Boulder is a beautiful city nestled at the base of Colorado's Rocky Mountains, just 30 minutes northwest of Denver. It is located at an elevation of 5,430 feet and has a population of about 102,000 people, including about 25,000 CU-Boulder students.

Boulder boasts some of the best weather in the country, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year. While Colorado gets its share of snow and cold, foot-deep snowfalls are often followed by 60-degree days here. Most of Colorado’s snow stays in the mountains, creating opportunities for world-class skiing nearby.

For the outdoor enthusiast, Boulder is nirvana. There are more than 300 miles of hiking trails in the area and more than 45,000 acres of open space owned by local governments—not to mention the vast national forest lands. Outdoor activities include hiking, biking, rock climbing, fishing, kayaking, skiing and snowboarding.

The Boulder Creek Path is only part of a large network of paved bike paths and multi-use trails that allow bikers to ride safely all over town without having to compete with automobile traffic.

Eldora Ski Area is the closest place for downhill skiing, at only 45 minutes away.

Wildlife abounds here. It is not unusual to see deer, elk and moose. Occasionally, even a bear or mountain lion will be spotted in town, although they generally stay in the wild areas to Boulder’s west. From bighorn sheep to pikas and marmots, the Boulder area has an incredible variety of wildlife for you to enjoy.

 

Boulder is home to some of the world's top runners, cyclists, mountain bikers and rock climbers, because of world-class destinations like these:

  • Eldorado Canyon State Park, just south of town, more than 500 technical rock-climbing routes that attract climbers from around the world.
  • Chautauqua Park is at the base of the iconic Flatiron rock formation and serves as the trailhead for many routes into the nearby foothills.
  • Valmont Bike Park is a mountain bike park with terrain that challenges all skill levels. It is also host to national cyclocross events.

For people-watching, there are few places on earth like the Pearl Street Mall. Not only can you find excellent shopping and amazing restaurants, but on every block of this outdoor walking mall, you can find street performers to entertain you with music, performances or art. The Mall also hosts festivals, art shows and other community events year-round.

Read some fun Boulder trivia to discover more interesting facts about the town CU calls home.