Tubing Boulder Creek

On a beautiful summer day in Boulder, Colorado, few things feel better than grabbing a tube, gathering your friends and heading straight for Boulder Creek. Today’s Faces of Boulder captures that classic scene perfectly: two guys and a girl ready to cool off, share a few laughs and float through the heart of one of America’s most adventurous cities.

This is what summer in Boulder is all about.

Boulder Creek has always been more than a stream running through town. It is a natural gathering place, an outdoor playground and one of the landmarks that gives Boulder its unmistakable personality. During the warmer months, the creek comes alive with cyclists, runners, walkers, families, sunbathers and tubers looking for a refreshing escape from the Colorado sunshine.

For these three friends, the plan was simple: bring the tubes, meet at the creek and let the afternoon unfold.

Many Boulder tubing adventures begin around Eben G. Fine Park, where Boulder Creek flows out of the canyon and enters town. With shady trees, grassy areas and the Boulder Creek Path running alongside the water, the park has become one of the city’s favorite summer gathering places.

The first step into the creek is always a shock. Even when the temperature climbs, the mountain-fed water remains remarkably cold. There is usually a yell, followed by laughter, as everyone tries to climb onto a tube without immediately falling back into the water.

Once the current takes over, the real adventure begins.

The three friends drift downstream together, maneuvering around rocks, splashing through small rapids and attempting to keep their tubes pointed in the right direction. One person spins backward. Another gets pushed toward the bank. Before long, everyone is laughing too hard to care where the creek takes them.

That combination of friendship and outdoor adventure is at the center of today’s Faces of Boulder. The series celebrates the people who give the city its energy, character and sense of community. Sometimes that means meeting someone along Pearl Street. Other times it means finding three friends carrying tubes beside Boulder Creek on a picture-perfect afternoon.

Tubing also requires respect for the water. Conditions can change quickly depending on snowmelt, rainfall and streamflow. Tubers should check current conditions, wear life jackets and helmets, protect their feet and avoid entering the water when flows are dangerously high. The City of Boulder offers useful flood and creek-safety information before anyone begins an outing.

Today’s photo is ultimately about something wonderfully simple: three friends choosing to spend time together outside.

They did not need an elaborate itinerary or a long drive into the mountains. They only needed tubes, sunshine, cold water and one another.

That is the magic of Boulder Creek—and another unforgettable face of summer in Boulder, Colorado.

The World Tied Its Hottest Month. Boulder Tied 104°.

The world just tied its hottest month on record. Boulder already had the receipts.

On Thursday, the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that August 2026 produced a global average surface-air temperature of 16.96 degrees Celsius, or about 62.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Because the difference was within the dataset’s uncertainty range, August tied July 2023 as the warmest month recorded.

August was 1.65 degrees Celsius, or nearly 3 degrees Fahrenheit, warmer than the estimated global average during the second half of the 19th century, before fossil fuels were burned on an industrial scale. It was also the first month since November 2025 to rise more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.

One month above that mark does not mean the Paris Agreement’s long-term target has officially been breached. That goal is measured over decades, not weeks. The planet’s longer-term warming level remains near 1.4 degrees Celsius.

Still, August offered another unmistakable signal. Ocean temperatures outside the polar regions also tied their highest monthly level on record. A developing El Niño added natural warmth in the tropical Pacific and is expected to strengthen, but scientists continue to identify human-produced greenhouse-gas emissions as the primary driver of the planet’s rising temperatures.

Boulder did not need a climate briefing from Brussels to know the month was historic.

According to BoulderCAST’s August weather review, Boulder experienced its second-warmest August on record, completing 15 consecutive months with above-normal average temperatures.

During one of the month’s major heat waves, Boulder Municipal Airport reached 104 degrees, tying the city’s all-time record high. The official NOAA station on Broadway reached 101 degrees during the same stretch and broke daily temperature records on consecutive days.

The year also established new Boulder records for the number of days reaching at least 95 and 100 degrees.

By early September, 2026 ranked first in Boulder’s historical record for the number of days reaching 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 95 and 100 degrees. The record for 90-degree days still belonged to 2012—but the unusually warm year was not finished.

For people living along the Front Range, the heat was not an abstract line on a graph. It was the kind of weather that lingered after sunset and changed how Boulder approached daily life.

Trailheads filled earlier. Hikers carried more water and searched for shaded routes. Dog owners checked pavement temperatures before afternoon walks. Smoke periodically drifted across Colorado, adding air-quality concerns to an already difficult stretch of summer weather.

Views from Mount Sanitas, Boulder

At Mount Sanitas, Chautauqua and other exposed sections of Boulder’s celebrated trail system, an 11 a.m. August hike stopped feeling casual. Starting near sunrise became less of an athletic preference and more of a practical safety decision.

Boulder’s monsoon provided occasional relief, but moisture remained inconsistent. Some locations received short-lived downpours while other areas stayed dry, reinforcing concerns about drought and wildfire conditions.

The same pattern appeared worldwide in different and often more destructive forms. Western Europe endured its hottest summer on record, accompanied by low river flows, dry soil and strains on transportation and public-health systems. Other regions faced wildfires, drought, floods and landslides during a month of widespread extremes.

The useful response in Boulder remains local and immediate: begin outdoor activities early, carry additional water, check air quality, protect pets from hot pavement and take fire restrictions seriously.

Cooler fronts will still arrive. Fall is not canceled, and every hot spell will eventually break. But the broader trend is becoming increasingly difficult to miss: the breaks come, and then the heat returns.

The planet tied its hottest month in August.

Boulder tied 104 degrees.

Same month. Same warning. Different zip code.

Some photographs capture a beautiful sunset. Others capture the entire spirit of a place.

Today’s Outdoor Picture of the Day belongs in the second category. Taken from East Boulder, this remarkable photograph opens across the city toward one of Colorado’s most recognizable mountain skylines. The view stretches from the rugged landscape above Eldorado Springs through Bear Peak and Green Mountain before reaching the famous Flatirons above Chautauqua Park.

It is Boulder’s western horizon in full display.

The sunset arrives in layers. Brilliant oranges and warm golds burn near the mountain ridges, while softer shades of pink, lavender and blue spread across the evening sky. Below that color, the Rocky Mountains form a dark, powerful silhouette—every peak, ridge and sloping foothill sharply outlined against the final light of day.

From East Boulder, the mountains can appear even more dramatic. The distance allows the entire range to fit into one sweeping scene instead of focusing on a single formation. Eldorado Springs anchors the southern end of the view, with Bear Peak rising prominently above the foothills. Green Mountain fills the center before the tilted sandstone slabs of the Flatirons lead the eye toward Chautauqua Park.

The Flatirons are more than Boulder’s most famous landmark. They are part of the Fountain Formation, a massive layer of sedimentary rock deposited roughly 280 million years ago. Their steep angle and unmistakable shape were created by enormous geological forces that lifted and tilted the landscape along the edge of the Rocky Mountains. The City of Boulder’s overview of Open Space and Mountain Parks geology offers a deeper look at the ancient story written across these mountains.

But during a sunset like this, geology becomes art.

The mountains turn nearly black while the sky behind them grows brighter and more colorful. Clouds catch the remaining sunlight, creating illuminated edges and bands of color that seem to hover over the Continental Divide. Minute by minute, the scene changes—gold becomes orange, orange deepens into red and the upper sky settles into the cool blue of twilight.

That constant transformation is part of what makes Boulder sunsets among the city’s most unforgettable natural experiences. No two evenings are identical. Clouds, moisture, season and mountain weather combine to produce a completely new performance every night.

This photograph also shows why East Boulder is such an exceptional place to watch the day end. From the open spaces east of town, viewers can step back and appreciate the true scale of Boulder’s mountain backdrop. The city rests quietly beneath the peaks, while the Rockies rise like a natural wall across the western horizon.

For longtime residents, it is a familiar view that never becomes ordinary. For visitors, it is often the moment they fully understand Boulder’s appeal.

One photograph. One unforgettable sunset. The entire Boulder skyline.

Pearl Street Mall, one of the most famous outdoor malls in the country, set against the stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains in Boulder, Colorado.

French Fries Still Win in Boulder

Food always wins in Boulder. And more often than anyone admits, the winner is not the burger, fried chicken, fish sandwich or grilled cheese. It is the fries.

That is not just a clever line. It is what happens when a city known for thinking carefully about ingredients gives the same attention to a potato. Boulder diners can still find the thin, forgettable basket, but they can also find potatoes cooked in grass-fed beef tallow, hand-cut pub fries, Creole-seasoned fries and Caribbean-inspired versions that refuse to behave like a side dish.

The cut matters. The cooking fat matters. Seasoning matters. So does timing: a great fry must arrive hot enough to make everyone at the table reach for it before touching the entrée.

Across Boulder’s food scene, fries have become their own kind of local ritual. These are the current spots doing something distinctive with them.

Wild Pastures Burger Co.: The Tallow Fry

The newest argument in Boulder’s fry conversation begins at Wild Pastures Burger Co., where the fries are cooked in grass-fed beef tallow rather than conventional vegetable oil.

The result is a richer, more savory fry with a crisp exterior and enough flavor to make ketchup feel optional. Wild Pastures builds its menu around grass-fed beef, organic ingredients and regenerative agriculture, so the fries fit naturally into the restaurant’s larger philosophy.

These are not vegetarian fries, an important distinction in a city with a large plant-based community. For diners who specifically seek beef-tallow cooking, however, Wild Pastures offers one of Boulder’s most distinctive baskets.

The burger may be the restaurant’s headline attraction, but the fries are what separate it from nearly every other quick-service burger stop in town.

Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery: The Hand-Cut Boulder Classic

Mountain Sun remains part of Boulder’s potato conversation because it treats fries as actual kitchen work.

According to the Mountain Sun menu, its potatoes are hand-cut daily and served without the additives commonly found in heavily processed frozen fries. That natural approach can produce some variation from basket to basket, but it also gives the fries the texture and character of something made in-house.

They are thick enough to retain a soft potato center, sturdy enough for dipping and properly suited to a burger or pint. Cheese can move them into shared-appetizer territory, but the plain version remains the essential order.

In a city where restaurants constantly reinvent themselves, Mountain Sun’s fries still feel reassuringly Boulder: generous, unfussy and made for a table that plans to stay awhile.

Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery

The Hungry Toad: The British-Pub Companion

The Hungry Toad brings the proper setting for pub fries: a neighborhood room, British comfort food and the unmistakable suggestion that a cold pint should be nearby.

Fries are particularly at home alongside fish and chips, where they need enough structure to stand beside a crisp piece of fish without becoming an afterthought. This is not the place for a fragile, overly styled potato. The appeal is straightforward pub comfort—golden fries, hearty food and a North Boulder atmosphere that works especially well when the weather begins to cool.

The Hungry Toad’s fries make sense because the entire restaurant makes sense around them. They are not reaching for novelty. They are completing the plate.

The Post Chicken & Beer: The Crunch-on-Crunch Order

The Post is known for fried chicken, but fries remain one of the most logical sides on the menu.

They are crisp, salty and built to alternate with bites of chicken or a fried chicken sandwich. They can also handle the restaurant’s sauces without immediately losing their structure, which is crucial when the table starts passing around ranch, hot chile honey, barbecue sauce or something spicier.

The Post also lists its fries as gluten-free and vegetarian, although diners with allergies or strict dietary requirements should always ask about current kitchen and fryer practices.

This is the crunch-on-crunch order: fried chicken, fries and no need to pretend the salad was ever under serious consideration.

The Sink: Creole Seasoning and CU History

The Sink does not serve anonymous fries. Its burgers and sandwiches come with Creole-spiced French fries, adding a seasoned edge that distinguishes them from the standard salted basket.

That extra flavor belongs in a room that has never been quiet or understated. The Sink has occupied its place on University Hill for more than a century, serving generations of CU students, alumni and Boulder visitors beneath its famously decorated ceiling.

These fries are particularly effective with the restaurant’s sauces, burgers and heavier sandwiches. They are not Boulder’s most delicate potatoes, nor should they be. They are Hill food—seasoned, satisfying and prepared for a table that probably arrived hungry.

Jungle: The Caribbean Wild Card

Jungle offers two approaches: classic fries served with ketchup and Caribbean-seasoned fries paired with chile mayonnaise.

The Caribbean version is the reason to pay attention. The seasoning brings more personality than ordinary salt, while the chile mayo turns the basket into something closer to a complete bar snack.

Jungle’s tropical drinks and island-inspired menu create a different context from Boulder’s breweries and traditional pubs. That makes its fries a useful reminder that the city’s best versions do not all have to follow the same formula.

When plain salt sounds too predictable, this is the detour.

West End Tavern: Built for Barbecue

West End Tavern has been part of Pearl Street’s dining landscape for decades, with a menu built around barbecue, burgers, beer and whiskey. Fries naturally belong in that company.

Their job here is to stand up to bold flavors rather than compete with them. Alongside barbecue or a burger, a properly crisp fry provides the salty contrast that keeps the plate moving. Loaded preparations can turn the potato into the meal, but the basic appeal remains the same: hot fries, a Pearl Street table and food designed for sharing.

West End’s version earns its place through context. Some fries are best eaten from a paper-lined basket. These belong beside barbecue and a cold drink.

How to Order Fries Like a Boulder Local

Order them while they are hot. Share the first basket if you must, but accept that a second order may be necessary.

Ask about the cooking fat if it matters to you. Beef tallow creates a different flavor and makes the fries unsuitable for vegetarians. Restaurants may also change oils, seasonings, suppliers or shared-fryer procedures, so diners with allergies or dietary restrictions should confirm directly with the kitchen.

Most importantly, do not treat fries as an automatic side. Choose the version that fits the meal: hand-cut with a pub burger, Creole-spiced on The Hill, Caribbean-seasoned with a tropical drink or tallow-fried when the cooking fat is the entire point.

French fries were never supposed to become the story in a city this preoccupied with farms, trails and better ingredients. That is precisely why they keep winning. Boulder gave the potato the same attention as the entrée, and the side dish stopped acting like a side.

Food always wins. In Boulder, the fries often win first.

Photo credit: Sherrie Stille

Last Warm Swim Week: Boulder’s Best Dog Water Spots After Labor Day

Labor Day is the hinge in Boulder’s water calendar. The Reservoir swim season winds down, the south shoreline’s seasonal dog restriction ends, and plenty of local pups still have time for another warm-weather splash before Colorado’s colder mornings settle in.

If you remember only one thing, make it this: Coot Lake remains Boulder’s best actual dog swim. The change at Boulder Reservoir is welcome news for dog owners, but the Reservoir follows a different rulebook.

Coot Lake Is Still the One

Located near 63rd Street just north of Boulder Reservoir, Coot Lake remains a Front Range favorite for dogs that want to run, retrieve and paddle.

Dogs may enter the water from the lake’s east and south shores. The west side and surrounding wetlands are off-limits to dogs because they provide important wildlife habitat.

Dogs registered in Boulder’s Voice and Sight Tag Program may be off-leash where designated, provided they remain under genuine voice-and-sight control. Dogs without the proper tag must remain leashed.

The relatively calm water and accessible shoreline make Coot more inviting than many local creeks. Its approximately 1.2-mile loop also gives people an easy walk with open views while water-loving dogs burn off energy.

That combination is why Coot keeps winning. Boulder Creek can be rocky, fast and unpredictable. Boulder Reservoir is governed by stricter seasonal rules. Coot Lake delivers the most straightforward swimming experience—provided everyone respects the designated shores.

Coot Lake, Boulder, Colorado – Elevation 5,167 ft: A top destination for dogs, Coot Lake offers off-leash freedom, scenic views, and the perfect spot for a refreshing swim.

What Changes at Boulder Reservoir

Dogs are prohibited through the gates and along Boulder Reservoir’s south shoreline from May 15 through Labor Day. Now that Labor Day has passed, leashed dogs are permitted on the south shore during the off-season, which continues through May 14.

There are several important distinctions in the official Boulder Reservoir dog rules:

• Dogs must remain leashed on the south shore.
• Boulder’s Voice and Sight Tag does not replace the leash requirement there.
• The south shore is not a designated off-leash dog beach.
• Owners must pick up and properly dispose of all pet waste.
• Posted closures and water-quality advisories must always be followed.

The seasonal change means owners can once again enjoy a shoreline walk with their dogs. It does not transform Boulder Reservoir into another Coot Lake.

Boulder Reservoir

Two Strong Swimming Alternatives

East Boulder Dog Park

East Boulder Dog Park at 5660 Sioux Drive offers fenced areas for large and small dogs, along with limited access to a small lake. It can be a useful choice for owners seeking a more contained environment.

The city cautions that a concrete barrier in the lake may be difficult for some dogs to navigate. Owners should supervise closely and make sure their dogs can enter and exit the water safely.

Union Reservoir in Longmont

For dogs that love a longer paddle, Union Reservoir offers a designated off-leash dog area on the southeast side of the reservoir. Dogs may swim and play off-leash within that designated area but must be leashed elsewhere in the park.

Because operating hours, entrance fees and seasonal water access can change, check current conditions before making the drive.

Two Places That Are Walks—not Swims

Twin Lakes Open Space in Gunbarrel is popular with dog owners, and dogs may be off-leash along the West Lake Trail. However, Boulder County prohibits swimming and wading in both lakes. Twin Lakes is a good flat walk, not a legal swimming alternative to Coot.

Wonderland Lake follows the same basic principle: enjoy the scenery but keep dogs out of the water. Dogs must remain on a hand-held leash, and swimming and wading are prohibited.

These distinctions matter because Boulder’s city parks, county open spaces and reservoir properties do not operate under one universal dog policy.

Use Extra Caution Around Boulder Creek

Boulder Creek may offer places for a quick cool-down, but it is not a controlled dog-swimming area. Current, submerged rocks, fishing hooks, bicycles, children and other creek users can all create hazards.

Keep dogs leashed where required, avoid high or fast-moving water and never assume a calm-looking section is risk-free. A shallow paw soak is different from encouraging a dog to swim into the current.

Before Your Dog Jumps In

Late summer and early fall require an extra look at the water.

• Follow every posted closure or algae advisory.
• Avoid water that resembles pea soup, spilled paint, thick foam or floating mats.
• Never allow a dog to drink lake, pond or creek water.
• Bring fresh drinking water and a clean bowl.
• Rinse the dog after swimming.
• Do not let a potentially exposed dog lick its wet fur or paws.
• Contact a veterinarian immediately if vomiting, weakness, breathing difficulty, seizures or unusual lethargy develop.

Cyanobacteria, commonly called blue-green algae, can produce toxins that are especially dangerous to dogs. Conditions can change quickly, so a spot that was clear last week may not be safe today.

Why This Week Still Matters

Dogs can enjoy Boulder’s outdoors well beyond September. What changes after Labor Day is the atmosphere: fewer summer crowds, cooler mornings and a renewed need to choose the correct shoreline.

This is a last-warm-week opportunity—not a last chance forever. Visit Coot for a genuine swim, East Boulder for limited water access or Union Reservoir for its designated dog beach. Choose Boulder Reservoir for a leashed fall shoreline walk.

Boulder remains a great outdoor town for dogs because people treat its trails, wetlands and water as shared resources. Bring a towel, carry fresh water, pick up after your dog and stay within the designated area.

If Coot is comfortable and clear, let the dog have the splash. If the water looks questionable, turn the swim into a walk. The safest Boulder dog adventure is always the one that gets everyone home healthy.

Photo credit: Sherrie Stille

Outdoor Picture of the Day: Boulder’s Spectacular Summer Landscape From Above

Boulder is beautiful from nearly every angle, but seeing the city from above reveals something entirely different.

Today’s Outdoor Picture of the Day captures Boulder, Colorado, on a magnificent summer day. Green fields stretch across the landscape, mature trees fill the neighborhoods, and Boulder’s familiar red rooftops add splashes of warm color throughout the scene. Beyond them, some of the city’s most recognizable landmarks come together in one remarkable panoramic view.

Against the foothills stands the iconic NSF NCAR Mesa Laboratory, one of Boulder’s most distinctive buildings. Designed by celebrated architect I.M. Pei, the powerful geometric structure has occupied its dramatic perch above the city since the 1960s. From this elevated perspective, NCAR appears almost like a stone fortress guarding the edge of the Rocky Mountains.

Farther across the city, Williams Village can be seen rising above the surrounding neighborhoods. The university residence halls form an unmistakable part of South Boulder’s skyline. Thousands of University of Colorado students have called Williams Village home, enjoying impressive views of the Flatirons and easy access to the Boulder lifestyle.

In the distance, Boulder Reservoir creates a brilliant blue contrast against the green fields and open countryside. The city-owned Boulder Reservoir covers hundreds of acres and serves as both an important water-storage facility and one of the community’s favorite recreation destinations. On warm days, it attracts swimmers, boaters, runners, cyclists, anglers and families looking for a refreshing escape.

What makes this photograph especially powerful is the way it shows Boulder’s unusual balance between city and nature. Homes, university buildings and streets are clearly visible, yet they remain surrounded by trees, farmland, open space and the foothills. Even from above, Boulder does not appear separated from the landscape. It appears woven directly into it.

The red roofs scattered across town provide another memorable detail. Framed by green lawns and deep summer foliage, they give the city a warm and almost European character. The clear Colorado sunlight sharpens every color, from the deep blue water of the reservoir to the golden-green fields reaching toward the horizon.

This incredible view also demonstrates why protecting open space has become such an important part of Boulder’s identity. The preserved land around the city provides wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities and a natural boundary that helps maintain Boulder’s distinctive character.

From NCAR and Williams Village to the reservoir and neighborhoods below, this photograph captures many different sides of the community in one frame. It is another unforgettable reminder that some of the most extraordinary views of Boulder are found by simply climbing higher and looking back.

The Clippers were fined $30 million, asked to forfeit five future first-round draft picks, while owner Steve Ballmer and others were suspended for various lengths of time.

Meanwhile, the Lakers and Dodgers weren’t doing much better.

Mark Walter, the owner of both teams, came under a federal probe as his finances were under question after misusing policyholder money for billions of dollars of undisclosed related-party loans.

Sure, it doesn’t look good that Ballmer, the former CEO of Microsoft, and billionaire owner of the Clippers paid Leonard using bogus endorsement deals from Aspirations, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics, and Lockton Insurance, all corporate partners of the team. But the Clippers went 42-40 last season and haven’t made it out of the first round of the playoffs since 2020.

As for Walter, it’s a little sketchy that his company is called Guggenheim Partners, when no one there is a Guggenheim. Or that his undisclosed related-party loans are supposed to be safely held investments for insurance holders, not Dodger left fielders. But there’s no salary cap in baseball, so did anyone really get hurt?

Do either even qualify as cheaters? I would call it more like “creative accounting.”

Besides, as they say in the sports world, if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.

Top Ten Sports Cheaters of All-Time

10) In 1904, Fred Lorz was leading the St Louis Olympic Marathon for the first nine miles before he started cramping up. Lorz then hitched a ride with a car passing by, exited the vehicle 11-miles later, and eventually claimed victory in the race.

The fact that Lorz claimed it was all a joke (after someone called him on it), got away with nothing, and no one lost money betting the event on Fanduel, made this cheating event historic, but harmless and just number 10.

Credit via Sports Illustrated

9) Boris Onischenko was dubbed Dishonest-Chenko after his fencing sword was found to have a special button in its handle that would trigger an automatic hit on the electronic scoring system. An Olympic Pentathlete for the Soviet Union in both 1968 and 1972, Onischenko would be disqualified from the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and dishonorably discharged from the Soviet Army.

Onischenko would have scored higher on my list of athletic cheaters, but I’m not sure fencing is a sport, and historically, cheating in the Olympics is as common as cheating on your taxes.

Credit via ESPN

8) 12-year-old, Danny Almonte dominated the mound for the Rolando Paulino Little League All-Stars in the Little League World Series. During the event, Almonte had thrown a perfect game, struck out 62 out of 72 batters, and his team finished third overall. The only issue was, that according to paperwork from the Dominican government, Danny was actually a 14-year-old.

Crazy baseball parents trying anything to get their kid more playing time? Seen it.

7) Lance Armstrong won 22 stages and seven overall Tour de France titles from 1999-2005. After surviving advanced stage-3 testicular cancer, Armstrong founded Livestrong, and most remember the colored wristbands and charity that raised millions for awareness. Armstrong would later have all seven titles removed, and his charity would fold after evidence showed systematic doping in his blood samples.

Maybe there was one guy left on a rusty Schwinn, but everyone was doping back then, and Armstrong still raised millions for cancer research. The fact that he was an American, the best, and we believed in Lance and his charity, made it hurt so much more.

Credit via X.com

6) Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, and Alex Rodriguez did not make my list due to the dozens of players that also used steroids during their era. But Sammy Sosa sure does. All these players used needles to make themselves bigger, stronger, and hit balls farther. But only Sosa got caught using a corked bat as well. Guess the 80 pounds of added muscle just wasn’t enough.

5) The New England Patriots make my list at number five. Bill Belichick cheated with Spygate, Josh McDaniel’s went to the Broncos and cheated with Spygate II, the refs cheated when they called the Tuck Rule in that Raiders game, Tom Brady cheated with Deflategate, Robert Kraft cheated at an Asian massage parlor, and Mike Vrabel cheated in a hot tub.

But they still would have won six titles.

Credit via X.com

4) If I had to list every athlete that was found to be doping during the Olympic Games, this small article would have to be more like a feature film. But the East German Swim Team that appeared at the Montreal Olympics in 1976, they were the poster child.

The East German Swim Team would win 11 out of the 13 events that summer, and their star, Kornelia Ender would take home four gold medals while setting multiple world records.

A player or coach cheating is bad enough, but this team’s success was due to a State-Sponsored Doping Program called State Plan 1450. Cheating in the Olympics is one thing, cheating as a country is another, having your female swimmers looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger, that’s just throwing it in our face.

Credit via Time Out

3) At the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games, the Intellectually Disabled basketball team from Spain would go on to win the gold medal.

Yes, you guessed it. 10 of the 12 players had no intellectual disability. That may have been okay in the Johnny Knoxville comedy, The Ringer (2005), but in real life, that gets you to number three on my list.

Credit via Instagram

2) Barry Bonds could have easily been added to Sammy Sosa and his group at number six. After all, it was the steroid era, Bonds never won a World Series ring, and even without juicing, Bonds was one of the best in baseball.

But where Sosa and McGwire faded off into the night, Bonds would go on to pass Willie Mays, Babe Ruth, and Hank Aaron to become baseball’s all-time homerun leader. That gets him near the top of the list.

1) The 2017 Houston Astros had a systematic sign stealing plan. The team installed a camera in the center field stands, zoomed in on the plate, a staff member would watch the feed on a television in the hallway of the dugout, and eventually their batters would be informed by a signal (banging on a trash can).

Seems a little rudimentary, but it got them a World Series ring after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4 games to 3.

Should the Dodgers have been given the World Series that season? Should the Red Sox have been the American League representative? Who knows?

But the sign stealing went on for multiple years, players were given immunity for testifying, the team was fined $5 million and a few draft picks, and the Houston Astros are still the 2017 World Series Champs.

But I’ll always refer to them as the Houston Cheetahs.

Images via Time Out, Instagram, X.com, ESPN, Sports Illustrated

Pearl Street Mall – Boulder, CO (Elevation: 5,430 ft)One of the most beautiful and top-rated outdoor malls in the U.S., with the Flatirons of the Rocky Mountains as a stunning backdrop

Boulder’s Lunch Buffet Guide: Local Spots Worth Checking Out

Boulder’s restaurant scene receives plenty of attention for chef-driven dining rooms, creative menus and polished Pearl Street experiences. Lunch, however, is a different sport.

Sometimes people want a simple meal that is filling, flexible and reasonably priced. That is where Boulder’s remaining buffet and buffet-style lunch destinations enter the picture.

These restaurants are not trying to recreate a massive Las Vegas spread. They serve students, office workers, families and hungry hikers who want several flavors on one plate without turning lunch into an elaborate event.

Boulder’s buffet scene has changed considerably over the years. Some restaurants have reduced their buffet schedules, while others now emphasize combination plates or special buffet events. Availability, hours and prices can change, so diners should always check directly with a restaurant before visiting.

Here are several longtime Boulder destinations associated with buffets, generous lunch spreads and satisfying midday meals.

Kathmandu Restaurant II

1964 28th Street

Kathmandu Restaurant II remains one of Boulder’s best-known destinations for Himalayan buffet dining. Located near 28th and Walnut streets, it combines a central location with convenient parking and an informal dining room.

The rotating selection has traditionally included rice, dal, saag, vegetable curries, chicken dishes, noodles, salad and dessert. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices make it a practical destination when members of a group have different dietary needs.

Kathmandu’s greatest strength is familiarity. Boulder diners have known it for years as a place where they can build a plate, sample multiple dishes and return for another helping when hunger wins.

Buffet selections and prices can vary, so checking before visiting remains the safest move.

Nepal House Restaurant & Bar

4720 Table Mesa Drive

Nepal House has emerged as a popular South Boulder destination for Nepalese, Tibetan and Indian cooking. Its comfortable interior, broad menu and buffet-style lunch experience make it an appealing alternative to the busier restaurant corridors around downtown.

Traditional favorites may include curries, rice, vegetables, paneer and tandoori dishes. Fresh naan delivered to the table has also become one of the restaurant’s most frequently praised features.

The Nepal House menu provides the restaurant’s latest published information, but diners should still confirm buffet availability before making a special trip.

For South Boulder residents, Nepal House offers the kind of satisfying neighborhood lunch that does not require crossing the entire city.

The Taj Indian Cuisine

2630 Baseline Road

The Taj is another longstanding name in Boulder’s Indian dining scene. Its Baseline Road location, vegetarian selection and views toward the Flatirons have helped it maintain a loyal local following.

The restaurant has long been associated with buffet dining and a generous variety of curries, rice, naan, tandoori items and vegetable dishes. It is especially useful for mixed groups because diners can explore different flavors without committing to one entrée.

Because current buffet information is not consistently published online, calling The Taj before visiting is strongly recommended. Even when buffet service changes, its regular menu continues to provide a broad selection of Indian dishes.

Tsing Tao Asian Kitchen

607A South Broadway

Tsing Tao brings Chinese and Thai flavors into a Boulder buffet conversation otherwise dominated by Indian and Himalayan restaurants.

A fixture in South Boulder since the early 1990s, Tsing Tao is known for its extensive menu, generous portions and numerous plant-based choices. The restaurant has offered weekday lunch buffet service as well as special vegan buffet events.

Those are separate dining experiences, and their schedules may change. Diners interested in either should consult the official Tsing Tao website or call before visiting.

Its vegan events have developed an especially enthusiastic following among Boulder’s plant-based community, offering meat-free versions of familiar Chinese dishes in a casual neighborhood setting.

Mt. Everest Cuisine

4800 Baseline Road

Mt. Everest Cuisine is a family-run restaurant serving Nepalese and Indian dishes in the Meadows on the Parkway shopping center.

The restaurant previously received attention for a special vegan buffet, but that service should not be assumed to be active. Mt. Everest is better presented today as a strong lunch alternative with clearly marked vegetarian and vegan menu choices.

Its quieter strip-mall setting makes it convenient for diners who want Himalayan food without navigating downtown traffic.

Tibet Kitchen

2359 Arapahoe Avenue

Tibet Kitchen is not a traditional all-you-can-eat buffet. Instead, it offers affordable lunch plates that provide some of the variety people seek from buffet dining.

Diners can explore curries, rice, vegetables, noodles, momos and Tibetan specialties without ordering a large dinner. It is particularly well suited to people who value speed and variety but do not necessarily need unlimited servings.

That distinction matters: Tibet Kitchen belongs in the broader lunch conversation, but it should not be presented as a guaranteed buffet.

Boulder’s Changing Lunch Scene

The buffet may no longer dominate Boulder dining the way it once did, but the basic appeal remains unchanged: choice, value and a filling meal.

Kathmandu, Nepal House, The Taj and Tsing Tao remain the principal names to investigate for buffet service. Mt. Everest and Tibet Kitchen provide worthwhile alternatives when a combination plate or regular menu makes more sense.

Readers exploring Boulder’s wider food and dining scene will find plenty of refined restaurants and celebrated chefs. These neighborhood lunch destinations perform a simpler job: feeding hungry people well and sending them back into the Boulder afternoon satisfied.

Editor’s note: Buffet availability, schedules, selections and prices can change. Contact each restaurant directly before visiting.

The drive from Denver’s western edge to the Eisenhower Tunnel should take less than an hour.

An Outside reporter timed it at two hours and fifteen minutes from the Dino Lots to the tunnel—on a stretch that should take less than an hour without traffic. She skied Copper Mountain, checked the map for the drive home and found what looked like a red-and-yellow coral snake.

If you live in Denver, that story can consume your weekend. If you live in Boulder, it does not have to.

Denver’s mountain door is an interstate built in the 1970s for a population that has nearly tripled. In 1973, when the first bore of the Eisenhower Tunnel opened, approximately 2.4 million vehicles passed through it. Five decades later, annual traffic had reached roughly 13 million vehicles.

The traffic is driven heavily by weekend and holiday recreation. Add snow, a jackknifed semi, Floyd Hill construction and the 7 a.m. crowd that still believes Vail is a 90-minute drive, and you get the chaos documented in Outside’s investigation of Colorado’s I-70 corridor.

Boulder opens west through a canyon.

Eldora Mountain

Eldora Is the Actual Answer

Eldora Mountain Resort is approximately 21 miles from Boulder. Take Boulder Canyon Drive to Nederland, turn south at the roundabout and follow the signs to Eldora.

On a clear morning, the drive generally takes 35 to 45 minutes. It is a mountain drive, but it is not a negotiation with the Eisenhower Tunnel or Floyd Hill.

Eldora is also an Ikon Pass destination and the rare Front Range ski area you can reach directly by public transportation. During ski season, RTD’s NB routes leave Downtown Boulder Station, travel through Nederland and stop at the base of the resort near the Alpenglow lift.

That is the whole hack. No Dino Lots. No Eisenhower Tunnel. No “leave by 5:30 or don’t go.”

The RTD Ski-n-Ride service generally operates hourly during the ski season, but riders should always check the current schedule before leaving. Not every Nederland-bound trip continues to the resort.

You still have to respect the mountain. Boulder Canyon is a winding two-lane road that becomes serious during a storm. Powder mornings can fill Eldora’s parking lots, and parking requirements can change on peak days.

Buy your lift ticket ahead of time. Check the road and parking status. Take the bus when skiing alone. Leave earlier than your pride wants.

On the right morning, you can be home while plenty of I-70 skiers are still fighting their way back through Silverthorne.

Winter Park’s “Back Way”—Use the Right One

Locals love saying there is a back way to Winter Park. There is. It just is not the fantasy of pointing a Subaru toward Rollinsville and emerging in Fraser 90 minutes later.

Rollins Pass follows the historic Moffat Road over the Continental Divide. Its east and west sides provide rugged summer and early-fall recreation, but they do not connect for motor vehicles.

The Needle’s Eye section has been closed to motorized through-traffic for decades. Both sides are dead-end mountain roads, not alternate routes to Winter Park. In winter, the pass becomes snowmobile, backcountry skiing and snowshoeing territory—not a shortcut around Berthoud Pass.

The real back way is older than the interstate: the Moffat Tunnel.

Amtrak’s seasonal Winter Park Express travels from Denver Union Station through the Moffat Tunnel and stops at the base of Winter Park Resort. From Boulder, a skier can take the Flatiron Flyer to Union Station, board the ski train and spend zero minutes driving through Floyd Hill traffic.

It is not necessarily faster door to door. It is simply a fundamentally different kind of mountain day. You sit down, travel beneath the Continental Divide and step off near the lifts without driving I-70 yourself.

Schedules, operating days and fares change by season, so reservations should be made directly through Amtrak before the trip.

If you insist on driving, you can sometimes avoid the eastern section of I-70 by traveling through Nederland toward Central City Parkway and joining the interstate farther west. But you will still need to take U.S. 40 over Berthoud Pass.

That is a partial dodge, not a disappearing act.

You Don’t Even Need a Lift Ticket

The same geography works when nobody is skiing.

Peak to Peak is Boulder’s scenic highway. East Portal and Rollinsville can anchor a summer Saturday. Brainard Lake and the Indian Peaks, Hessie and Fourth of July trailheads, James Peak, Barker Reservoir and a loop through Nederland all offer mountain days without touching the Eisenhower Tunnel.

Brainard Lake now requires timed-entry parking reservations during its primary summer season, while Hessie and other popular trailheads have their own crowding and transportation considerations. Avoiding I-70 does not mean avoiding planning.

Rocky Mountain National Park sits along a different corridor entirely. From Boulder, the traditional approach runs through Lyons and U.S. 36. The park has its own congestion, seasonal restrictions and timed-entry requirements, but none of them involves Floyd Hill.

That is the quieter version of the same point: Boulder’s western backyard still contains mountain experiences that fit inside a morning.

Colorado sold a promise during the 1950s and 1960s: live in town and drive into the wilderness. The interstate made that promise so successful that access itself became part of the struggle.

Boulder still has a version that works.

Extra highway capacity may help temporarily. A future train could move more people. But increased capacity creates additional demand, mountain towns continue setting visitation records and the road eventually begins looking like itself again.

Traffic has become part of the I-70 deal.

From Pearl Street, that deal is optional.

You can still ski Vail, Copper or Breckenridge. Plenty of Buffs do, and they understand the 5 a.m. calculation. Just do not tell yourself those resorts represent the only mountain days available.

Eldora is up the canyon. The ski train runs beneath the Continental Divide. The backcountry that helped make people fall in love with Boulder begins west of town—not west of Idaho Springs.

Leave a little earlier than you want. Take the bus once. Let Denver keep the coral snake.

Labor Day in Boulder isn’t another productivity pitch. It’s a day to honor the work that keeps this place running—and then actually stop.

Labor Day lands differently in Boulder.

Most Mondays here begin with motion: a trail before the inbox, coffee with the Flatirons in the windshield, and a quiet decision to start before you feel ready.

This Monday is the opposite on purpose.

The workweek can wait until Tuesday. Labor Day is older than any of our lists, deadlines, or fitness goals. It exists for a simple reason: The people who built this country—and the people who keep this town running—deserve a day that is not another shift.

Boulder can look effortless from a Pearl Street patio. It is not.

Someone maintains the trail you walked this weekend. Someone grew the peaches and tomatoes that filled the farmers market. Someone staffed the Boulder Reservoir gate, worked the final busy days of outdoor swim season, drove the HOP on holiday hours, cooked through a long weekend, coached, cleaned, taught, or held a line so the rest of us could enjoy a Boulder Saturday that felt like Boulder.

Martin Luther King Jr. put it without decoration: “No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”

That includes rest.

The Roman poet Ovid wrote, “Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.”

Boulder people are not naturally good at this part. We treat recovery like a luxury and hustle like a personality trait. We measure the hike, track the ride, count the steps, answer one more email, and turn even relaxation into another form of achievement.

Labor Day offers an annual reminder: A field that never rests eventually stops producing.

You do not need a sunrise summit tonight.

If you still have daylight, use it slowly. Boulder’s open-space trails and trailheads remain available, although fires, grills, and other ignition sources are prohibited on city open space. The Boulder Reservoir remains open into the evening, with boats required to be off the water by 8 p.m. and the outgoing gate closing at 9 p.m.

Boulder Reservoir

Earlier today, nearby Louisville celebrated the holiday with its annual Labor Day Parade, honoring workers and the community groups that keep Boulder County moving.

Tonight does not need another event.

Walk without tracking the distance. Sit somewhere without reaching for your phone. Notice the changing light on the Flatirons. Thank one person who worked so you did not have to—the trail crew, market grower, restaurant employee, Reservoir worker, bus driver, first responder, or neighbor who always shows up.

Then go home.

Tuesday will ask plenty of you. It always does in this town.

Tonight, the assignment is smaller:

Honor the work. Then stop.

That’s your Motivational Monday.

Are B movies still a thing? Like so many aspects of the cinematic experience, they have mutated while retaining a few core concepts. For those who don’t know, in the early days of movies, your local theater showed a double feature. The A movie was the first thing you’d watch. It had big stars, big budgets, all the things you expect used to get butts in seats. After that was the B movie. The actors weren’t huge, either up-and-comers or those on the professional downslope. Budgets tended to be modest. The films themselves were genre pieces, so lots of crime, action, and so forth.

As time went on and as theaters stopped the common practice of double features, B movies remained. Producers like Roger Corman made a career out of making B movies, ones made fast and cheap. It’s true that a lot of those B movies were exploitative, with graphic violence, graphic nudity, and a gleeful sense of, “Look what we’re getting away with!” It’s also true that Roger Corman himself was instrumental in teaching some of the greatest directors how to make movies properly. Ron Howard, Jonathan Demme, and Martin Scorsese all got their start working for Corman. 

Now, things are different. Theatrical releases are dominated by blockbusters, the occasional prestige drama, and indies like Obsession that make a splash. B movies live on streaming services, and directors like Steven C. Miller and actors like Scott Adkins have made a career out of working in the B movie space and delivering solid results. Every so often, a B movie escapes into the theatrical wild. That’s what Onslaught is, and for the most part, I giggled my way through this bloodbath.

In the remote high desert of New Mexico lies a secret base. Once it was operated by the military. Now, it’s a possession of a shadowy group of military contractors. Running the joint are legacy Nazis Hans Kammler (Dan Stevens) and Hanna Kammler (Rebecca Hall). The least disturbing thing about them is their ice cold BDSM relationship. The most disturbing thing about them? Well, that would be their project.

You see, the Kammlers have developed a way to transform soldiers into something more. Physical conditioning means they can move fast, efficiently, and take the kind of punishment that would stop a regular grunt in their tracks. Psychological conditioning means they lose all morality and scruples, and once activated, they’ll kill anything they see until either they’re dead or there’s nothing left to kill. There are three of them. Their leader is The Butcher (Alex Pereira). The other two are The Cockroach (Dave Campbell) and The Crybaby (Tyler Hall).

Also in the remote high desert of New Mexico is a lonely trailer park. Celeste (Adria Arjona) runs the place. She’s a former soldier with a talent for sniping, and she slouches her way toward alcoholism and deals with her PTSD by not dealing with it. Things get more tense when her ex-husband Griffin (Jacob Scipio) shows up with their cute-as-a-button daughter Daisy (Blake Kennedy). He’s got a last minute business trip to deal with. Can Celeste look after Daisy for the weekend? No? Too bad! Griffin bugs out, and Celeste has to care for a little girl she barely knows. 

Luckily, Celeste is good at a few things. First, she teaches Daisy how to properly eat a burrito. Second, she notices stuff, like the fact that two Blackhawk helicopters have flown the same route in a single day. Third, she keeps practicing with her scarily impressive arsenal of guns. Two of these three skills will come in handy,* since The Butcher and his two cronies inconveniently slaughter their handlers and escape. They’re killing anything in their way, and Celeste’s trailer park is right in their crosshairs. 

Look, either you’re the kind of person who positively responds to the line, “Go to your room. Get under the bed. Momma needs to get her guns,” or you’re not. If you are, you’ll have a blast with Onslaught. Director Adam Wingard has made a quick, mean little movie that’s essentially, “What if Captain America was also Jason Voorhees?” It’s the B-moviest B movie concept of all time, and for a B movie, Wingard has made a mostly great film. It’s certainly great looking, as evidenced by sharp cinematography such as a gorgeous shot of a landing helicopter kicking up tumbleweeds. The last hour (of the ninety-three minute movie) moves like a heat-seeking missile, and the action scenes are fast, brutal, and relentless.

The film ain’t perfect, though. The first twenty-ish minutes feel a little choppy. While there are good moments of character development, so we know who our potential victims are, it sometimes felt as if Wingard suddenly discovered the movie was only 80-something minutes long, and padded it in the beginning to drag the runtime over the ninety minute line. On top of that, there’s a moment where…well, I hesitate to call it an “action scene,” so let’s call it a massacre. During this moment, where the trio of super-soldiers proceed to kill the living hell out of a convenience store, Wingard shoots in pitiless bright light. So much so that he evokes the feel of a real mass shooting, and for a few moments, the film moves away from genre film to something genuinely ugly. 

The screenplay by Wingard’s regular collaborator, Simon Barrett, understands the assignment. Where it works is digging into most of the characters. We get a good sense of who Celeste is and what drives her, along with the residents of the trailer park, the Nazi scientists, and Drew Starkey’s Cyrus, an operative brought in to stop the super soldiers and “clean up” the damage. What also works is the structure, mostly, and Barrett effectively sets up the dominos then knocks them over. Speaking of setup, Barrett pulls a fun switcheroo with Celeste’s armory, and I wish more movies would use our expectations as filmgoers against us.

There are two spots where the script doesn’t work. The first, and perhaps this is a feature, is that Barrett’s first act sets up such a weird, and lived-in world. Not a lot of that worldbuilding is paid off later. Were there other scenes cut for time, or are the filmmakers crossing their fingers for a sequel? My other issue is with the antagonists. In its way, Onslaught is a slasher movie, and slashers should have personality. Freddy is a quip machine, Jason has a weird hangup about his mother, Leatherface has a weird hangup about his entire family, and Michael is a yawning abyss that (possibly?) uses violence as communication. The Butcher, the Cockroach, and Crybaby are…big guys who never talk and are dressed exactly the same. The only difference is one carries a gun, one carries a chainsaw-looking power tool, and one carries a huge cleaver. I have no problem with their lack of dialogue. I would have liked something in the character designs to make them more unique, along with non-verbal character moments to make these maniacs more memorable.

While our villains lack individuality, the same can’t be said about the rest of the cast. Adria Arjona is a rock-solid lead. I appreciated the choice that Celeste isn’t the usual doting single mother. Arjona takes a different approach, and her Celeste loves Daisy, yet has a tough time connecting with her. I liked Dan Stevens showing up briefly to play a weird little freak, I liked Rebecca Hall being given the chance to play a weird little freak, and it was nice seeing Michael Biehn’s brief cameo. Now that I think about it, nearly everyone in the cast is playing some flavor of weirdo, which I thoroughly enjoyed.** 

Onslaught manages to simultaneously be mean and ridiculous, in the best possible way. As I left the theater, a hetero couple was ahead of me. The male said, “That was a good-ass movie!” The female said, “It wasn’t too long, either.” If I were a better film critic, I would have just written those two sentences and hit “publish.” I will say that it understood how to be a B movie better than most these days.

*Spoiler alert, but eating burritos doesn’t pay off later. If it did, this would instantly land on my Best of the Year list. 

**I think the only “normal” character is Reginald VelJohnson’s veteran Josiah, a good dude who likes spending his days sitting around smoking and drinking. 

First Light on the Flatirons: Summer Dawn at Chautauqua Park

There are sunrises, and then there is first light on the Flatirons from Chautauqua Park.

On a clear summer morning, the sun rises over the plains and finds the sandstone. The great slabs do not simply brighten—they catch fire in sequence, shifting from amber to rose and then deep gold while the meadow below remains cool and green.

That grass is the frame. It rolls away from the historic cottages and Dining Hall toward the foothills, creating a living foreground that makes the Flatirons appear even taller and more dramatic than they already are.

That is the photograph: green in front, stone on fire behind and a Colorado sky still waking up.

Located at the base of the Flatirons off Baseline Road, Chautauqua Park stands at the center of Boulder’s outdoor identity. In 1898, Boulder residents approved a bond issue to purchase 80 acres for a Chautauqua—a place where education, culture, recreation and nature could come together.

The Texas-Colorado Chautauqua opened on July 4, 1898. Its Auditorium and Dining Hall were constructed in a matter of weeks so they would be ready for the first summer season. More than a century later, concerts still fill the wooden Auditorium, visitors stay in the historic cottages and hikers gather beside the meadow before heading into the foothills.

The Colorado Chautauqua became a National Historic Landmark in 2006. It remains one of the country’s few surviving Chautauquas and the only one west of the Mississippi that has operated continuously since the movement’s historic era.

That living history makes sunrise here especially powerful.

You do not need to earn the view with a long climb. You can stand in the park with coffee in hand and watch the eastern horizon brighten while the Flatirons rise dramatically to the west. The contrast creates the show: glowing sky, dark foothills and then the first rays sliding across the tilted rock faces.

The Flatirons are composed primarily of Fountain Formation sandstone and conglomerate. The ancient rock was pushed upward and sharply tilted during the formation of the modern Rocky Mountains. Its warm reddish surface holds morning color beautifully, changing with the clouds, haze and season. Some mornings bring brilliant gold. Others soften the formations into pink, copper or lavender.

Summer makes the scene especially vivid. The meadow is green, the air remains cool before the day’s heat arrives and the Flatirons stand sharply against the morning sky. Hikers are already heading toward Chautauqua Trail and Bluebell-Baird, but the open field can still feel surprisingly private.

This is more than scenery. Chautauqua is Boulder’s front porch—a place where families picnic, musicians perform, runners begin their morning routes and generations of hikers enter the foothills. It is where locals come to remember why they chose to live in this remarkable place.

The meadow frames the stone. The stone holds the sun. And for a few unforgettable minutes, Chautauqua Park becomes exactly what it has been for more than 125 years: the place where Boulder meets the mountains and the day begins.

Boulder, Colorado Outdoor Picture of the Day: Boulder Creek in Summer

There is something unmistakably Boulder about cold mountain water moving beneath cottonwood trees on a warm summer afternoon.

Today’s Outdoor Picture of the Day captures Boulder Creek beside Eben G. Fine Park, where the water emerges from Boulder Canyon and begins its journey through the heart of the city. The creek may be quieter than it was during the rush of early-season runoff, but it continues to carry the unmistakable energy of the mountains.

This is Boulder’s natural summer refuge.

The water moves over rounded rocks while sunlight filters through the leaves. Cyclists and runners pass along the creek path. Families spread blankets across the grass, and visitors pause beside the water to enjoy a pocket of cool air only minutes from downtown.

Snowmelt From the Mountains

Boulder Creek is sometimes described as glacier-fed, but snowmelt-fed is the more accurate term.

The City of Boulder explains that the community’s water supply depends heavily on snowpack in the alpine headwaters of North Boulder Creek, Middle Boulder Creek and the Upper Colorado River. Each spring, melting mountain snow fills reservoirs and sends cold water downstream through the Boulder Creek watershed.

By late summer, that powerful spring surge has usually eased considerably. The creek becomes shallower, more rocks appear above the surface and the current loses some of its early-season force. Still, every stretch of moving water represents part of a much larger journey from the high country to the city below.

Boulder’s alpine snowpack and mountain watersheds are not merely scenic features. They are essential pieces of the region’s water system, supporting homes, wildlife, agriculture, recreation and the riparian environment surrounding the creek.

Boulder’s Outdoor Living Room

Located near the mouth of Boulder Canyon, Eben G. Fine Park has long felt like Boulder’s outdoor living room.

According to the city’s official description of Eben G. Fine Park, the property includes a playground, natural areas, water access, picnic tables, a historic stone shelter and a section of the Boulder Creek Path. A pedestrian bridge also connects the park with The Peoples’ Crossing and nearby foothills trails.

That combination makes the park one of Boulder’s most distinctive gathering places. Within a few steps, visitors can move from an open lawn to the creek bank, follow the path toward downtown or cross the water and begin climbing into the foothills.

On a summer afternoon, nearly every part of Boulder life seems to pass through here. Runners settle into their pace. Cyclists ring their bells. Children investigate the shallows. Friends find shade beneath the cottonwoods, and longtime residents stop at familiar places along the bank.

The creek gives everyone a reason to slow down.

A Different Kind of Summer Beauty

Peak runoff is dramatic. Late-summer Boulder Creek offers something quieter.

Instead of roaring water, there is the steady sound of current slipping between exposed stones. The banks feel warmer, the shade feels more valuable and the creek reflects smaller patches of blue sky between the trees.

Lower water should never be confused with harmless water. Rocks can be slippery, channels can be unexpectedly deep and even a modest current can create hazards. Conditions also change after storms or water-management adjustments. Visitors entering or approaching the creek should always use good judgment, supervise children closely and respect posted restrictions.

For those who simply want to enjoy the scenery, the adjoining Boulder Creek Path provides one of the city’s easiest and most beautiful walks. It follows the water from the foothills through central Boulder, connecting parks, neighborhoods and gathering places along the way.

The Heartbeat of Boulder

What makes this photograph special is not one dramatic feature. It is the combination of water, trees, stone, sunlight and everyday life.

Boulder Creek brings the mountains directly into town. It cools the air, creates wildlife habitat and provides a natural corridor through an increasingly busy city. More than that, it gives Boulder a recognizable heartbeat—sometimes rushing, sometimes gentle, but always moving.

Today’s image captures that rhythm perfectly.

It is summertime in Boulder: mountain water flowing through town, cottonwoods standing along the bank and one more beautiful afternoon unfolding beside the creek.

Photo credit: Sherrie Stille

There is a look that only water-loving dogs have. Ears pinned back. Eyes focused on the next ripple. Paws moving before the rest of the body has completely committed.

Today’s beautiful girl puppy has that look—and she is going all in at one of her favorite places.

Her mid-splash moment at Coot Lake captures the pure excitement that makes dogs such an unforgettable part of Boulder’s outdoor life. There is no hesitation and no careful testing of the water. It is a full-speed launch into another perfect Boulder adventure.

Why Boulder Dogs Love Coot Lake

Located near 63rd Street and the Boulder Reservoir, Coot Lake has long been one of Boulder’s favorite places for dogs that love the water. The lake is surrounded by an approximately 1.2-mile trail with beautiful views of the foothills, open sky, wetlands, and the surrounding natural landscape.

Unlike faster and rockier sections of Boulder Creek, Coot Lake offers relatively calm water and several gradual entry areas. That makes it especially appealing to dogs that enjoy retrieving, wading, swimming, or simply cooling their paws.

Dogs are permitted to swim from the lake’s east and south shores. They are not allowed on the west side or in the surrounding wetland areas, which provide important habitat for birds and other wildlife. Boating, rafts, and belly boats are also prohibited.

Dogs may be off leash only when the dog and guardian are registered with Boulder’s Voice and Sight Tag Program. Participating dogs must display a valid tag and remain under genuine voice and sight control. If a dog is still developing a reliable recall, keeping that pup leashed is the safest choice.

A Perfect Puppy Outing

A trip to Coot Lake can combine a swim with an easy walk around the water. The mostly flat loop gives puppies plenty of opportunities to explore without requiring a strenuous mountain hike.

Dog guardians should bring fresh drinking water, waste bags, and—judging from today’s photograph—a large towel. Visitors should also watch for posted algae notices. Cyanobacteria, commonly called blue-green algae, can be dangerous to dogs and people when harmful blooms develop.

Early mornings and quieter weekdays can be especially enjoyable, providing cooler temperatures and more room along the shoreline. Visitors should always respect anglers, walkers, wildlife, and other dogs sharing the area.

Today’s Dog of the Day does not need a trail guide or a list of reasons to love this Boulder destination. Her photograph tells the entire story.

Ears back. Water flying. Eyes forward.

For this beautiful girl, Coot Lake means only one thing: throw it one more time.

Boulder has long been considered a desirable place to live, and personal safety remains one of the reasons people are willing to pay a premium to call it home. Violent crime is relatively uncommon across much of the city, while the incidents residents encounter most often involve bicycles, vehicles, packages, and other property.

The important distinction is that safety is not evenly distributed across Boulder.

Downtown blocks, commercial corridors, student housing, and areas with heavy visitor traffic naturally generate more police calls than quiet residential streets. That means the Boulder experienced around Pearl Street or University Hill can look very different from life in Wonderland Hills, Newlands, Table Mesa, or Gunbarrel.

For buyers, the best question is not simply, “Is Boulder safe?” It is, “Which Boulder neighborhood offers the environment and level of activity that fit the way I want to live?”

What Crime Looks Like in Boulder

Boulder’s crime picture is driven primarily by property offenses rather than violent crime. Bike theft, vehicle break-ins, shoplifting, and package theft are more common than serious crimes against residents.

Locations near nightlife, shopping centers, the University of Colorado, and major transportation corridors generally experience more activity. That does not necessarily make these parts of Boulder dangerous. It means more people, parked vehicles, businesses, and late-night activity create more opportunities for incidents.

Residents and prospective buyers can examine recent reports through the official Boulder Police Department public-safety dashboards. The dashboards include reported crimes, police calls, stolen-bike information, crashes, and rental-property calls for service.

Wonderland Hills

Tucked against North Boulder’s foothills, Wonderland Hills offers residential streets, trail access, and convenient proximity to Wonderland Lake.

The neighborhood is removed from downtown nightlife and the busier portions of the North Broadway commercial corridor. Its combination of low through-traffic, established homes, and access to parks makes it especially attractive to buyers searching for peaceful surroundings without leaving Boulder.

Wonderland Lake

Newlands

Newlands remains one of Boulder’s most desirable residential neighborhoods. It sits close to North Boulder Park, Mount Sanitas, Ideal Market, and downtown while maintaining a settled neighborhood atmosphere.

Walkable streets, mature trees, parks, and limited nightlife contribute to its quieter character. Homes here command premium prices for several reasons, but the neighborhood’s strong sense of place and predominantly residential setting are major parts of its appeal.

Ideal Center

Table Mesa and South Boulder

South Boulder provides a distinctly different rhythm from the center of town. Table Mesa and the surrounding neighborhoods offer parks, the South Boulder Recreation Center, and quick access to NCAR, Shanahan Ridge, and the Mesa Trail.

Once evening arrives, much of the area returns to a quiet residential pace. Buyers are drawn to the neighborhood for its open-space access, established homes, mountain views, and distance from Boulder’s highest-traffic entertainment districts.

NCAR table mesa lab

Gunbarrel

Located northeast of central Boulder, Gunbarrel offers a more suburban layout, larger residential pockets, and less spillover from downtown nightlife.

The neighborhood includes single-family homes, townhomes, trails, open spaces, and convenient access to major employers. Gunbarrel appeals to people who want Boulder-area amenities while preferring more separation from the activity surrounding Pearl Street and the university.

Twin Lakes: Gunbarrel, Colorado

Palo Park

Palo Park may not receive the attention given to Newlands or Chautauqua, and that is part of its appeal.

Located in North Boulder, it offers a low-key residential setting with parks, pathways, and relatively little destination traffic. Buyers who value neighborhood calm more than immediate access to restaurants and nightlife should keep it on their list.

Boulder’s Smaller Residential Enclaves

Several smaller pockets also deserve consideration, including Four Mile Creek, Orchard Park, Githens Acres, Rolling Hills, Forest Glen, Panorama Heights, and Country Club Park.

Because some of these enclaves contain relatively few homes, sweeping crime grades should be treated carefully. A small number of incidents can dramatically change a neighborhood’s calculated rate. Inventory can also be limited, making individual properties and blocks more important than the neighborhood label.

Safety Includes More Than Crime

A quiet crime map does not capture every form of risk.

Homes near the foothills and canyon corridors may face greater exposure to wildfire, high winds, winter road conditions, or emergency evacuations. Buyers considering western Boulder, Pine Brook Hills, Sunshine Canyon, or other wildland-urban interface areas should review fire mitigation, insurance availability, evacuation routes, and defensible-space requirements.

The official Colorado Crime Statistics portal can provide a broader statistical picture, but no citywide number replaces examining the immediate area around a home.

What to Check Before Buying

Visit the block during the day and again after dark. Notice traffic, lighting, parking, nearby commercial properties, student rentals, and whether the street functions as a shortcut between larger roads.

Ask about bicycle storage, garage access, package delivery, vehicle break-ins, and neighborhood communication. Most importantly, review recent incidents rather than relying exclusively on generalized scores from commercial crime-ranking websites.

Wonderland Hills, Newlands, Table Mesa, Gunbarrel, Palo Park, and Boulder’s smaller residential enclaves stand out because they share the qualities safety-conscious buyers tend to seek: quiet streets, limited nightlife, nearby parks, and an established neighborhood feel.

In these parts of Boulder, safety is the foundation. Trail access, housing style, views, daily convenience, and budget are what ultimately break the tie.

Boulder Flatirons from NCAR

Outdoor Picture of the Day: The Flatirons From NCAR, Looking North to Chautauqua

Most people photograph Boulder’s Flatirons from Chautauqua, looking south toward their famous faces. Today’s Outdoor Picture of the Day flips that familiar view.

From the NCAR mesa on a clear summer afternoon, the camera looks north along the tilted sandstone wall. The great slabs appear stacked one behind another, gradually receding toward Chautauqua’s green meadows and historic auditorium.

It is the same legendary landscape—but from a side rarely seen in postcards.

Instead of standing beneath the Flatirons and looking directly at them, the photographer is positioned on the next mesa to the south. From here, the formations become a sweeping ridgeline rather than a single monumental face. The perspective reveals how the rocks travel along Boulder’s western edge, connecting the foothills, open space, and city below.

Why This Boulder View Feels So Different

The NSF NCAR Mesa Laboratory sits approximately 6,100 feet above sea level, high enough to provide a view along the Fountain Formation’s dramatic sandstone slabs.

Afternoon light brings out the texture and warm color of the rock while the land drops away toward the plains in the east. Chautauqua appears below as a broad green amphitheater, far removed from the busy trailhead and lawn most visitors know.

On an especially clear day, Green Mountain, Bear Peak, the Flatirons, and portions of the city can all share the same panoramic scene.

It creates the kind of view that makes even longtime residents stop and say, “I’ve never seen Boulder quite like this.”

Science Meets Open Space at NCAR

The building is an essential part of the setting. Designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, the Mesa Laboratory’s stone towers were inspired by the mesa and the monumental architecture of the American Southwest.

Today, the landmark remains home to internationally recognized atmospheric and Earth-system research. Yet only steps from its doors are ponderosa pines, foothills trails, mule deer, and some of the most expansive views in Boulder.

That meeting of architecture, science, and wilderness is part of what makes NCAR unlike almost anywhere else in the country.

How to Reach the View

The Mesa Laboratory is located at 1850 Table Mesa Drive. Follow Table Mesa Drive west until the road reaches the facility. Parking and admission to the public visitor center are free, although visitors should confirm current building hours before expecting access to indoor restrooms or exhibits.

The trailhead begins near the wooden information kiosk west of the parking area.

Several hiking options begin here:

• Walter Orr Roberts Weather Trail: A short interpretive loop across the mesa with views of the Flatirons, Bear Peak, Devil’s Thumb, and surrounding ponderosa forest.
• NCAR Trail to Mesa Trail: Descend west from the laboratory and connect with the Mesa Trail. Turn north to travel toward Chautauqua or south toward Bear Canyon and the southern foothills.
• Green Mountain routes: Strong hikers can use connecting trails to build a longer, steeper adventure toward Green Mountain.

Dogs must be leashed while on NCAR property. Regulations vary after entering Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks land, so visitors should review the current OSMP trail and dog rules before heading out.

Summer afternoons on the mesa can be hot and exposed, and thunderstorms can develop quickly. Carry water, watch the sky, remain on designated trails, and check current conditions or visitor information through the official NSF NCAR Visitor Center.

For photographers, late afternoon is the magic window. As the sun lowers, the sandstone catches warmer light and the ridgeline gains depth.

This is not the classic Chautauqua postcard. It is Boulder’s Flatirons from the next mesa over—and proof that even the city’s most photographed landmark can still reveal an entirely new side.

Boulder did not lose its vegan food. Plant-based dining simply moved beyond a handful of dedicated restaurants and became part of the city’s everyday menus.

That is the honest picture in 2026. Boulder lost two plant-based landmarks in November 2024 when Meta Burger closed its local restaurant and Thrive, the raw vegan café across from Boulder High School, closed after its building was scheduled for demolition. Those losses stung, but they did not erase Boulder’s vegan scene.

The best place to begin is Lotus Moon, Boulder’s dedicated plant-based Vietnamese restaurant at 2770 Pearl Street.

Lotus Moon opened in late 2024 in the former Black Pepper Pho space. Owners Thuy Steward and her husband, both vegan, created the restaurant after struggling to find the Vietnamese flavors their family missed.

The menu is entirely plant-based and features pho, bánh mì, vermicelli bowls, curry, dumplings, spring rolls, and tofu dishes. Its signature pho begins with broth made from vegetables, mushrooms, and aromatic spices rather than meat. Diners can choose from tofu and several plant-based proteins.

For a more traditional sit-down experience, Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant remains one of Boulder’s most established vegetarian destinations. Located at 1710 Pearl Street, Leaf currently serves dinner Tuesday through Sunday and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

Leaf’s globally inspired menu changes periodically, but vegan selections are clearly identified, and additional dishes can often be prepared vegan upon request. Its inviting dining room, cocktails, small plates, and weekend brunch make it a strong choice for a date night or special meal.

Several mixed-menu restaurants also make plant-based dining easy. Flower Child, at 2580 Arapahoe Avenue, is currently open daily and offers salads, bowls, wraps, and vegetable-forward plates. Its menu identifies vegan items and allows diners to add tofu or customize many selections.

Zeal, at 3101 Pearl Parkway, continues to serve health-conscious food for vegan, vegetarian, and omnivorous diners. Its lunch, dinner, and brunch menus include clearly marked plant-based choices, although specific dishes change. Zeal is closed on Tuesdays, so checking the current schedule is worthwhile.

Naked Lunch Colorado remains open inside The Peloton at 3301 Arapahoe Avenue. This locally owned sandwich, salad, and bakery shop operates Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is closed Sundays. Vegan choices and substitutions are available, but the daily selection of soups, baked goods, and specials can change.

Just BE Kitchen is also operating at 2500 30th Street. The restaurant specializes in gluten-free and seed-oil-free comfort food, with vegan and vegan-option labels included on its current menu. Because some dishes require substitutions, strict vegans should confirm their selections when ordering.

Dessert remains easy at Gelato Boy. Both Boulder shops—1433 Pearl Street and 1021 Pearl Street—are open and offer rotating dairy-free flavors. The selection changes, so ask which gelato flavors, baked goods, and cones are fully vegan that day.

Pupusas Lover also has an active Boulder location at 2525 Arapahoe Avenue. The Salvadoran restaurant serves meat but offers build-your-own pupusas with plant-based fillings and other vegan-friendly choices. Confirm cheese and other ingredients when ordering.

For groceries and home cooking, Nude Foods Market remains open daily at 3233 Walnut Street. The zero-waste market carries produce, pantry staples, refrigerated foods, and prepared meals in reusable or returnable containers. Shoppers can also visit the Boulder County Farmers Market for seasonal produce and locally produced foods.

Whether you are a CU student, visiting parent, longtime vegan, or simply curious about plant-based eating, Boulder still offers plenty of choices. The city’s vegan scene did not disappear. It became part of everyday Boulder life.

Menus and hours can change, so confirm current information directly with each business before visiting.

Green Mountain Sunrise

Boulder does not treat coffee like décor.

In many cities, the café is the destination. You sit down, open a laptop, and stay for hours. In Boulder, the cup is often the first mile. It happens in a parking lot early in the morning, with a dog in the back seat and the Flatirons still catching their first light. It happens along a bike path or on the way to Mount Sanitas, Chautauqua, Boulder Creek, or Wonderland Lake.

That is the real Boulder coffee story. It is not simply about finding a comfortable chair or the most elaborate latte. It is about trailhead coffee: a locally roasted cup that starts a hike, ride, run, or distinctly Boulder adventure.

The Coffee Ride: Boulder Coffee on Two Wheels

The Coffee Ride operates its café and roastery at 2516 49th Street, Suite 2, in an industrial pocket just off the bike path. The setting feels appropriately Boulder, surrounded by small businesses, studios, mountain views, and people arriving by bike as naturally as others arrive by car.

The Boulder café and roastery is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Along with freshly roasted coffee and bags of beans, it serves house-made biscuits and banana bread.

The company also delivers coffee by bicycle throughout Boulder and Gunbarrel on Thursdays. It is more than a clever sustainability message. Bicycle delivery remains part of how the business actually operates.

For riders using Boulder’s network of paths—or anyone heading toward an east Boulder adventure—it is one of the city’s most fitting places to begin the morning.

Boxcar Coffee Roasters: Brewing at Boulder Elevation

Boxcar Coffee Roasters was founded in Boulder in 2010 by husband-and-wife team Vajra and Cara Rich. Its Pearl Café & Bakery, located at 1825 B Pearl Street, has become one of Boulder’s most recognizable specialty-coffee destinations.

Boxcar’s story is closely tied to brewing coffee at elevation. Because water behaves differently at approximately 5,400 feet, the company developed its own approach to producing a balanced cup in the mountains. That willingness to experiment helped establish Boxcar Coffee Roasters as a respected name well beyond Boulder.

The Pearl Street café is polished and lively, but the coffee remains the reason to visit. Stop for an espresso or brewed coffee before walking Boulder Creek, heading toward Chautauqua, or beginning a day downtown.

Pearl Street may encourage visitors to linger. Boulder’s trails usually have another plan.

Gabee Coffee: Small-Batch Roasting on 28th Street

Gabee Coffee, located at 3040 28th Street, brings a different personality to Boulder’s coffee scene. The independent specialty shop uses certified organic beans and roasts its coffee in small batches.

Gabee’s carefully selected coffees range from familiar organic espresso blends to limited beans from celebrated growing regions around the world. Its emphasis on selection, roasting, and preparation makes it an appealing stop for people who care as much about what is inside the cup as where they drink it.

The location is also convenient for anyone starting the morning on Boulder’s east side or looking for coffee without navigating downtown traffic and parking.

Ruzo Coffee: A North Boulder Neighborhood Stop

Ruzo Coffee, at 3980 Broadway, Suite 104, was created by twin brothers Jordan and Matthew McDaniel, who grew up in North Boulder. The shop opened in 2024 and has developed the welcoming neighborhood character its founders intended.

Ruzo is open daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shop roasts coffee in Boulder and serves espresso drinks, matcha, tea, pastries, and several dairy-free milk options.

Its location makes it an especially convenient launching point for Mount Sanitas, Wonderland Lake, and the quieter streets and paths of North Boulder. Regulars come for the coffee, but the familiar staff and relaxed neighborhood atmosphere give them reasons to return.

In Boulder, Coffee Is Connected to Motion

The pattern is the point.

Many of Boulder’s most interesting coffee shops feel built for people who are already going somewhere. They offer bike access, mountain views, locally roasted beans, early hours, and locations that naturally connect with the city’s trails and open spaces.

That relationship between coffee and motion is part of what makes Boulder’s outdoor lifestyle unlike anywhere else. A morning cup is rarely separate from the day’s adventure. It is the beginning of it.

Early September is when the ritual becomes especially noticeable. Students return, mornings become cooler, and the days remain warm enough for long hikes and rides. The first fall light reaches the Flatirons, and the question changes from “Where can I sit?” to “Where should I stop before I head up?”

Coffee wins in Boulder because it is attached to movement. Take the cup, leave the chair, and start the day where Boulder so often begins it: on the way outside.

Photo credit: Sherrie Stille

Today’s Boulder Dog of the Day is standing proudly on the grass at the dog park, looking as happy as a dog could possibly be. With bright eyes, a huge smile, and friends waiting nearby, this pup is clearly ready for the day’s main event: running, chasing, wrestling, and enjoying Boulder’s beautiful outdoors.

There is something special about watching a dog step onto a wide patch of green grass. The nose immediately drops, the tail rises, and every new scent becomes part of an exciting story. One minute the dog is carefully investigating the ground. The next, it is racing across the park toward a new friend.

Why Dogs Love Grass

Grass gives dogs an entire sensory playground. Every blade can carry the scent of another dog, a wild animal, food, soil, or changing weather. With a sense of smell far more powerful than ours, dogs experience a grassy field as a constantly updated neighborhood news report.

The softer surface is another major attraction. Grass is generally easier on a dog’s paws and joints than pavement, especially when running, turning quickly, or tumbling with friends. It can also feel wonderfully cool beneath their paws and bellies on a warm Boulder afternoon.

Some dogs roll in the grass simply because it feels good. Others may be scratching an itch, cooling themselves down, or covering their coats with an interesting new scent. Whatever the reason, those joyful rolls are one of the unmistakable signs of a dog having a great day.

Boulder Parks with Grass for Dogs

Boulder offers several green places where dogs and their people can enjoy the outdoors. Visitors should always check posted signs because leash and off-leash rules vary by location.

East Boulder Community Park combines a designated dog park with open turf, walking paths, natural areas, and water access. It is a popular choice for energetic dogs that enjoy plenty of variety during their outdoor adventures.

In North Boulder, Foothills Community Park covers more than 65 acres and includes a popular dog park, multiuse fields, paths, and beautiful foothills scenery. Its open surroundings make it a favorite gathering place for Boulder’s dogs and their humans.

Valmont Dog Park is another popular destination for off-leash play, while Boulder’s neighborhood parks offer grassy spaces for leashed walks and relaxed outdoor time. Local dog lovers can discover additional options in this guide to Boulder’s hidden-gem dog parks.

A Perfect Boulder Dog Day

Today’s happy pup captures everything dogs love about Boulder: soft grass underfoot, fresh mountain air, room to move, and good friends nearby. That joyful expression tells the entire story.

The park is open, the grass feels great, and the other dogs are ready. It is officially time to play.

Sanitas Trail

Locals call the steep west-side climb Boulder’s outdoor StairMaster. Visitors remember the picture: pink-red boulders, a rugged summit marker, and the city spread out below. That scene is Mount Sanitas—pronounced SAN-i-tuhs—and it begins only minutes from downtown Boulder.

The summit reaches approximately 6,863 feet, about 1,300 feet above the city. According to the City of Boulder’s official trail information, the Mount Sanitas Trail runs 1.3 miles and gains 1,323 feet. Connecting it with East Ridge and Sanitas Valley creates a roughly 3.1- to 3.4-mile loop, depending on the chosen connectors.

Most hikers need between 1.5 and 2.5 hours. The trail is short, but the rocky footing, steep steps and deceptive false summits make every mile count.

A Name Built Around Health

Sanitas is Latin for “health,” and the mountain’s name comes from Boulder’s early wellness culture.

The Boulder-Colorado Sanitarium was established on Mapleton Hill in 1895–96 as a branch of Dr. John Harvey Kellogg’s famous Battle Creek Sanitarium. Operated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Boulder facility promoted fresh air, sunshine, exercise, vegetarian food and other natural-health practices.

Patients were encouraged to walk into the foothills, including the mountain that eventually took the sanitarium’s name. Early promotional material reassured visitors that they could reach the summit by taking their time—a generous description of a climb that modern hikers know can be punishing.

The Museum of Boulder’s historical timeline identifies the Colorado Sanitarium as a Kellogg-affiliated institution originally intended to help patients benefit from Boulder’s dry climate and elevation. The former campus later became Boulder Memorial Hospital and the Mapleton medical complex.

During the 1920s, sandstone was quarried from Mount Sanitas’ eastern side and transported for use in buildings on the University of Colorado campus. The wagon road once used by quarry crews eventually became the broad Sanitas Valley Trail.

In 1969, the sanitarium sold more than 200 acres to the City of Boulder for open space. The mountain that once served as a prescribed health walk became one of Boulder’s most popular public workouts.

Why the Rocks Look Different Here

Mount Sanitas is not simply a smaller Flatiron, although its geology is closely related.

Much of the reddish, coarse rock belongs to the Fountain Formation, created from sand, gravel and other material eroded from the Ancestral Rocky Mountains roughly 280 million years ago. Those sediments accumulated in broad alluvial fans before hardening into sandstone and conglomerate.

Nearby layers include the younger Lyons Sandstone, a finer-grained, often pink or salmon-colored rock formed from ancient Permian sand dunes. Much later, the mountain-building event known as the Laramide Orogeny lifted the modern Rockies and sharply tilted these once-horizontal rock beds.

Erosion finished the sculpture. Today, hikers pass stacked boulders, exposed ledges, narrow fins and tilted slabs that make parts of the route feel like a light scramble. East Ridge crosses sandstone ramps and loose red soil, while the main trail climbs through massive blocks positioned directly beside the path.

The mountain’s distinctive stone also attracts climbers, who use several established bouldering areas near the trail. The geology is classic Front Range, but its location practically inside Boulder makes the experience extraordinary.

How to Reach the Trail

The traditional starting point is near the west end of Mapleton Avenue, where Mapleton meets Sunshine Canyon Drive. The Mount Sanitas and Sanitas Valley routes are accessed from the Centennial Trailhead area.

From Pearl Street, the trailhead is a short drive, bike ride or extended walk. From Denver, take U.S. 36 into Boulder, continue north on Broadway, turn west on Mapleton Avenue and follow it toward the foothills.

Parking is limited and fills quickly, especially on weekends. Check posted restrictions carefully and consider arriving early, visiting on a weekday or using another way to reach the trailhead. Before leaving, review current closures and conditions, especially after snowstorms, heavy rain or trail-maintenance work.

Bicycles are not permitted on the summit trails. Dogs are allowed on Mount Sanitas, East Ridge and Sanitas Valley, but leash and Voice and Sight requirements vary by trail section. Dogs are prohibited on Lion’s Lair.

Wear shoes with dependable traction. The main climb includes stone steps, uneven slabs and loose rock. East Ridge requires careful foot placement and may call for occasional use of your hands. In winter, shaded sections can hold packed snow and ice long after Boulder’s streets have dried.

What Waits at the Top

The summit is a compact, uneven collection of rocks rather than a broad alpine platform. The reward is the view: downtown Boulder, CU’s red-roofed campus, the eastern plains, Sunshine Canyon and, on clear days, the Indian Peaks.

Views from Mount Sanitas, Boulder

For a gentler finish, descend East Ridge and return through the wide valley. The contrast between the rocky summit and the open Sanitas Valley landscape makes the complete loop one of Boulder’s signature close-to-town adventures.

Mount Sanitas works because it is steep, historic and geologically loud. Sanitarium patients climbed it for their health. Quarry crews removed stone for CU buildings. Today, it remains the closest place to downtown Boulder where hikers can stand on tilted, ancient sandstone and look directly over the city that grew at its feet.