There is a lot of wildlife to spot on the cliffs. Its about building relationships with the outdoors and each other. In this article, we cover top restaurants to try the best Chinese food in Boulder. Its an iconic playground for climbers, adventurers, photographers, and families. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. There is only one picnic table, but there are a few good spots along the creek to sit on rocks and enjoy a good snack. Beautiful walk (not really a hike) around the lake. There is a small lake near the end of this trail. This trail is rocky and challenging. Mount Sanitas via Sanitas Valley and East Ridge Trail, Red Rocks from the Settlers Landing trailhead, National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Actually useful guide to buying kids hiking boots, 13 Outdoor Learning Activities for Toddlers, Back to School and Cutting Back on Screen Time. Bear left onto the west fork. Nature is simply more enjoyable when you can relax and take the time to enjoy it. In this guide, we will be covering the following: If youre visiting Colorado, the number of hikes to choose from can be overwhelming. Be on the lookout for the occasional bike, or grab your own, but stick to the designated areas. He has hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and the Colorado Trail, among countless other shorter trips. There are several spots to stop along the creek for a picnic or a dip. What or who is Ralphie? Trying to think of some up here have you been to Mud Lake? Estimated average grade category: gentle (3% or less). Hike details are sourced and have been hiked by families who participate in our community. But if you're new to the area or looking for family-friendly options that are good for all ages, these are15 of my favorite places to go. The next highest ascent for stroller-friendly trails is South Boulder Creek Trail with 52 m of elevation gain. This trail is narrow compared to other urban trails, but it still has plenty of room for a stroller. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. Since this is so close to the city, its a very popular trail. Why Your Kids Will Love It: This tiny trail offers big views of both mountains and plains, and its lined with interpretive signs about local weather and climate. This is compounded by the fact that it is often hot and dry in the summer time, so sweat doesnt stick to the body and is not as noticeable as it may be somewhere more humid. The Chautauqua Trail is a fun, short hike with great views of the Flatirons. As far as your kids are concerned, its a SUMMIT! This hike is a great one for the fall, where youll be able to catch lots of fall colors. More advanced hikers will seek out the rockier and steeper terrain that reaches the 1st and 2nd Flatirons and Royal Arch. Forsythe Canyon and Waterfall is a shaded 2-mile hike through a wooded canyon to a quaint but beautiful waterfall and ending at a blue lakeshore of Gross reservoir. The best time to hike with kids near Boulder is early in the morning. 2.6 Chautauqua Park. Instead take the trail to the left. The wheels swivel and lock in the front. Its a short hike, too, but expect to be challenged youll be climbing 1,000 feet per mile on the way up! Trail runs northsouth along Shooks Run Creek. It has also been a long time since I've been to Chautauqua, so I couldn't remember if there was anything over there that could be done with the jogging stroller. When finished exploring the ledges, return to the trail and continue down the other side of the loop. The area is very popular for weekend picnics so parking may be an issue on nice weekend days. When she's not hiking or running on Boulder's trails, Alli is hitting the water with her standup paddleboard. This guide was built with a generous 3-year partnership with. If you're looking for a leisurely stroll around a small lake without much shade, consider the Wonderland Lake Loop trail. From the overlook, there is a fine view of Mt. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Driving South on Highway 93, visitors will spot the parking lot and trailhead for Flatiron Vista. The trailhead is near Eldorado Springs, just south of the city. The Evergreen Lake and Trail is part of Dedisse Park, which includes places to fish and rent boats. Summiting from this side is longer and involves more ascent. Its about more than standing on the mountain top. :). Interpretive displays present information about the ecosystem. This is a loop hike through the woods with lots of large, interesting boulders. At the top, youll be rewarded with views of the city below and other mountains to the north and west. This side is easier than the way up, as there are stone stairs. Looking for the best hiking trails in Boulder? The trail is also wheelchair accessible. The trailhead behind NCAR leads to a spaghetti bowl of excellent trails. Youre envisioning an idyllic afternoon of physical activity, educational enrichment, and maybe even a photo for that holiday card. About 6 miles round trip. Boulder Recreational Marijuana Dispensaries: UPDATED! Bobolink is a 3.7 mile heavily trafficked out and back. Expansive meadows rich with wildflowers make it a great place to take photos. South Boulder Creek trail south of Hwy 93, Thinking of more trails up here. . Key. Hodgeback Trail 3.5 miles loop Park at 31st, Red Rock Rim Trail/Hogback Valley/Lion Trails/ Red Rock Rim Note: Lion Trails forks and becomes a difficult trail! Go with trails that feature more than one type of ecosystem and at least one point of interest. Which stroller friendly trail has the most elevation gain in Colorado? If you have only a few days in Boulder, it can be challenging to select the best trails from the long list of options. Average trail width: 6 feet; On a clear day, dont miss the opportunity to capture wonderful images of Boulder and the surrounding area. Trails runs east/west from Powers to Shooks Run Trail. Take the main path out to the turnaround point and then walk the narrower trail back. Two popular options for parking are Settlers Park on Canyon Boulevard and Scott Carpenter Park at 30th and Arapahoe Avenue. We promise not to annoy you, but if you wish, you may unsubscribe at any time. Children also see a combination of streams, open waters, prairie grasslands, foothill woodlands and shrubs. I did see that about the road to Brainard. Boulder, Colorado is a wonderful place to introduce children to a natural habitat adjacent to an urban environment. This rugged trail consists of switchbacks, stone-stairs, steep segments and passage through recent burn zones. This moderate distance hike climbs through Ponderosa Pine forest at the beginning. And the area is known for its wildlife, as well as its domestic animals (the trail is adjacent to farmland). The route follows the closest ridgeline to the city without actually doing all the elevation gain and loss it takes to hike the ridge. Youll pass Long Lake, then Lake Isabelle as you climb up a valley towards the Continental Divide. Hike to Bear Peak via the Shanahan Trail to see what the foothills of Boulder are all about. Needless to say, I didn't get to see much. Hydration is essential when visiting Colorado or any city at altitude. Red Rocks Trail at Settlers Parkis a 1-mile loop that encircles the large sandstone formations at the western edge of town. The first half mile of NCAR is an accessible nature trail with excellent views of Bear Peak and the surrounding foothills. Many of Boulder's free guided hikes and nature presentations take place here. I like to take my five year old here for dates with a picnic, as there are about 7 or 8 picnic tables. Accessibility: There are 4 designated accessible spaces in the paved parking lot off of Juniper Loop Way at the north end of the trail. Even when the trailhead at the base of the mountain at Chautauqua Park is packed with day hikers and climbers, Lost Gulch always turns over enough to offer prime parking. It has also been a long time since I've been to Chautauqua, so I couldn't remember if there was anything over there that could be done with the jogging stroller. Teller Farms Trail. The best place to hop on the trail is Eben G. Fine park. Don't forget your sturdy shoes, layers, snacks, and plenty of water! The Boulder Loop Trail is a scenic hike through a boulder field and out to a ledge viewpoint on the side of the Moat Range. I do go to Mud Lake with the kids, but haven't been to Brainard since my first time a few years ago when my then baby started screaming shortly after getting on path/trail. There are a couple street crossings, but when you travel through Douglas Creek Open Space you are surrounded by lush greenery, youre able to forget you are in the center of the city. For more information on Boulder, check out Sandys second book, 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die. Along the hike into Diamond Lake, waterfalls and wildlife abound. Top Boulder Day Hikes. This is a great place to stop for lunch and admire the Rocky Mountains and their jagged granite cliffs all around. Hall Ranch, north of Boulder, is a designated open space with many multi-use trails. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. This is also a great option to turn an epic out-and-back hike on the Boulder Skyline Traverse into a loop. Every day of the year, residents and visitors use this trail system for walking, hiking, running, biking, horseback riding, and rock climbing. There will be snow on the trail if it has fallen recently. You can also park further down the canyon and walk up Eldorado Canyon road to where the trail starts. 93. This short, paved, family-friendly path has great views of rock formations such as White Rock and Kissing Camels. Before you get to the top, youll pass remnants of the historic Crags Hotel. Our contributors do their best to give you all the details they can, but if something is missed, you can reach out to the contributor and offer suggestions for them to add to make it a better trail description for all. Shame because we had family visiting and I wanted to take them there last weekend. You can walk to the Mount Sanitas trailhead from downtown Boulder its a short distance up Sunshine Canyon Road. more. With a limited number of parking spots at the trailhead on Baseline Road, consider arriving early on weekends and during summer months. This park is a beautiful, historic and has several recreational amenities gardens, ponds, playgrounds, sports courts & fields, swimming pool, historic geological structures this park has it all! Memorial Park 1 mile loop around Prospect Lake. Tucked into a rock-walled canyon above Steamboat Springs, 280-foot-tall Fish Creek Falls thunders down from 7,550 feet above sea level. The whole route has excellent scenery of the surrounding nature and mountains. It is typically 3 to 6 feet wide (with some wider passing spaces). He has logged over 10,000 miles bike touring all over the United States, too. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Quail Lake 1 mile loop around the lake. There's a 1.25-mile hiking trail and dogs on leash are welcome. Or, just take your time on the main loop. Teller Farms Trail. Clear Springs Ranch 4.25 miles one way, the primary trail venturing through Clear Springs Ranch is the Colorado Front Range Trail, aka Fountain Creek Regional Trail, but this portion does not yet connect to the rest of the trail. The trail surface is paved concrete, gravel, or a natural (dirt and rock) surface. Black Forest Section 16 4 mile square loop in the woods. There is another equally stunning lookout that usually has a fraction of the crowd. Trails located within a Park or Open Space, John Venezia Park 2 miles of interior sidewalks. Aside from the climbing and the views, one highlight of this hike is that it is one of the less trafficked trails listed. Trails adjacent to Boulder Creek showcase different types of flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees than the rockier trails at higher altitudes near NCAR or Flagstaffs summit. Adams Open Space & Metcalfe Park 2.5 miles out and back. Youll encounter some giant stairs and plenty of switchbacks before the rock scramble to the top. A popular yet wildlife-filled day hike in the mountains awaits summer visitors to Mitchell Lake + Blue Lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. However, this will be a loop hike, so youll see more diverse scenery. 2.2 Bobolink Trail. According to AllTrails.com, the longest stroller-friendly trail in Boulder is. Boulder, Colorado is a gateway to the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Why Your Kids Will Love It: Bald Mountain looks more like a lump than a mountain, but it stands at an impressive 7,160 feet. The Royal Arch trail also starts in Chautauqua Park. I don't always need it, but some days it's nice to have. You get a lot of use. Jogging stroller friendly hikes in Boulder/surrounding area, Re: Jogging stroller friendly hikes in Boulder/surrounding area, https://bouldercolorado.gov/osmp/bobolink-trailhead, https://bouldercolorado.gov/osmp/mount-sanitas-trailhead, http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/lily-lake-loop.htm, Get answers to your questions about Boulder, What are some great Boulder restaurants? Boulder is a very fit community, and youll be reminded of it every time a bike zooms past you. Devil's Head Lookout (Sedalia) SFields1012 / TripAdvisor. Fountain Creek Regional Trail is approximately 2.5 miles long from Fountain Creek Regional Parks northern boundary at Willow Springs Ponds to its southern boundary at Hanson Nature Park. This trail begins at the 4th of July Trailhead, at the end of the unpaved 4th of July road. This guide cuts to the chase, covering the very best hiking trails near Boulder to help you make the most of your time in this pristine wilderness region. More info: evergreenrecreation.com. Boy Scout Trail is a fun 1.5-mile loop starting at the Flagstaff Nature Center. 2.5 Flagstaff Realization Point. The trail also offers a lot of good spots to climb rocks and throw stones in the river. Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Trail Details: Colorado Springs has hundreds of trails that are great for the family. Below is a list of the best hikes in no particular order. Recommended by City of Boulder ranger Maria Mayer, the Boulder Trails App provides access to all trail information. With that in mind, here are some trail recommendations for family hikes in Boulder: The Walter Orr Roberts Weather Trail at NCARis a relatively flat .4 mile loop thats perfect for the littlest hikers. Hike it Baby is a national nonprofit with the tax ID 81-0969124 / Mailing address: 9450 SW Gemini Dr #36457 Beaverton, Oregon 97008 / 2019, Trail Information and Pictures provided by NH Family Hikes, {{current_weather.dt | moment( atts.date )}}, This error message is only visible to WordPress admins. So what if you only gain 200 feet in elevation from the parking lot? Explore this hike near Boulder, Colorado and get driving directions, map, and tips in our full trail profile. From Mallory Cave to Fern Canyon to Bear Peak, NCAR is a launching point of a great menu of epic Boulder hikes. Boulder Creek Path and Eben G Fine Park 5.5 Mile (8.8 KM) 2-4 Hours Easy, Accessible, Restrooms, Leashed Dogs Allowed, Playground Boulder Creek is a 5.5 mile path starting near downtown Boulder and extending up towards the mountain. I did n't get to see what the foothills of Boulder & # ;. A valley towards the Continental Divide the Boulder trails App provides access all! 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