My kitchen is a collection of murky mason jars, hanging herbs, and withered mushrooms drying beneath the counter. These things I gather from the world around me; I grow them in my garden and forage them from the sprawling Ozark Mountains beyond my home. Each object has a purpose: they turn to tinctures, balms, lotions, teas, and fragrant perfumes. My products snake into the blood, lungs, and lives of the people I love. They adorn the bodies of my community, are bought and sold and given as gifts...
Boulder Canyon Trail Adventure: From Eben G. Fine Park Upstream
Boulder Canyon Trail Adventure: From Eben G. Fine Park Upstream
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There’s something magical about summer along the Boulder Creek path and a stop to enjoy Boulder Creek at Eben G. Fine Park. Located about a 10 mile ride from my home it sits right at the edge of downtown Boulder, and is a gateway to the canyon — a place where the chatter of the city fades into the rush of the creek, and the trail begins to wind into the foothills.
The Boulder Canyon Trail connects the Boulder Creek Path into Boulder and follows the course of Boulder Creek as it climbs into the canyon 2.6 miles. I like to go the full way up from the park to the mouth of the canyon, but those miles are packed with beauty and energy. The crushed gravel path crunches beneath your tires, and the cool air from the creek rises up to meet you. Even on a hot day, the temperature drops as you climb alongside the water.
In summer, you’ll often see white-water tubers drifting down the creek, bouncing through rapids and laughing as they spin around the bends. At Eben G. Fine park, families and college students line the banks with picnic blankets, tubers get in and out while kids splash in the shallows. The Creek runs slower in the summer but is still cold and refreshing on a hot day.
The ride itself is best suited to gravel or mountain bikes, thanks to the path’s surface, but with steady hands and good skills, it’s rideable on a road bike — and that’s exactly how I like to tackle it. The climb is gentle enough to not cause most people to overwork, but it still gives you that satisfying feeling of working your way into the canyon.
As you approach the two-mile mark, the walls of the canyon rise higher, and the sound of the creek grows louder. Here, nature feels close enough to touch — golden rock faces above, trees along the path, and the sparkle of sunlight reflecting off ripples in the current. It’s the kind of ride that feels like a reset button for the soul.
If you have time, bring a swimsuit or sandals and spend a little while at the water’s edge when you return to Eben G. Fine Park or just dip your feet in and ride home with wet bike shoes! Whether you’re there to ride, walk, picnic, tube, fly fish, or just sit and watch the water go by, this stretch of the Boulder Canyon Trail is pure Boulder summer.
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