20 Attractions to Explore Near Caribou Ranch Open Space

This beautiful and risky trailhead provides access to eight miles of singletrack trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding west of the Peak-to-Peak Highway south of Nederland. Exploring Magnolia is the best way to discover the hidden gems that exist with in this section of the Roosevelt National Forest.

Arapaho Glacier Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Nederland, Colorado. It leads northward from the Rainbow Lakes Trailhead and enters the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Climbing through the woods for about two miles, the trail exits onto the open tundra with a fine view into the City of Boulder Watershed.

Eldora Mountain is a locals’ favorite for snowboarding in northern Colorado. It’s large enough to enjoy different runs all day and has a surprisingly good mix of skiable terrain. The summit of the area is at 10,600 feet above sea level on Bryan Mountain, with a 1200-foot lift-served vertical drop. The slopes face primarily north and east. In addition to alpine skiing, the Eldora Nordic Center also includes 40 km of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails

The Peak to Peak Scenic Byway is one of the most beautiful drives through Colorado. it begins as state highway 7 in Estes Park, brings you past the tiny town of Allenspark on state highway 72, then heads to Nederland. This scenic drive is beautiful year-round, but it’s especially popular in the fall, when the mountains burst into life with the shimmering golden leaves of the changing aspen trees.

The Switzerland Trail is an old railroad grade that zigzags across the mountains of Boulder County.Begin your adventure at either end. In the south, the trail starts below the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain off the road of the same name. From here it winds along a relatively level grade, gradually descending to Fourmile Canyon Drive, along Fourmile Creek. Regardless, the trail is popular with mountain bikers, ATVs and 4X4s, so whatever your mode of travel, be considerate of other trail users.

This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and horseback riding, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. It is around 17.7-km out. It is generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 49 min to complete.

Lost Lake is an accessible 4-mile round-trip hike to a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by the mountains of Indian Peaks. The trail up to lost lake takes you along the course of Middle Boulder Creek, a slide waterfall, a set of tumbling cascades, and a variety of wildflowers that decorate the borders of the trail, the creeksides, and the small meadows that open up along the trail.

Boulder Falls is a stunning waterfall that makes a perfect day hike for those around the Denver Metro. Boulder Falls is a stunning waterfall that makes a perfect day hike for those around the Denver Metro.

The Arapaho National Forest was established by Theodore Roosevelt on July 1, 1908. The Roosevelt National Forest, originally part of the Medicine Bow Forest Reserve, was first named the Colorado National Forest in 1910 and was renamed by President Herbert Hoover to honor President Theodore Roosevelt in 1932. The Pawnee National Grassland was transferred to the Forest Service from the Soil Conservation Service in 1954. It was designated a national grassland in 1960.

The Brainard Lake Recreation Area is the most popular destination on the Boulder Ranger District. Because of the area's high elevation, the best time to visit is after the snow melts in July and August.

Brainard Lake is surrounded by subalpine forest set in a glacially-carved valley. The peaks of the Continental Divide loom to the west. Its Recreation Area is uniquely set in a glacially carved valley offering visitors spectacular panoramic views of Brainard Lake, surrounding subalpine forest, and high peaks along the Continental Divide.

South Arapaho Peak is in the Indian Peaks Wilderness in the northern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. It also holds claim to being the highest summit on the Continental Divide north of Denver. The easier of the two climbs is certainly South Arapaho Peak, which has the added bonus of getting better views of the glacier and North Arapaho Peak. There are several ways to summit South Arapaho Peak, but the longest route and arguably the most scenic is the Arapaho Glacier.

North Arapaho Peak is the highest mountain in the IPW and highest mountain on the Continental Divide north of Denver. The 13,508-foot thirteener is located in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, 7.8 miles west-southwest of the Town of Ward, Colorado, United States, on the Continental Divide separating Roosevelt National Forest and Boulder County from Arapaho National Forest and Grand County. This impressive collection of jagged peaks includes 35 named peaks.

Isabelle Glacier is an alpine glacier located .25 mi southwest of Shoshoni Peak. This trail is best attempted July through September. Snow-packed conditions can exist during the remaining months of the year.The short hike to Lake Isabelle is one of the area's most popular, however crowds thin on the rugged trek up-valley to its glacial origin.

Lake Isabelle is located 2.1 miles from Long Lake Trailhead in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area of the Indian Peaks Wilderness.Once at Isabelle the hike around the lake includes a bit of bouldering and goat-skills, but the experience is just as wonderful from the initial entry.

Thorodin Mountain is located inside Golden Gate Canyon SP and within Roosevelt National Forest. This is only a class-2 hike and a short one at that.From the summit of Thorodin Mountain, descend to the northeast, skirting a 10,520 foot false summit of Thorodin Mountain to its east side. Continue heading northeast to the saddle between Starr Peak and Thorodin Mountain's northeastern false summit. From the saddle, ascend to the northeast to the summit of Starr Peak.

This 2.5 mile loop hike in Golden Gate Canyon State Park has lots of shade, panoramic views of snowcapped peaks, wildflowers, and trickling brooks. The trail eases on a service road lined by notably tall aspen and a bright collection of wildflowers. The narrow valley through which you're passing opens upon reaching a sparingly marked access road-trail for Reverend's Ridge Campground.

Mitchell Lake is a beautiful lake located .9 miles from Mitchell Lake Trailhead in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. It occupies a broad, damp flat on Mt Audubon's south flank. Mild trail conditions are well-suited for families, winter recreation and those with limited time or abilities. It offers good views of surrounding peaks, abundant wildflowers, excellent fishing, and numerous outlying ponds to explore.

Devils Thumb Lake is located in Indian Peaks Wilderness north of Boulder Colorado.This slender 11-acre lake is hemmed by the north valley wall and bound by krummholz near the outlet, but opens along the south and west shores to big, level meadows under the Continental Divide. It was surrounded by Wildflowers, alpine meadows, small waterfalls, and cascades all beckon those who have the stamina to explore these heights in the Front Range near Denver.

Gross Reservoir, located in Boulder County, Colorado, is owned and operated by Denver Water. Completed in 1954, the reservoir has a surface area of 440 acres, and the spillway sits at 7,225 feet elevation.The reservoir receives water from the western side of the Continental Divide through the Moffat Tunnel. South Boulder Creek flows out of the 340 foot-high dam.