Day 3, Boulder

Day 3 began a 3 day excursion to Boulder and then the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). Boulder is a short 35 minute drive north of Golden. Connie and I planned a half day there before heading further north to RMNP. At Boulder we decided to do a hike to the flatirons rock formations in Chautauqua park followed by lunch in downtown Boulder and a stroll along it's pedestrian shopping street, Pearl Street. 

The hike in Chautauqua park was known as Chautauqua trail. This trail was posted as "easiest", but it turned out to be almost as difficult, to us, as our mesa hike on the previous day! As it turned out it was 480 foot elevation gain in about 3/4 a mile with a mile and a half total ccircuit. So it was a bit more strenuous than what we expected, but it was worth it nevertheless! The flatiron formations were beautiful and the surrounding forests lovely.

Pearl Street was a fun walk with many interesting shops and restaurants.

After Boulder we drove north to Estes Park at Rocky Mountain National Park for our next adventures there.

Here's some photos:

Flatirons 
Wildflowers 
Flatirons close-up 
Pine Forrest at the trail top 


Flagstaff mountain overlook with Boulder to the east


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