August Hikes and Events
High Peaks and Silver Dreams – The Nature and History of Caribou Ranch
Saturday August 1, 9 a.m.-noon
Caribou Ranch Open Space, 2 miles north of Nederland on County Road 126, meet at parking lot kiosk
Join volunteer naturalists for a fascinating hike through geologic and historical time, as we explore ancient mountain-building, alpine glaciation, and the history of hard rock mining in the Caribou Ranch area. We will also identify diverse plant and animal communities and look for signs of wildlife on this moderate 4.2 mile (round-trip) hike.
Sunset Hike
Thursday August 6, from 6:30-sunset
Bald Mountain Scenic Area, 5 miles west of Boulder on Sunshine Canyon Drive (Mapleton Ave in Boulder city limits)
Join your family and friends for an evening exploring your local parks. At each hike, volunteer naturalists interpret each park’s history, geology, ecosystems, plants and wildlife. Sunset hikes are easy-moderate hiking and suitable for all ages.
Kids Gone Fishing
Saturday August 8, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Stearns Lake, Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm, north of Broomfield at the junction of S 104th St and Dillon Road
These clinics are a fun way to for kids 5 to 15 to enjoy fishing. Kids go through stations to learn about casting, baiting a hook, fish handling, and more and then get to practice their new skills. This is a great opportunity for both kids who have never fished and those who want to learn more about fishing. Contact Michelle Bowie for more information.
Hike at Night
Wednesday August 12, 8-10 p.m.
Mud Lake Open Space, 2 miles north of Nederland on County Road 126, meet at parking lot kiosk
Join volunteer naturalists for an evening of exploring an open space property under cover of darkness. We’ll hike about one mile roundtrip on an easy trail, enjoying the starlight, listening for night sounds, and learning about some of the nocturnal habits of the critters that live here. Bring water, closed-toe hiking shoes/boots, a flashlight, and your night vision.
Fun on the Farm: How Does Your Garden Grow?
Friday August 14, 9:30-10 a.m.
Agricultural Heritage Center, 8348 Highway 66, between Lyons and Longmont
Do your young kids get excited about animals, tractors, and playing in the dirt? These programs are designed for children ages 2 to 6 years old, with accompanying adult, to hear stories and take part in fun activities on a specific topic. Bring lunch or snacks to enjoy at the on-site picnic tables!
Sunset Hike
Friday August 14, 6:30 p.m.-sunset
Walker Ranch Open Space, approximately 7 miles west of Boulder on Flagstaff Road, meet at Meyers Homestead Trailhead
Boulder County Parks and Open Space offers weekly sunset hikes. Volunteer naturalists will interpret each park’s history, geology, ecosystems, wildlife, and plants. Bring your family and friends to enjoy an evening exploring your local parks. Hikes start at 6:30 and end at sunset. Sunset hikes are easy-moderate hiking and suitable for all ages.
Summer Catfish Night
Friday August 14, 7:30-11 p.m.
Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm, north of Broomfield at the junction of S 104th Street and Dillon Road, meet at the Stearns Lake Trailhead
Summer Catfish Night is a great opportunity for anglers to try their luck at night when the lake is usually closed and the catfish are biting!
– Anglers 16-years-old and older must have a current Colorado fishing license
– Shore fishing only
– No live bait, but worms and stink bait are okay
– Check-in is required at the parking lot area off of South 104th Street
Pella Crossing Hiking Tour
Friday August 14, 2-4 p.m.
Location provided to registered participants
Join Parks and Open Space staff for a guided tour of Pella Crossing that is closed due to damage from the 2013 Flood. We’ll walk on the eastern side of the property to see the flood’s impact on this beloved open space.
Register here.
For more information contact Pascale Fried at pfried@bouldercounty.org or 303-678-6201.
Sunset Hike
Monday August 17, 6:30 p.m.-sunset
Caribou Ranch Open Space, 2 miles north of Nederland on County Road 126, meet at parking lot kiosk
Boulder County Parks and Open Space offers weekly sunset hikes. Volunteer naturalists will interpret each park’s history, geology, ecosystems, wildlife, and plants. Bring your family and friends to enjoy an evening exploring your local parks.
Living in Lion and Bear Country
Saturday August 22, 9-11 a.m.
Heil Valley Ranch Open Space, North of Boulder off Lefthand Canyon Drive, meet at group picnic shelter
Join Boulder County volunteer naturalists for a moderate 1.5-mile hike and learn about the ecology and behavior of our local mountain lions and black bears. Along the trail, we’ll talk about why the foothills are such good habitat for lions and bears. We’ll also discuss hunting and feeding habits, and how to be safe in lion and bear country.
All That Glistens Is Not GOLD
Saturday August 25, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Meeting location provided to registered participants
Try your hand at gold panning! This activity that led to the settlement of Boulder County as people sought their fortunes. Do you have what it takes to travel back in time and search for gold in a stream? Programs are open age 5 years and older. Registration required. Register here or call 303-258-7332.
Sunset Hike
Tuesday August 25, 6:30 p.m. to sunset
Heil Valley Ranch, meet at the group picnic shelter near the Lichen Loop trailhead
Join your family and friends for an evening exploring your local parks. At each hike, volunteer naturalists interpret each park’s history, geology, ecosystems, plants and wildlife. Sunset hikes are easy-moderate hiking and suitable for all ages.
Nature Detectives in the Field: Cool Kestrels
Thursday August 27, 10-11 a.m.
Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm, meet at the picnic shelter at the Stearns Lake Trailhead
American Kestrels are one of the smallest birds of prey in Boulder County, but they have great hunting skills and cool tricks. Young children ages 3-7 and their parents/guardians will enjoy activities and exploration at this interactive program. Younger and older siblings are welcome, but the program will be geared to ages 3 to 7 years old.
Hike for Seniors
Thursday August 27, 10 am.-noon
Bald Mountain Scenic Area, 5 miles west of Boulder on Sunshine Canyon Drive (Mapleton Ave in Boulder city limits)
Boulder County Parks and Open Space hosts a nature hike for seniors every month. Programs include information about an area’s history, wildlife and current resource management projects. No registration is necessary, but please call in advance if you plan to bring a group so we have enough naturalists at the program.
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For information about these programs or to arrange a volunteer-led program for your group please contact:
Larry Colbenson, Natural History Program Coordinator, Boulder County Parks and Open Space
303-678-6214 or lcolbenson@bouldercounty.org
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Museums
Visit the Agricultural Heritage Center
8348 Ute Highway 66 west of Longmont
Open April 1 through October 31 from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays . Tours start at 11 a.m.
Groups may make special arrangements for tours.
Learn about the rich agricultural history of Boulder County. This site gives special focus to the years 1900 to 1925 when local families prospered as farmers and witnessed the coming of the Modern Age. The farm includes two barns, an outhouse, a milk house, a blacksmith shop, and a 1909 farmhouse furnished with items from the 1910s. There are also animals on site seasonally including chickens, pigs, and others.
We will continue to open the site on the first Saturday of each month November through March.
For more information, contact Jim Drew at 303-776-8688 or jdrew@bouldercounty.org.
Visit the James F. Bailey Assay Office Museum
6352 Fourmile Canyon Drive, Boulder
April 1 throug October 31 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Third Saturday of each month
The James F. Bailey Assay Office Museum, located in the historic town of Wall Street just west of Boulder, helps tell the story of hard rock mining in this area. The assay office was the place where prospectors would take their ore samples to find out whether or not they had potentially “struck it rich.” The determination of the assayer could, and often did, make or break a prospector.
Admission is free and all ages are welcome.
Dougherty Museum
8306 Hwy 287, one mile south of Longmont on the east side of U.S. 287
Hours of operation:
June 5 through August 30, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays
Admission Fee: Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 6-12. Children under 6 years of age are free.
The Dougherty Museum is home to one of the finest collections of antique automobiles in the region. The museum houses a collection of beautifully restored antique automobiles, including models powered by steam, electricity and early internal combustion types. Many of the cars date back 100 years and are in running order.
For more information please call 303-776-2520 or visit www.BoulderCounty.org/openspace/dougherty/index.htm
Nederland Mining Museum
Open June 1 – October 31
Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10:00am to 4:00pm
200 N. Bridge Street (on the roundabout in Nederland at the corner of North Bridge Street and Highway 119)
Learn about the lives of the miners of yesteryear. Visit the Nederland Mining Museum and get a glimpse into the world of hard rock mining days in Boulder County during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Various “tools of the trade” offer a close-up look at the lives of the miners. Miners wore helmets equipped with lights, how did those change over the years? See how drills used to do the mining changed as technology did. Ring a signal bell like the miners did to tell the hoist operator to bring them up and out of the mine. How was dynamite stored and in what amounts could miners buy it? See indoor and outdoor displays of trams, ore carts, engines, historic photographs and rare mining claim maps.
