EXPERIENCE BOULDER

LEAF PEEPING

AROUND BOULDER

THE CHANGING LEAVES ALONG THE PEAK-TO-PEAK HIGHWAY. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN ANTONACCI

COLORADO REALLY COMES ALIVE ONCE FALL ARRIVES. MANY LEAF-PEEPERS SET OUT ON DAY TRIPS OR WEEKEND GETAWAYS TO REALLY SOAK UP THE VIVID COLORS IN THE SHORT WINDOW BEFORE THE LEAVES TUMBLE TO THE GROUND AND THE VISTAS TURN FOREST GREEN, SNOW WHITE AND SLATE GRAY.

So gas up the car or the motorcycle, grab your camera and don your favorite autumnal outfit. Here’s how to treat yourself to one of the most essential activities on the Colorado checklist: Leaf-peeping on the Peak to Peak Highway.

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From Boulder, head west on Highway 119 toward Nederland. If you want to start your leaf-peeping excursion with a refreshing hike, head on over to the West Magnolia Trailhead, south of Nederland for eight miles of roads and trails popular with hikers, campers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. The trails are perfect for beginner to intermediate hikers as they wind over the West Magnolia hilltop and through brilliantly colored trees that will shower you with foliage confetti as you trek. If you want to hunker down for the night, dispersed camping at the 22 numbered designated sites is permitted.

Hiking West Magnolia can make your stomach grumble. In Nederland, you might chow down at The Mineshaft (menu here, 35 E 1st St, Nederland, 303- 258-0649). The eatery serves up modern comfort food with a southern twang such as a Eureka Scramble, which is a kitchen sink-type ensemble with homefries, spinach, red peppers, mushrooms and your choice of meat. Plus, The Mineshaft is dog-friendly, so if you need somewhere to go with your four-legged friend after a hike, this is a prime choice.

Perhaps instead of a hike and hearty lunch, you’d prefer to pick up a picnic and eat it lakeside as you take in the clear water reflecting the bright golden aspen trees.

If that’s the case, before leaving Nederland for the Peak-to-Peak Highway proper, stop at The Deli at 8236’ (menu here, 34 E 1st St, Nederland, 303258-1113) to load up on sandwiches and salads. Then you might pop into The New Moon Bakery & Cafe (menu here, 1 W 1st St, Nederland, 303-2583569) to satisfy your sweet tooth, caffeine habit or need for a sandwich on a bagel. For maximum picnic points, consider The New Moon’s deli packs for two. Ranging in price from $19.50 to $25, the packs are available with breakfast food, deli meats and cheeses, gluten-free goodies or vegetarian fare. get the full leaf-peeping itinerary: travelboulder.com/how-to-spend-the-day-leafpeeping-on-the-peak-to-peak-highway