• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
    • Year-round
      • Brewery Tours
      • Casinos & Gaming
      • Colorado Brands
      • Federal Lands
      • Food & Dining
      • Ghost Towns
      • Gondola & Chairlifts
      • Hot Springs
      • Mine Tours
      • Museums
      • Paintball
      • Public Parks
      • Scenic Drives
      • Shopping
      • Sports Teams
      • State Parks
      • Train Rides
      • Transportation
      • Wildlife
      • Zip Lines & Aerial Parks
    • Spring, Summer & Fall
      • Amusement Parks
      • ATV Rentals
      • Biking
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Drive-In Theaters
      • Fishing
      • Golf Courses
      • Hiking
      • Horseback Riding
      • Rock Climbing
      • Tubing & Paddling
      • Waterfalls
      • Whitewater Rafting
    • Winter
      • Cross Country Skiing
      • Dog Sledding
      • Ice Climbing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Ice Skating
      • Skiing & Snowboarding
      • Sleigh Rides
      • Snow Tubing
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Events
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Lodging
    • Budget Hotels
    • Historic Hotels
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Cabins & Glamping
    • Casinos with Lodging
    • Dude Ranches
    • Hot Spring with Lodging
    • Wineries with Lodging
    • Campgrounds
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Lodging
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
Betasso Preserve hiking trail Boulder CO
Overlooking Boulder from Betasso Preserve hiking trail. Photo by: Jeremiah LaRocco

11 Beautiful Hiking Trails by Boulder

December 17, 2021 By //  by Patrick McGuire

FacebookTwitter

Boulder’s close proximity to dozens of stellar hiking trails makes it an incredible place to live or visit if you love to hike. While most people in American cities struggle with finding good hiking options nearby, there are so many great trails close to Boulder the dilemma is knowing which ones to spend time exploring.

This list of trails near Boulder are ones you won’t want to miss:

Betasso Preserve trails

Betasso Preserve Infrared Boulder CO
Betasso Preserve infrared. Photo by: Vicky Hamilton

Home to seven short but rewarding trails, the Betasso Preserve is a day use area that offers easy, moderate, and difficult hiking. The preserve sits just west of Boulder immersed in bucolic foothills that are dotted with evergreen trees and rock formations. In addition to hiking, leashed dogs and horseback riding are permitted here. If you’re dying to get out on the trail in a hurry, this spot is just 15 minutes away.

Boulder Canyon Trail

Boulder Creek Trail Colorado
A beautiful day in Boulder Canyon; bridge over Boulder Creek. Photo by: CAJC: in the PNW

Because this trail connects to the Boulder Creek Path in town and explores the gorgeous canyon of its namesake, it can get awfully crowded, even on weekdays. But if you don’t mind company, it’s an easy and enjoyable two-mile hike that will take you into the mountains just west of town.

Enchanted Mesa Trail

Enchanted Mesa Trail Boulder CO
Enchanted Mesa Trail. Boulder. Photo by: CAJC: in the PNW

Clocking in at almost three miles, this loop is an easy hike that starts just south of Chautauqua Park. Moderately used, the Enchanted Mesa Trail offers some of the best views of the flatirons in the area. The trail is open year-round, but if you visit during the winter, wear the appropriate footwear to avoid slipping on the ice.

Lion’s Lair Trail

One of the most popular and beloved hikes near Boulder, the Lions’ Lair Trail treks through lush steep inclines of mountainous evergreen forests. It’s generally thought of as one of the prettiest hikes in the area.

With an 810-foot elevation gain, the Lion’s Lair is a four-mile out and back trail that gets tough towards the end. It provides stellar views of the surrounding mountains and the sprawling Front Range Urban Corridor.

Chautauqua Trail Overlook

Chautauqua Trail Boulder Colorado
Through the woods on the Chautauqua Trail. Photo by: Andre Gonsalves

Another hike that delivers sublime views of the flatirons, the Chautauqua Trail Overlook is a moderately challenging and popular trail that starts just outside of the Chautauqua Park. Under the right conditions, this short hike delivers surreal above-the-clouds views and picturesque wildflower scenes.

But be warned: between this trail’s close proximity to town and its beauty, it’s an extremely popular trail. However, if you show up on a weekday morning, you’ll probably have most of it to yourself.

Flatirons Vista

Flatirons Vista Trail Boulder Colorado
Flatirons Vista Trail, Boulder. Photo by: secorlew

A quick 15-minute drive south of Boulder, a hike on the Flatirons Vista trail will take you through bucolic grasslands and meadows. Wildlife is bountiful on this trail, and you might see deer, bobcats, and even bears while you hike.

This three-mile loop is said to be a rewarding hike, but make sure your car is locked and that your belongings are out of site. Numerous reviews of this trail mention car theft occurring in the trailhead parking lot.

Flagstaff Trailhead

Located just southwest of town off of Flagstaff Road, this trailhead provides access to numerous hikes that range from easy to challenging levels of difficulty. Compared to the immense popularity of the nearby trails surrounding Chautauqua Park, local hikers love this network of trails because it’s easy to access and far less crowded.

None of the trails here are particularly long, but the steep elevation gains of the Flagstaff are said to be challenging, making it ideal for experienced hikers looking for something to keep them occupied without taking much of their time.

Coalton Trailhead

Featuring three easy trails set at the length of around three miles each, the Coalton Trailhead is located just north of the Rocky Flats Wildlife Refuge. Compared to the popularity of the trails west of Boulder, these hikes are considerably less crowded. You’ll pass through vast grasslands that offer excellent views of the flatirons and surrounding mountains on these trails.

Centennial Park Trailhead

Located on the western edge of Boulder in picturesque foothills, the Centennial Park Trailhead delivers access to a network of short trails. Ranging from half a mile to a mile and a half long, these trails offer stellar views of red rock formations, the sprawling city of Boulder, and the surrounding mountains.

These hikes are relatively easy, but you won’t have to look for if you’re in need of more of a challenge. Across the street from the trailhead you’ll find to the Mount Sanitas Trailhead, a difficult three-mile loop trail.

Sugarloaf Mountain Trail

A popular hike in the mountains just west of town, the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail is just over a mile long and is considered to be moderately challenging. It’s a great option for getting a quick 45-minute hike in without going far from town. Reaching the top of this out and back trail offers gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains and of the city of Boulder.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Glacier Creek Trail Hiking Rocky Mountain National Park
Glacier Creek Trail heading toward The Loch, RMNP. Photo by: Christian Collins

Boulder’s scenic backdrop isn’t anything to sneeze at, but people travel further north to Rocky Mountain National Park from around the world to experience its astounding natural beauty. About an hour’s drive north of town, this national treasure is loaded with 355 miles of hiking trails.

From pleasant nature walks to trails that feature grueling alpine inclines, there’s more than enough diversity here to please every hiker in your group. And though it’s relatively close to Boulder, there are great places to camp or rent a cabin for the night after your day of exploring one of America’s most pristine and celebrated natural offerings.

Those are among the best places for hiking around Boulder County, Colorado.

Patrick McGuire

About Patrick McGuire

Patrick McGuire is a freelance writer and musician living in the mountain west.

FacebookTwitter

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Previous Post: «Pikes Peak Garden of the Gods Colorado Quotes 8 Famous Quotes from Colorado
Next Post: Handsome Historic Districts of Colorado image of historic buildings denver»

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Colorado Hiking Nearby

  • All Hiking
  • Alamosa 
  • Aspen
  • Bailey
  • Boulder
  • Breckenridge
  • Buena Vista
  • Colorado Springs
  • Creede
  • Crested Butte
  • Delta
  • Denver
  • Dinosaur & Meeker
  • Durango
  • Estes Park
  • Fairplay
  • Fort Collins
  • Fruita and Grand Junction
  • Golden
  • Gunnison
  • Montrose
  • Pagosa Springs
  • Paonia
  • Pueblo
  • Salida
  • Silverton
  • South Fork and Del Norte
  • Steamboat Springs
  • Telluride
  • Trinidad
  • Vail
  • Westcliffe
  • Winter Park

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Cheers! Mile High Happy Hour shares showcases Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Federal Lands
  • Ghost Towns
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Ski Resorts
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks
  • Train Rides

Copyright © 2023 · Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise