Active Pursuits

Boulder is one of the leading spots for outdoor sports in North America. The city manages more than 38,000 acres of parklands, including more than 200 miles of hiking trails and bicycle paths. Several canyons lead down from the Rockies directly into Boulder, attracting mountaineers and rock climbers. Families enjoy picnicking and camping in the beautiful surroundings. It seems that everywhere you look, people of all ages are running, walking, biking, skiing, or engaged in other active sports.

The Boulder Parks and Recreation Department (tel. 303/413-7200; www.ci.boulder.co.us/parks-recreation) manages many of the outdoor facilities and schedules a variety of year-round activities for children as well as adults. Seasonal booklets on activities and city parks are available free from the Chamber of Commerce office and through the parks and recreation department's website . Although many of the programs last for several weeks or months, some are half- or full-day activities that visiting children can join, usually at a slightly higher price than that for city residents. The department sponsors hikes, fitness programs, ski trips, watersports, special holiday events, and performances in local parks, and even operates a skate park and a pottery lab. (TV trivia buffs, take note: Mork of Mork and Mindy first touched down on Planet Earth in Chautauqua Park, on the city's south side, and the house used as their residence's exterior is at 1619 Pine St.)

One destination where you can enjoy several kinds of outdoor activities is Eldorado Canyon State Park. This mountain park, just 5 miles southwest of Boulder in Eldorado Springs, is a favorite of technical rock climbers, but the 850-foot-high canyon's beauty makes it just as popular with hikers, picnickers, and others who want to get away from it all. The 1,448-acre park features 9 miles of hiking and horseback-riding trails, plus 7.5 miles of trails suitable for mountain bikes; fishing is permitted, but camping is not. An exhibit at the brand-new visitor center describes the history of the park; there's also a bookstore and rotating displays covering topics from wildflowers to climbing. Admission is $5 to $6 per vehicle and $2 to $3 per pedestrian; the park is open daily from dawn to dusk. For further information, contact Eldorado Canyon State Park, Box B, Eldorado Springs, CO 80025 (tel. 303/494-3943; www.parks.state.co.us).

Balooning -- Float above the majestic Rocky Mountains in a hot-air balloon, watching as the early morning light gradually brightens to full day. Flights often include champagne and an elaborate continental breakfast or brunch. Fair Winds Hot Air Balloon Flights (tel. 303/939-9323; www.fairwindsinc.com) flies 7 days a week year-round, weather permitting. Prices are $145 to $245 per person, and include a certificate, T-shirt, and photograph.

Bicycling -- On some days, you can see more bikes than cars in Boulder. Paths run along many of the city's major arteries, and local racing and touring events are scheduled year-round. Bicyclists riding at night are required to have lights; perhaps because of the large number of bicyclists in Boulder, the local police actively enforce traffic regulations that apply to them. Generally, bicyclists must obey the same laws that apply to operators of motor vehicles.

For current information on biking events, tips on the best places to ride, and equipment sales and repairs, check with University Bicycles, 839 Pearl St., about 2 blocks west of the Pearl Street Mall (tel. 303/444-4196; www.ubikes.com), and Full Cycle, 1211 13th St., near the campus (tel. 303/440-7771; www.fullcyclebikes.com). University Bikes rents bikes for $20 to $80 per day, and has maps of the city's 90 miles of bike lanes, paths, and routes.

Climbing & Bouldering -- If you would like to tackle the nearby mountains and cliffs with ropes and pitons, contact Mountain Sports, 2835 Pearl St. (tel. 303/442-8355), which sells clothing and technical equipment, and can also provide maps and advice on climbing and trail running. Other good information sources are Colorado Athletic Training School, 2800 30th St. (tel. 303/939-9699), and the Boulder Rock Club, 2829 Mapleton Ave. (tel. 800/447-4008; www.boulderrock.com). The latter houses 10,000 square feet of indoor climbing surfaces and offers guide services.

Boulderers (those who climb without ropes) flock to The Spot, billed as the country's largest bouldering gym, at 3240 Prairie Ave. (tel. 303/379-8806; www.thespotgym.com). Lessons and guiding service are available, and there is a cafe and a yoga studio on-site.

The Flatiron Range (easily visible from downtown Boulder) and nearby Eldorado Canyon are two favorite destinations for expert rock scalers. The Third Flatiron is 1,400 feet high, taller than the Empire State Building, and has been climbed by people without using their hands, on roller skates, naked, and in a record 8 minutes (by separate climbers). For bouldering, Carter Lake (30 miles north on U.S. 36) and Boulder Canyon (west of the city on Canyon Blvd.) are two of the top spots.

Fishing -- Favored fishing areas near Boulder include Boulder Reservoir, North 51st Street, northeast of the city off the Longmont Diagonal, where you can try your luck at walleye, catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and carp. The Boulder Parks and Recreation Department (tel. 303/441-3461) manages the reservoir. Other favorite fishing holes include Lagerman Reservoir, west of North 73rd Street off Pike Road, about 15 miles northeast of the city, where only nonmotorized boats can be used; Barker Reservoir, just east of Nederland on the Boulder Canyon Drive (Colo. 119), for bank fishing; and Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat, about 6 miles east of downtown on North 75th Street. Fly-fishing is also popular in the area; guide service is available through Kinsley Outfitters, 2070 Broadway (tel. 800/442-7420 or 303/442-6204; www.kinsleyoutfitters.com), for $225 for one person for a full day or $295 for two. Kinsley's fly shop offers a good selection of supplies.

Glider Flying & Soaring -- The atmospheric conditions generated by the peaks of the Front Range are ideal for year-round soaring and gliding. Mile High Gliding, 5534 Independence Rd. (tel. 303/527-1122; www.milehighskyride.com), offers rides and lessons on the north side of Boulder Municipal Airport, 2 miles northeast of downtown. Rides for one person range from $140 to $295 and last from 15 minutes to an hour or more; a 25-minute ride for two costs $210.

Golf -- Local courses include the 18-hole Flatirons Golf Course (run by Boulder Parks and Recreation), 5706 E. Arapahoe Ave. (tel. 303/442-7851), and the 9-hole Haystack Mountain Golf Course, 5877 Niwot Rd. in Niwot., 5 miles north of Boulder (tel. 303/530-1400). Nonresident greens fees range from $15 to $30.

Hiking & Backpacking -- There are plenty of opportunities in the Boulder area -- the Boulder Mountain Parks system includes 4,625 acres bordering the city limits, including the Flatirons and Flagstaff Mountain. You can obtain a map with descriptions of more than 60 trails from the Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2440 Pearl St. (tel. 303/442-2911).

Numerous Roosevelt National Forest trail heads leave the Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway (Colo. 72) west of Boulder. Check with the U.S. Forest Service, Boulder Ranger District, 2140 Yarmouth Ave. (tel. 303/541-2500), for hiking and backpacking information. During dry weather, check on possible fire and smoking restrictions before heading into the forest. The trail heads leading to Long, Mitchell, and Brainard lakes are among the most popular, as is the 2-mile hike to Isabel Glacier.

About 70 miles west of Boulder, on the Continental Divide, is the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area (tel. 303/541-2500). More than half of the area is fragile alpine tundra; a $5 permit is required for camping from June 1 to September 15. North of Boulder, via Estes Park, is Rocky Mountain National Park (tel. 970/586-1206), one of the state's prime destinations for hikers and those seeking beautiful mountain scenery. The 2.5-mile Mills Lake Trail, one of our favorites, is here. Another good hike is the 6-mile Mesa Trail, which departs from the Bluebell Shelter in Chautauqua Park.

Running -- The Boulder Creek Path is one of the most popular routes for runners in Boulder. A good resource for the traveling runner is Boulder Road Runners (tel. 303/499-2061; www.boulderroadrunners.org). They organize group runs in the area and can provide information. The Bolder Boulder (tel. 303/444-RACE; www.bolderboulder.com), held every Memorial Day, attracts about 50,000 runners who circle its 6.3-mile course. The Boulder Running Company, 2775 Pearl St. (tel. 303/786-9255), sells a wide variety of running shoes and gear, going as far as analyzing customers' strides on a treadmill to find the perfect shoe.

Skiing -- Friendly Eldora Mountain Resort, P.O. Box 1697, Nederland, CO 80466 (tel. 888/235-3672 or 303/440-8700; fax 303/440-8797; www.eldora.com), is just 21 miles west of downtown Boulder. It's about a 40-minute drive on Colo. 119 through Nederland. RTD buses leave Boulder for Eldora four times daily during ski season. For downhill skiers and snowboarders, Eldora has 53 trails, rated 30% novice, 50% intermediate, and 20% expert terrain on 680 acres. It has snowmaking on 320 acres and a terrain park with a 600-foot superpipe. The area has two quad lifts, two triple and four double chairlifts, four surface lifts, and a vertical rise of 1,500 feet. Lift tickets (2005-06 rates) are $53 for adults, $35 for seniors 65 to 74, $33 for children 6 to 15, and just $5 for those under 6 and over 74. There are also discount packages that include lessons and rental equipment for both skiers and snowboarders. Snowshoeing is also gaining popularity in the area. The season runs from mid-November to mid-April, snow permitting.

For cross-country skiers, Eldora has 28 miles of groomed and backcountry trails, and an overnight hut available by reservation. About 15% of the trails are rated easy, 50% intermediate, and 35% difficult. The trail fee is $16, or $10 for children 6 to 12 and seniors 65 to 69.

You can rent all your ski, snowboard, and snowshoeing equipment at the ski-rental center, and Nordic equipment at the Eldora Nordic Center. A free base-area shuttle runs throughout the day from the lodge to the Little Hawk area and the Nordic Center.

In Boulder, you can rent or buy telemark and alpine touring equipment from Mountain Sports, 2835 Pearl St. (tel. 303/442-8355), or Eldora Mountain Sports, 2775 Canyon Blvd. (tel. 303/447-2017).

Swimming -- Five public pools are located within the city. Indoor pools, all open daily year-round, are at the newly renovated North Boulder Recreation Center, 3170 N. Broadway (tel. 303/413-7260); the East Boulder Community Center, 5660 Sioux Dr. (tel. 303/441-4400); and the South Boulder Recreation Center, 1360 Gillaspie Dr. (tel. 303/441-3448). The two outdoor pools (both open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day) are Scott Carpenter Pool, 30th Street and Arapahoe Avenue (tel. 303/441-3427), and Spruce Pool, 2102 Spruce St. (tel. 303/441-3426). Swimming fees for all municipal pools are $5.50 adults, $3.50 seniors, $3 teens, and $2.75 children 4 to 12.

Tennis -- There are more than 30 public courts in the city. The North and South Boulder Recreation centers each have four lighted courts and accept reservations ($8 an hour). The North Boulder Recreation Center also has two platform tennis courts. Play is free if you arrive and there's no one using the courts, or with a reservation. For locations of other public tennis courts, contact the Boulder Parks and Recreation Department (tel. 303/413-7200).

Watersports -- For both motorboating and human-powered boating, sailboard instruction, or swimming at a sandy beach, head for the square-mile Boulder Reservoir (tel. 303/441-3461), on North 51st Street off the Longmont Diagonal northeast of the city. Human-powered boats and canoes (no personal watercraft) can be rented at the boathouse (tel. 303/441-3456). Rates start at $35 per full day, with sailboards at $65 per full day. There's also a boat ramp and other facilities.