There’s a reason the editors of Elevation Outdoors Magazine live here: Adventures in food and in field abound.
EAT
A number of world-class chefs have made their way to Boulder, causing Bon Appetite to dub the town the Foodiest in America. The best way to sample as much as possible is to join Boulder County’s Restaurant Week October 8–17 (firstbiteboulder.com). For breakfast, head to The Hill for Alpine Modern Cafe (alpinemodern.com), located in a quaint stone cottage, and dig into any of their Tartine dishes. For lunch, grab a hot sandwich from Snarf’s—also good for brown-bagging on an adventure—(eatsnarfs.com). And for dinner, make reservations at Blackbelly (blackbelly.com).
PLAY
Where to begin? Snow is gathering in the high country, and Boulder’s closest ski area, Eldora (eldora.com, 45 minute drive), is targeting to open mid-November. Still, temperatures in and around town remain mild. Rock climbing and scrambling abounds among the iconic Flatirons, as well as up Boulder and Eldorado Canyons. For hikers, there are a few trail closures of which to be aware of but there are still plenty of open options like the trail to Malory Cave (2.8 mi R/T), Annie U White Trail (3.2 mi R/T), or tag South Boulder Peak (6.5 mi R/T). Mountain bikers can connect Doudy Draw and Marshal Mesa, or grind and flow a series of great trails in Lefthand Canyon below Fairview Peak.
STAY
Boulder is a college town, so with the exception of move-in weekend and Homecoming (Nov. 4–7) lodging options abound. On the high end of the scale is the luxurious St. Julian (stjulien.com)—complete with an on-property spa, restaurant, lounge, and intimate views of the iconic Boulder Flatirons. The Hotel Boulderado (boulderado.com) is a longstanding staple that has served the community since 1909 and is also located downtown with beautiful views of the foothills and on-site dining. Both hotels offer easy access to the popular Pearl Street walking mall, and the shops and restaurants continue to the east and west. For a more in-the-woods feel, the Boulder Adventure Lodge (a-lodge.com) is in Boulder Canyon and gives the closest access to all the adventures up the canyon. This recently remodeled property offers a warm and modern interior with a rustic style exterior and has private rooms or economy hostel-style bunk rooms to suit every budget.
Cover Photo: Boulder’s bear peak is a world-class hike. Photo by Doug Schnitzspahn
