My wife and I are going to Boulder for a long weekend.
Does anyone have any suggestions on 1/2 (to 3/4) day outside activities to do? We like to hike, but I am not sure where might be best. I am thinking doing a 14er might not be possible in a day. I see all different places to hike. We would not be doing any running, swiming, or biking.
Thank you.
There is some really good hiking right in Boulder. The South Mesa trail system has quite a bit of trails. The climb up shadow canyon to South Boulder Peak and/or Bear Peak is a nice hike with some pretty good views.
http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3035&Itemid=1035
this weekend?
No, mid Sept.
Longs Peak is a 14er easily accessible from Boulder that you could do in a day. Weather will govern whether it is safe in mid-Sept.
For hiking, try Chataqua Park–zillions of trails here, and a ranger station with really helpful staff where you can get info about hikes, as well as maps.
Stay and hike in Chautauqua, it’s very beautiful and quiet, but within a few minutes of everything in town.
Longs Peak is a 14er easily accessible from Boulder that you could do in a day. Weather will govern whether it is safe in mid-Sept.
Why do people recommend Longs so quickly? It’s actually one of the hardest 14ers in the state, it’s long and it’s got some serious exposure in some sections. There is some mild scrambling involved as well. It is not just a walk.
If you want to do a 14er and haven’t done a lot of hiking at altitude recently try Mt. Bierstadt.
Longs Peak is a 14er easily accessible from Boulder that you could do in a day. Weather will govern whether it is safe in mid-Sept.
Why do people recommend Longs so quickly? It’s actually one of the hardest 14ers in the state, it’s long and it’s got some serious exposure in some sections. There is some mild scrambling involved as well. It is not just a walk.
If you want to do a 14er and haven’t done a lot of hiking at altitude recently try Mt. Bierstadt.
Kind of wondering the same, there is a reason people die up there every year. I also wouldn’t put it in 1/2 day category the op listed as a requirement.
When I climb longs I start driving around 1:30AM from Boulder. By 3:00 AM there could be 100 cars in the parking lot and you get stuck behind all of those people on the narrows and trough with loose rocks bouncing down on you. I climb pretty fast (running sections) and it is around 7 hours round trip. It’s a very long hike and by looking at these pics isn’t really a ‘beginner’ peak. This is the easiest route.
Narrows (look closely at the people). That’s a 1000’ drop.
Trough
Homestretch
Exactly!
JW04, you said in pictures (quite well) what I was trying to allude to. I’ve done it twice and enjoyed it immensely but it is not an easy day!
hang out at the park with the train and get high with all the local kids
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Why do people recommend Longs so quickly? It’s actually one of the hardest 14ers in the state, it’s long and it’s got some serious exposure in some sections. There is some mild scrambling involved as well. It is not just a walk.
And here I was going to recommend a route on the Diamond.
Spot on, You cannot just go for a walk up especially if you are from out of state and not conditioned. Lot’s of shit happens when you least expect it.
I have climbed Long’s over 20’s , we usually start betweew 2:00 & 2:30am, I can tell you all the different weather conditions, and turning around to see another day.
Respect the mountain and she will respect you
It’s called the casual route. It can’t be that hard can it? 
Get an early start and drive up to Brainard Lake and then hike to Lake Isabelle. Stop in Nederland afterward for a late lunch (if you don’t take a picnic).
That’s the best one yet. Very nice up there.
Looks fun. The keyhole route is grade 2, class 3 - 15 miles, 5000 ft elevation. Exposed to west wind. The narrows is a bit gnarly, but not too bad. Still I agree, it’s not a half-day hike for anyone not used to dealing with exposure. That chock stone in the narrows is tricky. Crowds and too many goobers are what make it dangerous.
You mean there is no solitude on that mountain? What do you do when you get to the top, is there a back way of getting down, particularly if you don’t want to fight the crowds?
No, you got to come down the same way,
Back in the day, when you got caught in a storm, we would go underneath the rocks on top, a small cave, smoke a few bowls and then come down oblivious to the idiots on a day hike.
Glacier Shades all the way
Banjo Billies Bus Ride - Done