Although many people take winter as an opportunity to slow down, snuggle up on the couch with a good show, and wait out the dreary cold days, the residents of Boulder County take a different approach. Named one of the “Top 10 Winter Towns” by National Geographic, Boulder offers many activities which appeal to those who embrace the cold, and those who would rather keep their toes warm.
Team Embrace-The-Cold:
Winter Hiking
It’s a well-known fact that Coloradans love to get outdoors and enjoy the 3.5 million acres (roughly the size of Connecticut) of beautiful wilderness the state holds. Boulder County has approximately 182 scenic trails to enjoy, a few of which are spectacular all year-round with a pair of micro-spikes. A few favorites include Canyon Loop at Betasso Preserve, Red Rocks Trail at Peoples’ Crossing, Marshall Mesa, the First and Second Flatiron loop at Chautauqua Park, and Teller Lake.
Skiing
Just 30 minutes from Boulder lies Eldora Mountain Ski Resort, which offers 10 lifts, 8 terrain parks, and 680 acres of pristine Colorado ski terrain. This local mountain is well-loved by locals for its accessibility and family-friendly environment. With over 118 inches of snow per year, Eldora Mountain Ski Resort is a great weekend getaway for those looking to get outside.
Skating or Sledding
WinterSkate in Historic Downtown Louisville is a great spot to brush off your skating skills. With a 5,000 square foot rink created to feel as though you’re stepping onto a frozen pond, WinterSkate offers a perfect date-night activity. Sledding is another great activity that can get you outside enjoying the fresh air. Some favorite local sledding spots in Boulder are Tantra Park and Scott Carpenter Park.
FDG Festival
This unique festival’s history involves a Norwegian gentleman’s remains, dry ice, and a Tuff Shed in the hills above Nederland. For the first time since 2020, the Frozen Dead Guy Festival is back up and running in Nederland, Colorado, and offers coffin racing, polar plunges, frozen t-shirt contests, frozen turkey bowling, music, and dancing. See their website for a full history and their event schedule.
Team Keep-The-Toes-Warm:
Comedy Show at Rayback Collective
Established in 2013, Rayback Collective has been running Comedy shows every Sunday to provide live stand-up comedy to the patrons of Rayback. For $20 you can catch live performances from headliners who have “…been seen on Netflix, Comedy Central, HBO, Showtime, Fallon, Colbert, Letterman, Kimmel, MTV and pretty much everything in between.”
University of Colorado Men’s Basketball Game CU Events Center
Catch a game at the CU Events center located on the main campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder. The Colorado Buffaloes compete in the Pac-12 Conference of NCAA and are a Division 1 team. Click here for their schedule of events, and catch a game at the CU Event Center this winter!
Head to The Fox for a show
“Once voted by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the nation’s best venues,” the Fox Theatre is a local favorite amongst those who frequent the music scene. With a variety of shows occurring every weekend through the winter months, this venue provides an excellent way to kill a chilly winter evening.
