Tips for tackling Boulder’s favorite hike: Chautauqua Park

Boulder is a super fun place to go with a variety of things to do! A favorite activity of locals & tourists alike is Chautauqua Park — and for good reason. The area offers trails for every level of hiker, picturesque views and is dog friendly! It’s a must when visiting Boulder but you won’t be alone, so here are tips for tackling Boulder’s favorite hike!

Parking

Let’s get the least fun part of this experience out of the way: parking. Do not park in the lot by the entrance to the park! This park is constantly packed with people so unless you get lucky that day, you’ll just be wasting time searching for a parking spot that may never open up. Instead, there are tons of streets with surprisingly close parking. Download the ParkMobile App and fill out your car and payment information before you go. This is how you’ll pay for parking on the street and will save you a few extra minutes – everything counts!

Hit the right trails

Easy

Chautauqua Trail is a feeder trail into the others offered in the area. It’s at the base of the Flat Irons and offers a beautiful view as you walk, bike or run the 1.2 miles.

Dog friendly? Yes! Must be leashed.

Moderate

Take it up a notch on the Flat Iron Loop! This 2.7-mile trail becomes rocky towards the end so be sure to bring the appropriate hiking gear, especially in the colder months!

Dog friendly? Yes! Must be leashed.

Difficult

If you’re looking to break a sweat, Royal Arch Trail is the way to go. Being 3.1 miles long and an elevation gain of 1,400 feet, you’re sure to earn the ice cream waiting for you down on Pearl Street! The unique part about Royal Arch that makes it a fan favorite is that you are literally hiking your way up the Flat Irons themselves. So be ready to climb (sometimes hands + knees) up jagged boulders. Trust me, the view at the top is worth every step!

Dog friendly? Yes! Must be leashed.

If you’re looking for more of a walk than a hike, check out the Enchanted Mesa and McClintock Nature Trails. This 1.9 mile loop gives you mild elevation change and river views along the way!
Dog friendly? Because of the extensive nature and wildlife on the route, your pups are going to have to stay behind.

Use All Trails app to know the distance

Use the All Trails app to help navigate your way through the many options throughout the park! The app can give you your exact location on a trail and tell you how far you have left to go. It’s also a great planning tool, so you can estimate your time on each leg or throughout the day. All Trails provides photos, distances, elevation changes and other details (like kid or dog friendly) so you can be sure that your time & energy is spent how you want it!

Pack Snacks

If you’re determined to make it to the top or just want a light hike, there are plenty of places to stop and enjoy a meal on your way. Royal Arch Trail – which takes you to the top of the Flat Irons – ends with some boulders (hehe) to sit & snack on while overlooking the breathtaking view. Trust me, you’ll definitely want to stop and appreciate all of the hard work you put in to get up there and replenishing with a snack will help you on the way back down! If you decide to stop further down, there are a few tables along the trail!

Protect yourself from the sun

Sunscreen is becoming a bigger topic these days (thankfully!) but don’t forget that you’re at higher altitudes, which means you’re more easily able to burn. On top of that, you’ll be sweating a lot of your sunscreen off on the way up. If you don’t want to carry a full tube, head to the travel section of your favorite department store (hey Target). You can find some travel-sized sunscreen with a carabiner that makes it easy to attach to your bags or dog’s leash! Super handy!

I also suggest bringing a hat for double protection. With bucket hats back in fashion (or, if you’re like me, never going out of style), I chose one from Amazon! It gave me all over protection while also looking cute.

Prep your pup with a leash & portable dog dish!

You won’t need to leave your fur babies behind for this trip! Just make sure to bring a hiking-friendly leash and pack a portable dog dish. I love the Arcadia Trails brand from PetSmart. They have glow-in-the-dark collars, collapsible bowls, and treat bags that attach to your dogs harness!

As always, thanks for checking out my tips for tackling Boulder’s favorite hike: Chautauqua Park! If you’re spending a few days in Colorado, be sure to visit Westminster, which is just a short drive from Boulder and Denver!

If you have any questions feel free to drop a comment below!

Xoxo,
Gina