Secrets to Spot on Boulder’s Trails

Hey Boulder! 🌞

You know those hikes that end with “Whoa, did that really just happen?” Boulder’s full of them. With 155 miles of trails (and more just outside city limits), it’s not just about the views — it’s also about the surprises along the way.

Want more local recs? Check out our Things to Do in Boulder, Best Restaurants, and Date-Worthy Spots for even more ideas.

— The What’s Happenin’ Boulder Team 😉

🧠 Trivia Time

👉 Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for the answer 🌳

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Secrets to Spot on Boulder’s Trails

From prehistoric plants to mountaintop ladybug parties, these five hidden gems make Boulder’s trails even more magical. Go chase ’em down (respectfully, of course).

🌿 1. A Forest Stuck in the Ice Age

Boulder’s Long Canyon Trail is one of the only places in Colorado where paper birch trees — survivors from the last Ice Age — still grow. These ghost-white beauties are joined by rare orchids, wild sarsaparilla, and plants with names like “carrion flower” (don’t sniff that one too hard).

• 📍Trailhead: Realization Point

• 🥾Difficulty: Easy

• 🧭 Pro tip: Head toward Green Mountain Lodge, then keep an eye out for birch signage.

⚠️ This is a fragile ecosystem — please stay on the trail and admire with your eyeballs, not your footprints.

🪨 2. Boulder’s Rockiest Living Room

Someone dragged a bunch of sandstone slabs into a chill little hangout spot on the Woods Quarry Trail, and we’re not mad about it. These “furniture rocks” offer perfect spots to snack, sip, and soak in the views of CU’s red rooftops, Boulder Reservoir, and even the Denver skyline.

• 📍Trailhead: Chautauqua

• 🥾Difficulty: Moderate

• 🍷 Optional: Pack a classy picnic and pretend you’re at Red Rocks VIP.

🐞 3. A Mountaintop Ladybug Party

Every late summer or early fall, thousands of ladybugs swarm the summit of Green Mountain like they’ve got somewhere to be. No one knows exactly why, but they absolutely cover the rocks and tree trunks. Bring your camera — and your curiosity.

• 📍Trailhead: Gregory Canyon

• 🥾Difficulty: Advanced

• 🧭 Best route: Gregory Canyon Trail > Ranger Trail > Summit (or take E.M. Greenman Trail for an alternate way up).

🏨 4. Ruins of a Ghost Hotel

Hike the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail and boom — out of nowhere, you’ll find a crumbled 1900s hotel in the middle of the woods. The Crags Hotel once hosted well-heeled travelers via mountain railway, but it burned down mysteriously in 1912. Now, all that’s left are stone walls, chimneys, and vibes.

• 📍Trailhead: Fowler Trail (Eldorado Canyon State Park)

• 🥾Difficulty: Moderate

• 💵 Note: Entry fee required + timed-entry reservations needed on weekends/holidays (unless you take the free Eldo Shuttle!).

👣 5. A Hike That Makes You Slow Down (Literally)

The Sensory Trail is short, sweet, and surprisingly powerful. Designed for people with vision impairments (with Braille signage along the path), it encourages you to close your eyes and let your other senses take over — from touching bark to identifying birdsong to reflecting on loved ones. Bring a buddy and guide each other through.

• 📍Trailhead: Realization Point

• 🥾Difficulty: Easy

• 🧠 It’s a reset button for your brain. Highly recommended.

🎶 What’s Happenin’ Boulder 🎭

Want more? See the full calendar → Boulder Event Calendar

🌄 Weekend Hiking Vibes

Whether you’re bug-hunting, ruin-exploring, or blindfold-walking your way through Boulder’s trails, remember: nature rewards the curious. And it’s even better when you pack sunscreen, water, and a sense of wonder.

Got a favorite hidden gem on a Boulder trail? Hit reply and tell us. We might just include it in a future issue.

👟 See ya on the trail!

— The What’s Happenin’ Boulder team

Trivia Answer: B) Paper Birch 🌳

These ancient trees are Ice Age relics, and Long Canyon is one of the only places in Colorado where they still grow today. Keep your eyes peeled for their smooth, pale bark along the trail!

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