Outdoor Family Activities in Boulder

For a range of outdoor family fun, Boulder, Colorado, is one of the premier choices. Situated 25 miles to the north of Denver at an elevation of 5,400 feet, the area boasts rivers, creeks, hiking trails and wildlife perfect for outdoor adventure. Whether you and your family are just visiting or considering moving to Boulder, you won't have any trouble finding activities to do in the fresh air of the Rocky Mountains.

  1. Guided Tours

    • Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides (coloradowildernessridesandguides.com) is a one-stop place for all kinds of outdoor tours and adventures. It provides guided backpacking trips, biking tours, fly-fishing excursions, snowshoeing and skiing trips, rock climbing, rafting, horseback riding, educational sightseeing tours and hiking trips. Training courses also are available for several activities. Boulder Outdoor Center (boc123.com) provides many guided tours, including kayaking, hot air balloon rides, canoeing, stand-up paddle instruction, zip-line tours and horseback trail riding.

    Water Fun

    • The city of Boulder (bouldercolorado.gov) operates and maintains two outdoor pools. Scott Carpenter Pool (no website; 1505 30th St.; 303-441-3427) is a 50-meter pool with a diving board and slide. pruce Pool (no website; 2102 Spruce St.; 303-441-3426) has a few more options for families providing a leisure pool, lawn area and a picnic area. For a more adventurous water activity, try a whitewater tubing trip. Colorado Water Sport (whitewatertubing.com) is an excellent resource for renting equipment and helping you find the good tubing spots.

    Parks

    • Several dozen parks are in the area of Boulder that would be an enjoyable setting for a family outing. East Boulder Community Park (no website; 5660 Sioux Drive; 303-413-7200) features a playground, sports fields, a lake for nonmotorized boating and a demonstration garden. Foothills Community Park (no website; 800 Cherry Ave.; 303-413-7200) also offers playgrounds and open space along with picnic shelters and hiking trails. Harlow Platts Community Park (no website; 360 Gillaspie Drive; 303-413-7200) provides fishing, volleyball, soccer fields, picnic areas and a walking path around Viele Lake.

    Downtown

    • Downtown Boulder (boulderdowntown.com) boasts several family oriented events and activities during the warm months. A train gives free rides for kids and adults. It runs through the Pearl Street Outdoor Mall. Also in the downtown area are water fountains to play in, animal statues and big rocks for climbing. Boulder Creek runs through downtown and is open for swimming, canoeing and kayaking. Many special events take place downtown, including the Boulder Creek Festival on Memorial Day weekend.

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