20 Attractions to Explore Near Switzerland Trail

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.

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.

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.

Caribou Ranch Open Space Park is a park located near Nederland. It has over 3.14 miles of trail for recreational visitors. It is open to hikers, horse back riders, and trail runners. Mountain bikes and dogs are not allowed in the park area. This park is connected to Mud Lake Open Space Park by the Caribou Ranch Link. Caribou Ranch is closed April 1 through June 30 to protect spring migratory birds and elk calving and rearing.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lost Gulch Overlook offers a stunning lookout over the forested foothills and mountains beyond. This short stop is common for sunset and sunrise views. The very short trail is also easy and simple for all skill levels. It is one of the most popular places in Boulder, CO for engagement sessions, elopements, and senior portraits.

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.

Flagstaff Mountain is a foothill on the eastern flank of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. From the peak of Flagstaff Mountain one can see Boulder, Metropolitan Denver, and the surrounding mountains. There are hiking and bike trails, picnic areas, the Summit Nature Center, and an outdoor amphitheatre.

Mt. Sanitas, a hike near Boulder CO, offers three different options, from the difficult climb up the mountain, to an easy walk through a peaceful valley. It has high foot traffic and meanders both sides of the ridge leading to the Mount Sanitas summit. The terrain varies from open meadows to rugged boulders and projected rock outcrops.

Mount Audubon is a high mountain summit of the Indian Peaks in the northern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 13,229-foot thirteener is located in the Indian Peaks Wilderness of Roosevelt National Forest, 5.6 miles west-northwest of the Town of Ward in Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The mountain was named in honor of John James Audubon.

The Peoples' Crossing is a park in Colorado located on Pearl Street. The Peoples' Crossing Trailhead provides access to the network of Red Rocks Trails. These trails climb up into ochre-colored sandstone spires and formations. From the summit, you'll have a beautiful view of the city of Boulder below.

The Walker Ranch is a historic ranch in Boulder County, Colorado. The ranch was built by James A. Walker, who first settled in the Boulder area in 1865.Walker and his family initially lived in a log cabin on the ranch, which was built in 1865. In 1881, Walker and his family built and moved to a new ranch house. The ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 as the Walker Ranch Historic District.

This is Colorado’s oldest scenic byway, established in 1918. The route winds 55 miles in and out of national forest lands through some of the state’s most striking mountain landscapes and is very easily accessible from Boulder and Denver. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 8 h 0 min to complete. This is a very popular area for scenic driving, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.

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