Boulder

It's no surprise that Boulder, consistently called one of the fittest communities in America, is home to a large number of cyclists. However, Boulder's strong cycling reputation revolves more around road bikes than mountain bikes. The town is a road riding mecca, with thousands of cyclists dotting the roads on any day above 50 degrees, professional teams taking up residence to train, and an awesome network of bike lanes and paths criss-crossing the city, making bikes a preferred mode of travel for local trips.

The town is not known, however, as a mountain biking destination despite the fact that it's home to the International Mountain Bicycling Association.

That said, there is some great mountain biking in and around Boulder. Some nearby highlights include Marshall Mesa - Doudy Draw Loops on the south side of town, Betasso - Canyon Loop and Benjamin Loop just up Boulder Canyon, and Walker Ranch up Flagstaff.

The town is also home to a phenomenal bike park: Valmont Bike Park. The park has something for EVERY type of rider, from strider bike trails to massive dirt jumps, and everything in between. Go there to work on skills or be in awe of other riders' skills.

There's also some excellent riding about 30 minutes north (Hall Ranch in Lyons), west (West Magnolia Tour in Nederland) or south (several great trails in the Golden area).

The best time to hit the trails tends to be March through November, with a few exceptions. During the winter, some trails are accessible, especially at Hall Ranch, the Boulder Reservoir, or in the Marshall Mesa area as snow and ice will melt quickly during warm spells. There are times in spring or fall when rain or snow storms can make trails too muddy to use. While Boulder is well-known for its sunny weather, be aware that weather in Colorado can be unpredictable, and afternoon thunderstorms are a common occurrence in the summer.

While there is no camping in the city of Boulder or on City of Boulder open space, there are several nearby camping options just outside the city. A quick drive will get you to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests located west of Boulder and offer some great campsites and more spectacular trails to explore.

The Boulder Adventure Lodge (A-Lodge for short) is only 5 minutes up Boulder Canyon from downtown Pearl Street. Strategically located for adventure enthusiasts, the A-Lodge provides easy access to Boulder's climbing, biking, fishing, hiking and trail running. The A-lodge includes an onsite slackline park, outdoor fire pits, two hot tubs, private rooms & suites, a hostel room, and even some camping options.

Boulder offers a variety of accomodations from hotels to bed and breakfasts, and a list of local lodging options can be found here.

Boulder has a vibrant local restaurant and microbrewery scene, all located so close to the trails that you can easily find a place to dine and relax in between activities. Visit Boulder's website for a list of the best restaurants that downtown Boulder has to offer.

There are so many bike shops in Boulder, it's almost hard to call any out. But a few standouts for mountain bikers are:

• Sports Garage: These guys have been great supporters of MTB Project, and their service manager, Zack, has to be one of the best gearheads in Boulder! It's a great small volume, high touch shop.
  
• University Cycles
• Boulder Cyclesport

If you're looking for someone to guide you on a great ride in the Boulder area, be sure to check out PEDAL Mountain Bike Adventures for one and two day options.

For the BEST mountain bike clinics and lessons you've ever had, check out

• Lee Likes Bikes

In addition to awesome hiking, running, and riding, Boulder is blessed with an amazing amount of rocks with decent variety of rock type for cragging minutes from downtown. At one point in history, some might argue that the rocks around this town were a focal point for the advancement of American climbing. Still, these crags are rich with history. Today, with perhaps the exception of the high-end climber, nearly every climber can find something nearby to satisfy their climbing desires.

To learn more about rock climbing in Boulder, check out the Mountain Project page.

Check out the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance website for additional information about trails. BMA does a lot of work to keep mountain bike trails open, and to build and open new trails in the area.