun set below the snow-capped divide (you can see the Indian Peaks and Never Summer range from here) while sitting in adirondack style chairs made from loose slabs of stone on the western facing side of the peak. Drive west out of Boulder on Canyon (toward Nederland). About 5 miles. Turn right on Sugarloaf Rd., follow it about 4 miles to a right, watch for signs. Trailhead is just a dirt lot. Trail starts with gravel/dirt, becomes very rocky as you climb. Not very steep or challenging if you take your time. Also views of forest fire damage from recent years in surrounding foothills. Just don't do what I did with a visitor: Hiked up sugarloaf one day, biking the next day, on the third day of their visit (they were visiting from an elevation of 600ft.) we went to play racquetball in the morning. Ten minutes into racquetball my guest says "Are the lights in here flickering? Wait, I think I might pass out..." Oops. Altitude.

What a fantastic trail! There's views for miles here. The parking area is fairly large with…read moretoilets, and there's another a bit fatter for non Boulder county folks who don't feel like paying. Come now for the best flower show! With lupines, sunflowers and more, plus roaming cows, the pastoral scene here will take you away from the bustle of nearby parks. There's a big loop trail up the hill, and numerous bike paths to follow. I had a lot of fun here!

Located at the intersection of HWY 93 and Marshall road in south Boulder, Marshall Mesa is a great…read moreplace to go hiking or mountain biking if you like steep and rough terrain. Trail maintenance is very little if not at all so get ready for some extremely rocky, muddy, and partially washed out trails. The good thing about Marshall Mesa is its expansive trail network, one can connect up to the Marshall Valley Trail, Coal Seam Trail, Cowdrey Draw Trail, Greenbelt Plateau Trail, and Community Ditch Trail. All trails are hiker and mountain biker friendly but most of them are very narrow and only allow a single direction of traffic at one time. Good hiking footwear or a strong, well built professional grade mountain bike is required as well as sunscreen and a couple of bottles of water since most of these trails are fairly long (10+ miles long one way). There is a large free parking lot across the street from the entrance or a pay for parking lot on the park property itself. So go out and enjoy the sights and sounds of the great Colorado outdoors.

We started off with snowshoes but, it wasn't necessary. We ended up switching to microspikes. About…read morea 1 mile in we encountered a moose on the trail. We tried waiting her out but, she was determined to eat from the trees right next to the trail. Therefore, we cut our hike short and went back. It is a beautiful area, there were no cars in the parking lot when we arrive around 8:15am on a Saturday morning.

I love this trail, and one of the reasons why is the end-as you finish up a great hike or ride, you…read morearrive near the parking area and there are some nice warm boulders by the river-take off your shoes, sit and feel the warmth of the sun radiating from the rock, soak your feet in the icy water...life is good. The trail starts at 8300 ft. From the parking area the trail travels a cushioned gentle slightly downhill roll through woods along the banks above the St. Vrain. Most of the first mile+ is cool and shady even in the summer and the smell of the pines fills your senses. For bikers, there are a few bumpy sections, not a lot. Further on you will get to more technical stuff when you reach a 4x4 road-plenty of steep and rocky. From 36 follow Left Hand Canyon to the fork, take right fork to Jamestown, go through Jamestown, follow to end of pavement, keep going about 1.5 miles

It is hard to review this trail after Rocky Mountain National Park. This is a neighborhood…read morewalkway, so local, you are passing homes at times. Flat mixed terrain and very easy. Most times, you are 50 feet or more from the lake. Even so, it is hard to believe a trail exists so close to Broadway. Just don't set your expectations high. Upon reaching the lake, I would go left. It is a loop so it really doesn't matter, but the eastern side is more naturalistic with a view. It is the closest point of contact with the lake. If you go the other way, you abruptly come to a residential neighborhood and most head up the block to continue the trail. Picnic tables and playground on the other end (midpoint). As a side note, how are lakes the size of ponds and reservoirs the size of lakes around here?

If I lived nearby, I'd frequent this trail but otherwise it's not worth visiting. The trail…read morenetwork isn't that long, there are no (visible) restrooms nearby, parking is tight and it's a bit crowded. The lake is pretty but nothing to get all excited about. There are so many trails in the general area that are worth the effort IMO. We've had a rainy season (which has been heavenly) so the bugs were bad by the water.

Easy access from Boulder for visitors who want a gentle introduction to hiking in the Rocky…read moreMountains. Beautiful vistas, and many restful bench stops. I was greeted by a friendly hostess before starting the 5K loop around the Canyon Loop Trail. No bikes allowed Wednesday and Saturday. With close proximity to Boulder, it's a crowded trail, and bikes would represent something of a challenge for those hikers not fleet of foot. But I bet it's a fun mountain bike track!

I really, really enjoy Betasso. It is so beautiful - rolling hills, loads of trees, and well shaded…read moreonce you are in the woodsy portion. There are multiple parking lots and bathrooms! Not to mention, picnic tables near some of the trail heads. This area is open for use sun rise to sunset. Sorry, no campers permitted. The best days to go as a hiker or horseback rider are Wednesday and Saturdays (when bikes are not allowed on the trail). When visiting on the other days definitely watch your back (and this is where the three star removal comes in). I was visiting the morning of the 4th to give the good old walk jog routine a spin (having recently improved mobility), and boy did it feel good to get out. There are "right of way" signs sprinkled throughout the preserve. While about 10% of the bikers actually bothered to slow down or yield for me (these were the families and older bikers) most I had to physically jump out of the way of. If you've been here you know the trails can be narrow in some spots. So tree hugging, slope slipping, and ankle busting I did, just to avoid being collided into by a rowdy biker. It was really quite upsetting as we all have the same goal - being outside and moving around in nature. I'll definitely be back but will make my best attempt to go on the non-bike days.