Biking in Boulder
Boulder is one of the country's great cycling towns, with three ways to ride: a flat paved path network centered on the Boulder Creek Path, mountain-bike singletrack at spots like Betasso Preserve, Valmont Bike Park, and Marshall Mesa, and legendary road climbs up Flagstaff Mountain, Boulder Canyon, and the Peak to Peak Highway.
Outdoor Boulder › Biking in Boulder
Where to bike in Boulder at a glance
Boulder riding falls into three buckets: paved paths for easy miles and commuting, dirt singletrack for mountain biking, and the canyon and mountain roads that made this a bucket-list town for road cyclists. Here's the short list.
| Ride | Type | Good for | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder Creek Path | Paths | Families, commuters, easy cruising | The flat, paved spine that follows Boulder Creek straight through the middle of town. |
| City multi-use path network | Paths | Car-free travel across town | Connected paved paths link neighborhoods, the CU campus, and parks, with a 15 mph limit. |
| Valmont Bike Park | Mountain | All levels, families, skills practice | A 42-acre city bike park with pump tracks, jump lines, dirt jumps, and cyclocross loops. |
| Betasso Preserve | Mountain | Intermediate mountain bikers | A flowy foothills loop close to town; note bikes are off the trails Wednesdays and Saturdays. |
| Marshall Mesa & Community Ditch | Mountain | Beginner to intermediate MTB | Rolling, open mesa trails on the south side, part of OSMP's bike-legal network. |
| Doudy Draw & Flatirons Vista | Mountain | Longer cross-country loops | Bike-legal OSMP trails that connect into big rides like the 10.4-mile Doudy Draw Double Lollipop. |
| Boulder Valley Ranch | Mountain | Easy dirt riding | Gentle gravel ranch roads and mesa trails north of town, open to bikes. |
| West Magnolia (Nederland) | Mountain | Riding singletrack in the trees | A web of National Forest singletrack just south of Nederland, cooler and shadier in summer. |
| Flagstaff Mountain | Road | Strong road cyclists | Boulder's signature road climb: steep switchbacks that start right at the edge of town. |
| Boulder Canyon (Hwy 119) | Road | Canyon riding up to Nederland | A steady canyon grade climbing alongside Boulder Creek toward Nederland. |
| Lefthand Canyon | Road | Long, scenic canyon efforts | A gradual canyon that keeps climbing toward Ward and the Peak to Peak Highway. |
| Peak to Peak Highway | Road | Big scenic mountain days | Colorado's oldest scenic byway, a rolling 55-mile high-country route along the Continental Divide. |
Guides to the Boulder Creek Path, Betasso Preserve, and the Nederland trails are being added as their pages go live.
The path network: easy, paved, and car-free
The easiest way to ride in Boulder is on the paved paths, and the Boulder Creek Path is the one everybody knows. It runs along Boulder Creek through the middle of town, flat and mostly separated from traffic, and it plugs into the city's larger multi-use path network that reaches neighborhoods, the University of Colorado campus, and parks. It's the route of choice for families, commuters, and anyone who just wants a relaxed spin without a car anywhere near them.
These are shared paths, so the City of Boulder asks everyone to ride the same way: a 15 mph speed limit, keep right and pass on the left with an audible signal, keep dogs leashed, and run a headlight or reflectors after dark. Slow down in the busy stretches downtown and near campus, where walkers, strollers, and other riders are all sharing the same pavement.
Mountain biking, and where bikes are actually allowed
Here's the thing visitors get wrong: you can't mountain bike just anywhere in Boulder. On the city's Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) system, only about 58 miles of trail are designated for bikes, and you may only ride trails posted with the international bicycle symbol. A lot of the most famous OSMP terrain, including much of the Flatirons and Chautauqua area, is hiker-only. Check the sign at the trailhead before you drop in.
Good bike-legal dirt is easy to find once you know where to look. Betasso Preserve, in the foothills up Boulder Canyon, is the classic close-to-town singletrack loop, though bikes are prohibited there on Wednesdays and Saturdays and riders follow a set direction on the loop (clockwise), so time your visit and check the current rules. On the south side, the Marshall Mesa, Community Ditch, Doudy Draw, and Flatirons Vista trails link together into rolling cross-country rides (the Doudy Draw Double Lollipop Loop alone is 10.4 miles). North of town, Boulder Valley Ranch offers gentle gravel ranch roads that are friendly to newer riders.
When the valley gets hot, riders head uphill to West Magnolia, a web of U.S. Forest Service singletrack in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest just south of Nederland. It sits higher and shadier, with a mellow, twisty character that's forgiving for intermediate riders.
Road cycling: the climbs Boulder is famous for
Boulder is a bucket-list town for road cyclists, and the reason is the wall of foothills right at the edge of town. Flagstaff Mountain is the signature climb: a steep, switchbacking road that starts almost in the neighborhoods and pitches up hard the whole way. It's the hometown test piece and has featured in professional racing.
From there the canyons open up. Boulder Canyon (Highway 119) is a steadier grade that climbs alongside the creek up to Nederland. Lefthand Canyon is a long, gradual drainage that keeps going toward the mountain town of Ward and links up to the high country. And the Peak to Peak Highway, Colorado's oldest scenic byway (established in 1918), rolls for 55 miles along the Continental Divide, the setting for many of the biggest days riders string together up here. Canyon roads are shared with cars and can be narrow, so ride single file where posted, use lights, and be predictable.
The bike park: Valmont
If you'd rather session features than grind out miles, Valmont Bike Park is a 42-acre, natural-surface cycling park on Airport Road, built by the City of Boulder specifically for riding. It packs in pump tracks, dirt jumps, slopestyle and jump lines, cyclocross loops, and beginner-friendly terrain, so it works for a first-timer and an expert on the same afternoon. It's free and open daily from dawn to dusk, as long as the weather and trail conditions cooperate. Riding it when it's wet damages the trails, so check conditions before you go.
Rules and etiquette worth knowing
A few things keep you legal and keep the trails open. On paved paths, hold to 15 mph and yield to people on foot. On dirt, ride only where bikes are posted, respect the Betasso closure days (Wednesdays and Saturdays) and any set ride direction, and never ride muddy trails, which is how ruts and closures start. E-bikes have their own rules: they're allowed on some open space trails but not others, and they're prohibited on Boulder County trails like Betasso, so check before you bring one. Yield to horses and uphill traffic, call out your passes, and pack water and a layer, because Boulder's sun and altitude are stronger than they look.
Biking in Boulder: FAQ
What are the best bike paths in Boulder?
The Boulder Creek Path is the centerpiece: a flat, paved route that runs along Boulder Creek through the heart of town and ties into the city's wider multi-use path network for car-free riding. These shared paths have a 15 mph speed limit, ask riders to keep right and pass on the left, require lights or reflectors after dark, and expect dogs to stay leashed.
Where can I mountain bike in Boulder?
For singletrack, head to Betasso Preserve in the foothills (bikes are prohibited Wednesdays and Saturdays), the Marshall Mesa and Doudy Draw areas on the south side, and the gentler ranch trails at Boulder Valley Ranch to the north. Valmont Bike Park is a 42-acre city park built specifically for riding, and West Magnolia, a Forest Service singletrack network near Nederland, is a favorite when you want trees and cooler air.
Are bikes allowed on all OSMP trails in Boulder?
No. About 58 miles of trails on Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks are designated for bikes, and you may only ride trails posted with the international bicycle symbol. Many popular OSMP trails, including much of the Flatirons and Chautauqua area, are hiker-only. Always check the trailhead sign or map before you ride.
What are the best road climbs near Boulder?
Flagstaff Mountain is the classic, a steep switchbacking climb that begins right at the western edge of town. Boulder Canyon (Highway 119) offers a steadier grade up to Nederland, Lefthand Canyon is a long, gradual canyon toward Ward, and the Peak to Peak Highway strings together high-country miles along the Continental Divide.
Is there a bike park in Boulder?
Yes. Valmont Bike Park is a free, 42-acre natural-surface cycling park on Airport Road, open daily from dawn to dusk as weather and trail conditions allow. It has terrain for every level, from beginner pump tracks to advanced jump lines and cyclocross loops.
Recommended nearby
[CLIENT SLOT: featured Boulder bike shop]
[One honest line: tune-ups, parts, and local trail advice before you ride.]
[CLIENT SLOT: bike rental]
[One honest line: road, mountain, or e-bike rentals for visitors.]
[CLIENT SLOT: guided rides & tours]
[One honest line: guided road climbs or mountain-bike days with a local.]
Sources
Trail rules, mileage, and facts on this page are drawn from these authoritative sources:
- City of Boulder OSMP: Biking on OSMP (58 bike-legal miles; bike-symbol rule; Doudy Draw loops)
- City of Boulder: Multi-Use Paths (path etiquette and 15 mph limit)
- City of Boulder: Valmont Bike Park (42 acres; hours)
- Boulder County Parks & Open Space: Betasso Preserve (Wednesday/Saturday bike closures; ride direction; no e-bikes)
- Boulder County Parks & Open Space: Boulder Canyon Trail
- Colorado Department of Transportation: Peak to Peak Scenic Byway (55 miles; established 1918)
- USDA Forest Service: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests (West Magnolia trails near Nederland)