 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||||||
| Be Prepared |
|
This sequence of hikes is designed to accommodate car shuttles, but you can start circumambulating from any point. The Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks map is practically essential for planning your trek. While an on-line map is available (www.osmp.org), it lacks the clarity of the printed version carried at the city’s many outdoor recreation stores and the Boulder Map Gallery. As with any outdoor excursion, wear sturdy shoes, bring plenty of water, sunscreen and snacks, and dress in layers – this is Colorado, land of abruptly changing weather patterns. Also, while hikers are welcome on all of these open space parcels, mountain bikes and pets might not be. Check www.osmp.org for trail guidelines before setting out with your bike or disappointing Rover. |
|
Email
 |
Boulder Magazine Sports Feature | Summer 2008
Circling the City
Take a hike around Boulder—literally! —on this unique eight-part route
 |
We invite you to tour other aspects of Boulder’s wild side by hiking all the way around the city. What follows is an eight-part trek through prairies, riparian districts, and, of course, the foothills. You’ll experience abundant wildflowers in rocky outcroppings; acres of breezy, undulating grasslands; the chirping antics of prairie dogs taunting raptors; the cool, bubbling cascade of creek waters—all while enjoying some rare solitude in lesser-known open-space parcels.
Planned as a series of day hikes, this itinerary traverses public land on both mapped and “social” (informal) trails. The fit and determined could feasibly cover the entire 45 miles in one weekend. But a note to the ambitious: Hotel stays or car shuttling would be required, since overnight camping is not permitted in Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks.
Grab your day pack with the essentials, lace up your boots and join us as we circumambulate Boulder.
1. Wild Waters to Rock Formations 4.6 miles | MAP TO TRAILHEAD
Our trek starts in the heart of Boulder, along the Boulder Creek Path at Eben G. Fine Park. Enjoy views of the rushing stream and the festive feel of families picnicking in this popular spot. Cross the bridge to the west of the park and go through the underpass, traveling north.
This route leads to Settlers’ Park, where gold prospectors first arrived in Boulder. Take the Red Rocks Trail past towering rocks of the Fountain Formation into Sunshine Canyon. Cross the street and pick up the Dakota Ridge Trail, whose rock ridges offer a prime example of the Dakota limestone hogback that can be found up and down the Front Range.
Just before the Dakota Ridge Trail turns south back to its trailhead, take the social trail northeast through the open space. This trail drops steeply down from the foothills back to prairie at Linden Drive near Spring Valley Road.
Cross Linden Drive and walk a short distance east along the road until you reach the community bike path. This bike route takes you north through the neighborhood, eventually leading to the Wonderland Lake Trail.
Take an easy walk along the west leg of this trail past the lake to the intersection of the Foothills Trail. Hike the Foothills Trail to the parking area on Lee Hill Road.
2. Rocky Trails to Raptor Views 4.1 miles | MAP TO TRAILHEAD
From the Foothills Trail parking area, follow the Foothills Trail north, crossing Lee Hill Road. The flat, even path now turns into dry, gravelly ridges as you leave the city behind. Pause and feel the openness of true “open” space. In the early spring, this area is ideal for wildflower viewing.
Take the trail through the Broadway underpass and turn left on the dirt road. Presently you’ll pick up the Eagle Trail. This route leads you through the vast Boulder Valley Ranch Open Space, a working cattle ranch that provides a glimpse of rural Boulder County. Bring binoculars—the Eagle Trail is home to many raptors that hunt in nearby prairie- dog colonies. The Eagle Trail ends at the trailhead on 51st Street.
3. Reservoir to Shortgrass Prairie 7.5 miles | MAP TO TRAILHEAD
From the Eagle Trail parking area, cross 51st Street and walk cross-country, paralleling the road to avoid sensitive wildlife habitat, to the Boulder Reservoir Trail along the reservoir’s northwestern edge.
Follow the Boulder Reservoir Trail around the lake, across the north dam and past the water-treatment plant, and then head cross-country east to the intersection of the Diagonal Highway, 63rd Street and Lookout Road. (The city is planning a connecting trail to avoid this busy intersection).
After crossing the intersection, follow the social trail along the Boulder Supply Canal across the open space to the Cottontail Trail. Canals like this were originally built in the 1800s to supply much-needed water to farms and ranches. The Cottontail Trail winds along the outskirts of the Gunbarrel neighborhood, crosses Gunbarrel Hill and ends at 75th Street and Lookout Road.
4. Historic Farms to White Rock Cliffs 7.7 miles | MAP TO TRAILHEAD
Cross the intersection and travel south across the open space along 75th Street until you reach the East Boulder Trail. The East Boulder Trail traverses dryland agricultural fields at Gunbarrel Farm, Boulder Creek’s verdant valley, and the wildlife preserve at White Rocks. The trail continues through the working Teller Farm, where harvest season is most pleasant, to the parking lot.
5. Dry Creek Riparian District 7.9 miles | MAP TO TRAILHEAD
From the Teller Farm parking lot (look for dirt road 1.0 mile east of 75th on Arapahoe Road), proceed down the access road leading south to Arapahoe Road. Cross Arapahoe and jog west a short distance before following farm tracks south through the Autrey Farm open space to the southwest corner of the property.
Cross the railroad tracks and walk west across the fields to 75th Street, keeping the railroad tracks on your right. Listen for the sounds of nature; this is one of the few parcels of Boulder open space where your solitude is not likely to be interrupted. Cross the street; then head back a couple of yards and cross Dry Creek where it runs below the road. Enter the open-space gate immediately to your left (west).
Walk along the west side of Dry Creek. Plan this section for dry weather to avoid damaging the lush wetlands along the banks. Despite its name, the creek now runs year-round.
Cross Baseline Road and pick up the Dry Creek Trail. Hike past a prairie-dog town, to the edge of privately owned Baseline Reservoir. Enjoy the spectacular mountain view while keeping an eye out for waterfowl. Staying on open-space property, pass the split-rail fence and follow the edge of Baseline Reservoir. The gravel trail takes a hard left to circle back east, but you’ll continue on a dirt trail and go through the open-space fence. Follow the social trail, crossing southwest through the adjoining open space. Head toward the cottonwood grove, an ideal site for viewing raptors circling above, scanning the prairie for a meal.
After a short distance, the path peters out near the junction of a private fence (brown wooden fence post) and an open-space fence (green metal fence post). Go through the narrow gap between the fences, keeping Baseline Reservoir on your right, and continue southwest to a brown metal livestock gate marking a seasonal water ditch. When the trail ends, head southwest across the adjoining open space, After crossing the ditch, look southwest toward the historic brown-and-white Van Vleet farmhouse at the corner of South Boulder and Cherryvale roads, your next destination.
Diagonally across the intersection is access to the South Boulder Creek Trail. Follow it west, then south, along the creek and under U.S. 36 to Marshall Road. Pass rural properties, some with livestock, as you follow Marshall Road south 0.4 miles to the footpath on the west side of the street, marked by a rectangular open-space sign on a brown metal post. This is the South Boulder Creek Trail connector at Route 93. Follow it a few yards to Route 93, where you’ll cross the road to South Boulder Creek trailhead.
6. Tallgrass Prairie to Tree-Lined Foothills 5.8 miles | MAP TO TRAILHEAD
Starting from the South Boulder Creek trailhead (0.5 miles north of Eldorado Springs Drive on Hwy 93), follow this pleasant path into the vast grasslands south of Boulder, including a remnant tallgrass prairie.
Follow the trail, gradually leaving the prairie behind with a gentle climb back into the foothills. Hike along the stream, leaving the meadows and heading into the dryer, rockier grasslands, until the trail intersects the Mesa Trail. Turn right (north) onto this popular trail, the unofficial highway of Boulder’s trail system. Soak in the shade of ponderosa pines, the grassland meadows and even occasional wetlands. The variety of microclimates and the minimal elevation change provide a variety of wildflowers and wildlife to view along this section of our route.
As you continue north on the Mesa Trail, see if you can identify some of the better-known towering rock formations, like the Maiden, Devil’s Thumb, the Slab and Seal Rock. Pass Shanahan Ridge and the old quarry above Skunk Canyon. You’ll branch off east onto the NCAR trail (0.6 miles, ending at the National Center for Atmospheric Research).
7. Southern Foothills 4.7 miles | MAP TO TRAILHEAD
Starting from the parking lot at NCAR, again take the 0.6-mile NCAR spur trail that joins up with the Mesa Trail, once more heading north past Enchanted Mesa. This segment provides some of the best close-up views of the Flatirons. A gravel fire road signals the end of the Mesa Trail. Follow the road left (west) past the latrine and take either fork to the Blue Bell Shelter. Behind the shelter you’ll find the trailhead for the Bluebell-Baird Trail.
Hike this shaded trail through the western edge of the famous Chautauqua Park. Set aside in 1898, the park was, in a sense, the cornerstone of the city’s open space program. The Chautauqua offered an intellectual and artistic summer retreat for families, teachers and other culture seekers—a tradition that carries on to this day.
The Bluebell-Baird Trail leads right into the mouth of refreshingly cool Gregory Canyon.
8. Vista Views to Downtown Dining 2.5 miles to trail’s end, plus about 1 mile to mall
From Gregory Canyon, hike up the steep Flagstaff Trail to Panorama Point, where you’ll find the Viewpoint Trail. Take in one last, spectacular overview of Boulder and the red-tile roofs of the university before descending the Viewpoint Trail into the city. Cross Arapahoe Avenue, and you’ll be back at your Boulder Creek starting point.
End your journey by following the Boulder Creek Path east to Ninth Street and then north to Pearl Street. Somewhere in the next 10 blocks or so, treat yourself to a nice repast at one of our many fine downtown restaurants and pubs. Be sure to raise your glass in toast to the visionary citizens of Boulder, who, in 1967, first approved the tax to purchase the open space that you’ve just enjoyed.
|
|
