We were told the Bear Canyon trail was the most known Boulder beginner hike. We brought our toddlers to do it with us! We went on a weekday and it was not busy. Definitely a kid-friendly hiking experience, but a bit too much on the hills at the end. We ended up carrying them for about 1/3 of the way. Gorgeous views - absolutely beautiful! The pictures I got were only with a smartphone camera. We also saw a mid-size bull snake, a doe, cows, a plethora of birds and butterflies. The bugs were manageable without bug spray. Lots of plant species, flowers, rock specimens and natural landscape to observe if you're into natural history. A few little streams along the trail, and several shady spots to take a water break. We did not see public restrooms or a place to get maps of the trail prior. We were able to download it to our phone before coming. Overall, an easy hike without kids and better suited for kids 6+ if you are doing the whole loop.

I LOVE CHAUTAUQUA PARK!!! I come to Chautauqua park a few times a month to either meet friends in the park or hike-it’s truly is a gorgeous place, and it always puts me in a good mood close to nature. I believe the statistic says that Chautauqua park is frequented more often than The Rocky Mountain National Park (which is about 40 min from Chautauqua in Estes). But if you are visiting the Boulder/Denver area, you should visit both, as they are both breathtaking and overall amazing places. Chautauqua is perfect for a family adventure, with friends, pretty much it’s perfect for any person who loves nature, mountains, and a great view! Sometimes I just grab a coffee and hike up the first part of the Chautauqua main trail. It can be pretty busy on weekends and holidays, so beware. The parking is good though, you just might have to walk a bit to get to the entrance if it’s a weekend-and most parking spaces nearby do make you pay. I also often bring my Alaskan Malamute, as it’s a dog-friendly trail, and she loves it! You won’t regret visiting this spectacular Boulder landmark, the flat irons are truly a sight to see and worth the trip!

I'm a creative based out of Denver and this is one of my favorite locations to shoot proposals in. The park is always clean and the views are unmatched. I really like how you can go easy or really advanced on the hiking trails. If you are looking for a great hike or something to do while in Boulder this is perfect for that. If you are someone looking to ask another person the most important question in your life this is a place I fully can recommend and it won't disappoint. Make sure you go at sunrise or sunset to avoid large crowds of people as the park is amazing and a lot of people like to go during certain times. -Lemar

Gorgeous place for a hike! Or just to kick back, relax and be close to nature. And, of course snap some incredible pictures. Absolutely, a don't miss while visiting the area. Parking seems to be a little bit of a challenge, but definitely worth it.

Our group of 4 did the route up to Royal Arch in the middle of April. This was a slightly technical hike, with a few spots you need to scramble up or down rocks to continue up the trail. We were happy to be in hiking boots and using trekking poles, but plenty of folks on the trail were in sneakers and not using poles, so it's fine for a casual outing. Some spots are a little slippery, but caution is all that's needed. This hike is beautiful from start to finish! We started in the meadow, then the landscape shifted to evergreen woods with ample stone formations, interesting lichens, local spring ephemeral wildflowers, and underbrush growing in. We didn't see many bird varieties beyond a few magpies, but we did spot some mule deer, and most importantly, a Colorado chipmunk! There was still snow on the ground in places. The arch itself is breathtaking, offering a sweeping vista that looks out across Boulder, with a great view of CU. Well worth the effort!

Beautiful park with access to hikes with great views of the flatirons and Royal Arch! Plenty of fun spaces and open fields for kids to play in as well! Gift shop/coffee shop is cute and reasonably priced as well.

The hiking here is fantastic and has easy to challenging terrain, beautiful flowers, and grand views. We arrived early on a cool morning and grabbed the last close-in parking spot ($2.50/hr -- There is a free shuttle and parking though.) Remember to bring a picnic lunch, sufficient water, sun screen and a bear whistle. Yes, bears are seen occasionally 🐻. After your hike, you will want to pull a blanket out of your car and sit under the trees until your parking expires to soak up every last moment of mountain sunshine. Be alert to your watch however because City of Boulder parking cops walk around continuously checking license plates for violators. It's a popular park and there is a steady stream of cars looking to grab your spot when you leave. We found 3 hours allows for a good hike and picnic/rest time. Enjoy!

Stopped here for a hike and a picnic lunch. Parking was difficult as there was a wedding and a CU football home game in town. We were happy to find that there were a couple electric vehicle chargers on-site. Great water station and facility for the pups too!

Chautauqua Park is an amazing place to visit if you are in the Boulder Area. The view is absolutely amazing and the trails are a great place to hike and get some exercise. Be warned, the trails are quite a climb, but the climb is gradual. This park is a must-see if you’re in the area. If you don’t want to walk the trails or climb, it’s still a great place to visit to enjoy an incredible view.

loved hiking here when we lived in boulder now any chance we get to go hiking here we always make time to go on a trail whether its short or long hike. for anyone not experienced with this area don't get discouraged the first part does suck but the rest of it is amazing and worth going. push through the first little stint that looks like a road once you get to actual trails you wont regret it. hopefully all the trails are open next trip up. as we really wanted to go to the arch.

Awesome place. Looking forward to coming back on many more hikes. There’s a number of trails to take of different difficulty levels, and there’s a regular park area as well with a ton of amenities. Crowded on weekends so plan ahead, but we were able to find free parking on the street a few blocks away. A must visit in Boulder!

Is breathe taking boulder mountain. Today was a perfect day for the hike to the Royal Arch..Took a bunch of pictures and talked to a bunch of nice people along the way. Well, we took our time snack, enjoy nature and pictures. Is a steep hike, but everyone can do it. Do suggest a pair of good hiking shoes because the trail is rocky. We felt like coming down hill a lot of impact on the feet. Bring a good amount of water or some hydration pack, and protein drinks are a good start. We also brought coconut water.

Great hiking and plenty of options. The trails are labeled for difficulty and the overlap so it’s easy to change. Not super difficult and a decent amount of shade and breezes. Pretty views overlooking the city as well as the mountains.

Third time at this park and hiking the Royal Arch Trail. Always a great hike that’s challenging but not too difficult. Wasn’t overly crowded at all for a beautiful Saturday morning (went on Sept. 9th, 2023).

This Is a National Historic site. Beautiful open space for hiking the iconic Flat Irons. There are cabins to rent, a theater, a restaurant, a quaint store, a playground and a flower garden. This is a great place to reconnect with nature and the outdoors. Leave the stress of life behind....

Can't beat the view from here! My daughter has physical limitations, so the nice wide flat trails offered her some ease. We didn't hike far but did enjoy the park area where we also got ice cream at the general store that had ramp access as well as at the Ranger station. At the general store, I found the most delicious GF chocolate zucchini bread I've ever had! It's a beautiful park and would love to have spent more time here but it was a very hot day. The Dining Hall has indoor and outdoor seating. It looked nice but didn't stay long enough to enjoy. Parking is free, but it was busy, so very limited.

Good sized park with several hiking trails. Full sun, and it was 85, so it was very hot. Parking is very limited, had to loop a few times to get a spot and if someone wanting to park sees you walk to your car, they will sit and stare at you and make you feel like you need to hurry up and get out. College kid town so lots of kids running around. Grassy park across from the hiking areas. Water fountain/ bottle filler wasn't working. There were several families there getting family photos taken. We just did a short walk on the hike side and then walked around the grassy area. Not a lot of shorter trail options.