Boulder

Whether you are looking for an easy run from town or a more challenging outing with some serious elevation gain, the trails in Boulder will not disappoint. A great place to start is Chautauqua Park, one of the remaining few functioning Chautauquas left in the country. From here, you can access trails like Mesa Trail and Royal Arch Trail to get an up close and personal look at the Flatirons. If you are looking for more of a challenge, try all or part of the well-known Boulder Skyline Traverse. Other popular runs in the area include Flagstaff Trail, Mount Sanitas Trail, Betasso Preserve, and Sunshine Lion's Lair Loop.

For info on local running news, events, and running groups, check out BoulderRunning.com which is a great resource for all things Boulder running related.

The best time to hit the trails tends to be March through November, with a few exceptions. During the winter, some trails are accessible, especially at Hall Ranch, the Boulder Reservoir, or in the Marshall Mesa area as snow and ice will melt quickly during warm spells. There are times in spring or fall when rain or snow storms can make trails too muddy to use. While Boulder is well-known for its sunny weather, be aware that weather in Colorado can be unpredictable, and afternoon thunderstorms are a common occurrence in the summer.

While there is no camping in the city of Boulder or on City of Boulder open space, there are several nearby camping options just outside the city. A quick drive will get you to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests located west of Boulder and offer some great campsites and more spectacular trails to explore.

The Boulder Adventure Lodge (A-Lodge for short) is only 5 minutes up Boulder Canyon from downtown Pearl Street. Strategically located for adventure enthusiasts, the A-Lodge provides easy access to Boulder's climbing, biking, fishing, hiking and trail running. The A-lodge includes an onsite slackline park, outdoor fire pits, two hot tubs, private rooms & suites, a hostel room, and even some camping options.

Boulder offers a variety of accomodations from hotels to bed and breakfasts, and a list of local lodging options can be found here.

Boulder has a vibrant local restaurant and microbrewery scene, all located so close to the trails that you can easily find a place to dine and relax in between activities. Visit Boulder's website for a list of the best restaurants that downtown Boulder has to offer.

In addition to awesome hiking, running, and riding, Boulder is blessed with an amazing amount of rocks with decent variety of rock type for cragging minutes from downtown. At one point in history, some might argue that the rocks around this town were a focal point for the advancement of American climbing. Still, these crags are rich with history. Today, with perhaps the exception of the high-end climber, nearly every climber can find something nearby to satisfy their climbing desires.

To learn more about rock climbing in Boulder, check out the Mountain Project page.