Eldorado Springs

"Eldo" as it is affectionately known is a little town just beyond the southwestern edge of Boulder. Eldorado Springs is famous for rock climbing, bouldering and hiking; there is some world class climbing there and people come from all over the world to rock climb in the little valley.

There is a little town at the mouth of the canyon with some funky houses, some owned some rented but all with character. This is a very liberal, free place that has its own pace and its own mind. The Eldo swimming pool uses water fresh from the springs and it is probably the most unique pool I can think of it Colorado, it is very very cold and there is a high dive--people sit around and watch people do tricks of the boards and slides into the fairly small pool. This is a very original place with crazy and friendly people.

If you are looking for a sweet little spot, an alternative community just outside of Boulder think about checking this place out--it has a mystery and isolation to it even though it is only 10 minutes from Boulder.

Once you get through the little town the road dead ends into Eldorado Canyon State Park and the river is running there were you have to park and pay a small fee to hike and climb. It gets pretty busy somedays but not as busy as it should, again this is a hidden secret.

There are great hiking trails that bring you up the canyon sides and up up to where the railroad tracks go through these two long tunnels, it is creepy to go in far enough so that it is pitch black. The views of Denver and the plains from parts of the trail system are really cool.