Boulder Creek Path

Following Boulder Creek, this nature corridor provides about a 16-mile-long oasis and recreation area through the city and west into the mountains. With no street crossings (there are bridges and underpasses instead), the path is popular with Boulder residents, especially on weekends, when you’ll see numerous walkers, runners, bicyclists, and in-line skaters. (Walkers should stay to the right; the left lane is for faster traffic.) The path links the CU campus, several city parks, and office buildings. Near the east end, watch for deer, prairie-dog colonies, and wetlands, where some 150 species of birds have been spotted. You might see Canada geese, mallard ducks, spotted sandpipers, owls, and woodpeckers.

At 30th Street, south of Arapahoe Road, the path cuts through Scott Carpenter Park (named for the astronaut and Colorado native), where you can enjoy swimming in summer and sledding in winter. Just west of Scott Carpenter Park, you’ll find Boulder Creek Stream Observatory, which is adjacent to the Millennium Harvest House. In addition to observing trout and other aquatic wildlife, you’re invited to feed the fish with trout food purchased from a vending machine (25¢). Central Park, at Broadway and Canyon Boulevard, preserves some of Boulder’s history with a restored steam locomotive. The Boulder Public Library is also in this area.

Traveling west, watch for the Charles A. Heartling Sculpture Garden (with the stone image of local Indian Chief Niwot) and the Kids’ Fishing Ponds; the Boulder Fish and Game Club stocks the ponds, which are open only to children 11 and under, who can fish for free and keep what they catch. Near 3rd Street and Canyon Boulevard, you’ll find the Xeriscape Garden, where drought-tolerant plants are tested for reduced water intake.

The Eben G. Fine Park is named for the Boulder pharmacist who discovered Arapaho Glacier on nearby Arapaho Peak. To the west, Red Rocks Settlers’ Park marks the beginning of the Boulder Canyon Pioneer Trail, which leads to a continuation of Boulder Creek Path. The park is named for Missouri gold-seekers who camped at this spot in 1858 and later found gold about 12 miles farther west. Watch for explanatory signs along the 1.3-mile path. The Whitewater Kayak Course has 20 slalom gates for kayakers and canoeists to use free; to the west, Elephant Buttresses is one of Boulder’s more popular rock-climbing areas. The path ends at Four Mile Canyon, the old town site of Orodell.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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