sunset colors seen from hiking the flatirons in winter

19 Things to Do in Boulder in Winter [2025]

As far as I’m considered, There’s no better place in Colorado during the winter months to visit than Boulder!

This small Colorado mountain town (though some refer to it as a city) at the foot of the ROcky Mountains is a winter destination in Colorado you truly shouldn’t miss.

While Boulder is most commonly thought of as a mere day trip from Denver, I genuinely think it’s actually an amazing place to base yourself for an entire vacation…. especially in the winter months.

a snowy landscape in front of the flatirons section of the rocky mountains of colorado in boulder in winter
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Planning your winter trip to Boulder at the last minute? Here are my quick tips:

🏨 Where to Stay
Mid-Range Boutique: Hotel Boulderado (quirky, historic hotel nearby Pearl Street)
Luxury Hotel: St Julien Hotel & Spa (mountain views & spa amenities)
Family-Friendly: Colorado Chautauqua Cottages (lots of space & beautiful nature)

🚗 Getting Around
Having a rental car is key for making the most of your Boulder trip; public transit won’t cut it here. If you fly into Denver, I suggest picking up your rental car at the Denver Airport. I use DiscoverCars to find the best prices available on rentals.

Why? Boulder is filled-to-bursting with breathtaking hikes, inventive restaurants, and of course, tasty breweries that will leave you wanting to extend your stay!

Without further ado, here are all of the best things to do in Boulder in winter, in no particular order.

Best Things to Do in Boulder in Winter

Cross country ski at North Boulder Park.

woman in a blue shirt and snow pants with cross country skis exploring in the snow

One of the most underrated places to visit in Boulder is a place called North Boulder Park. This park is often visited by locals in the summer, especially those with families. But don’t sleep on it in the winter, either.

Come winter, North Boulder Park becomes the perfect place for cross country skiing! It’s a lot different than downhill skiing, as you glide across flat surfaces of the ground. Essentially, you are speed-walking with skis on (sort of — it’s hard to explain, but if you’ve tried, you know!).

Since you’re using your body movement to propel you in cross country skiing, some say that it’s more exhausting than downhill skiing, where gravity does a lot of the work. If it’s something you’re interested in, there are places to rent X-country skis or even take lessons in and around Boulder.

Crystal Ski Shop has XC skis for rental starting at just $18/day so it can be an affordable way to experience some skiing without having to pay for pricy lift passes elsewhere in Colorado, like nearby Loveland Ski Area, which costs a fortune.

Have tea at Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse.

detail at the tajik style tea house at boulder dushanbe tea house

One place that can’t be missed is the incredibly unique Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse. It’s one of my personal favorite things to do in Boulder any time of year, but it is even more special in winter — that tasty hot tea is even more enjoyable and cozy.

This is one of the most unique places in Boulder. The entire building was actually built initially fully in Tajikistan! Then, it was taken apart and shipped all the way to Boulder, Colorado, of all places. Why? Because Dushanbe and Boulder are sister cities.

There are many spots to sit down and relax here, so you can truly enjoy your tea. Be sure to look closely at the ceiling and the walls because the architecture is truly breathtaking. There are so many little details!

Walk the Boulder Creek Path.

the landscapes around boulder creek in winter: a great place for a winter walk

For some laidback outdoor time in Boulder in the colder months of the year, take a walk along the scenic Boulder Creek Path.

The path is relatively long, about 9 miles or so from start to finish. You don’t have to walk the entire path if you don’t want to — even just walking a part of it is a great way to get some crispy mountain air and a bit of activity.

This is an easier walking path in Boulder in the winter, and it’s even great for people traveling with families or dogs. It’s partially paved, making it good for strollers. Take the path and it will lead you along a river near the mountains, finishing back in the town of Boulder.

Shop on Pearl Street.

Photo Credit: Paul Sableman via Flickr

If you’ve been to Denver before, then you’ve most likely gone shopping on the 16th Street Mall, the most popular shopping street in the Mile High City. Well, Boulder’s Pearl Street is the same idea, but with more local shops as opposed to Denver’s more well-known chain stores!

Along Pearl Street, you can find top-rated restaurants, microbreweries, stores, cafés, and more. A decent portion of it is also pedestrian-only, making it great for walking, especially when the Christmas lights are all strung up and twinkling.

Sled at Tantra Park.

Photo Credit: Eric Anderson via Flickr

Being at the foothills of the Rockies, sledding is a beloved winter activity in Boulder. If you’re need a sled, you can buy one at the local shops or the grocery store, King Sooper’s. Ski shops may offer rentals, too, in case you don’t want to permanently purchase one.

The lovely Tantra Park may just look like a regular old park during the rest of the year, but it becomes a bit of a winter wonderland in winter. There is a great small hill at Tantra Park where most of the sledding happens.

Ski at Eldora Mountain Resort.

a man with a snowboard taking the chairlift up to eldora mountain resort, near boulder colorado in winter

If you’re a skier, well, no trip to Colorado is complete without hitting some of the slopes. Boulder’s closest and most beloved ski resort is Eldora Mountain Resort, a local favorite just outside of Boulder.

This ski resort has mostly intermediate runs, but there’s also a decent amount of beginner, advanced, and expert trails, so all levels of skiers and snowboarders can find something to enjoy here.

There are day passes as well as multi-day passes, depending on how much time you want to dedicate to skiing or snowboarding during your trip. And if you’ve never tried before, you can also take lessons and rent gear from here.

Attend Snow Much Fun.

Between November 24, 2024 and January 31, 2025, the annual Snow Much Fun AR (augmented reality) experience runs in Boulder.

This months-long festival lets you explore downtown Boulder through a fresh set of eyes as you take yourself on a self-guided AR experience, scanning QR codes to play games and interact with AR designs along the way.

For a sneak peek at what Snow Much Fun will offer for the 2024-2025 winter season, check their page on the official Downtown Boulder website here.

Watch The Nutcracker with the Boulder Philharmonic.

A male and a female ballet dancer leaping through the air and performing beautiful tricks in the Boulder Philharmonic performance of the Nutcracker
Photo Credit: Roger Meike via Flickr

What says Christmas more effectively than a showing of The Nutcracker? When visiting Boulder, you really ought to try to get tickets to see the local Nutcracker performance, put on jointly by the Boulder Philharmonic and the Boulder Ballet.

For the 2024-2025 winter season, there are six performances, spread across three distinct venues. On November 30 and December 1, they’re performing at the Macy Auditorium

On December 7th and 8th, they’re performing at the Vance Brand Auditorium.

And fans of Stanley Kubrick’s seminal horror classic, The Shining, will love the chance to see the final two shows, which take place at the legendary Stanley Hotel in nearby Estes Park on December 14th and 15th. Spooky? Maybe. Memorable? Absolutely.

Attend Colorado Chautauqua WinterFest.

For a unique activity perfect for kids, why not check out the Colorado Chautauqua WinterFest if you’re in town December 5th-7th?

Tickets cost between $23 and $31.50 to attend, and you can enjoy fun activities like horse-drawn carriage rides, a winter-themed ‘fairy forest’, a petting zoo, cookie decorating and craft making, among other activities! Check the website for a full list of planned activities for the 2024 season.

Drive up (or hike) the Flatirons.

sunset colors seen from hiking the flatirons in winter

Part of the Rocky Mountains, the Flatirons are the low-lying mountain range that makes Boulder so popular amongst hikers. While you may think that the mountains must only be accessible in the summer or warmer months, they’re open to visitors year-round.

If it’s super cold, you can drive on the Flatirons Vista Scenic Drive, which will bring you right up the mountain. This way, you don’t even have to get out of the car, but you can still enjoy truly breathtaking views!

Another option is to actually hike on the Flatirons in the winter. My first time hiking the Flatirons was actually on New Year’s Day, so this is doable! Just choose your trail wisely because some of them are difficult. A good starter trail might be something like the Flatirons Vista Trail which has limited elevation gain, but you can check out AllTrails and pick the right level of hike for you.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast from Snooze, an A.M. Eatery.

sign that reads 'snooze' which is a popular breakfast spot in Boulder colorado
Photo Credit: Victor Chapa via Flickr

Arguably the best spot for breakfast (besides Foolish Craig’s Cafe) is Snooze, an A.M. Eatery. This is a mini-chain restaurant known for its breakfast, and they have quite a few locations across Colorado, including Denver.

Keep in mind that Snooze is one of Boulder’s most popular breakfast restaurants, mainly because it’s on Pearl Street. You’ll want to book a reservation ahead of time, which most people will just do on the Yelp app. However, you can only book reservations on the same day!

If it’s super cold during your trip to Boulder, don’t worry. Snooze has lots of indoor seating, but even their patio is practically blasted by outdoor heaters during the winter, so you can sit outside without freezing.

Everything here is pretty tasty, but their fluffy waffles, eggs Benedicts, and massive breakfast burritos are what give Snooze its cult following.

Snowshoe on one of Boulder’s many trails.

person snowshoeing in rocky mountain national park

Many people overlook snowshoeing as a fun thing to do in the winter, as other activities like skiing and snowboarding tend to take up the forefront of people’s minds. But honestly, walking around with these massive shoes that keep you afloat even on the most freshly-fallen, sinkable snow is a super fun thing to do in Boulder in the winter!

Also, if you’re traveling to Boulder without snowshoes (because why would you be traveling with snowshoes?), then don’t worry; you can rent them at different places throughout the town. The best places to check out for rentals include those that also offer ski and snowboard rentals, like the aforementioned Crystal Ski Shop.

Some of the best spots for snowshoeing in Boulder include Eldora Mountain Resort, Hessie Trailhead, Heil Valley Ranch, and Betasso Preserve. Some of these require a bit of a trip outside of Boulder, so these options are better if you’ve rented a car during your trip.

If you want to really see the beautiful of Colorado in winter, you could also go snowshoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park!

Warm up with a pint from a brewery.

tasting flight of different beers with an exposed brick background behind the four glasses lined up for a tasting flight

Boulder is known for its amazing small breweries! To warm up with a pint, I highly recommend my favorite brewery: Avery Brewing Company, which also features its own on-site restaurant. Consider ordering a flight to have a few different flavors and pair it with a variety of beef-friendly snacks!

Another great one that many people don’t even really know about is the Twisted Pine Brewing Co. This place has its beers, of course, but also has tons of events (especially in winter), like trivia and live music. Plus, they have a fantastic pizza menu… because does it really ever get better than pizza and beer?

Go to Switch on the Holidays.

For a great holiday event, go to Switch on the Holidays! It happens right downtown on Pearl Street, just down the street from the ever-popular Hotel Boulderado.

There are choir events and other festive celebrations, and at the end, Pearl Street gets completely lit up at the Boulder County Courthouse! It’s one of the most magical experiences in Boulder in Christmas season.

And parents of young kids, take note: you’ll also be able to see Santa at the end. It’s free to take a photo with him!

Eat some sweets from Spruce Confections.

We all can agree that sweet treats and the winter holidays just fit together like a hand in a glove, right? So why not check out Spruce Confections, beloved among Boulder sweet tooths? They have a right location downtown on Pearl Street, but they have another location uptown too.

The menu has tons of sweet treats, including brownies, cookies, croissants, muffins, and other fun goodies that they make. Plus, they have a long list of hot and cold drinks to go along with your treat.

Ice skate at Winterskate.

Red gloved hands tying an ice skate, white jacket and white skates

Ice skating is a loved winter classic. However, Boulder has one ice skating rink, and it’s at the University of Colorado – Boulder. Unfortunately, it’s open only to students and their friends.

So you’ll need to take a short drive out of Boulder to nearby Louisville, but there, you’ll find the best place to go ice skating in the area: Old Town Skate, formerly known as Winterskate. You can go ice skating for the day, rentals included, for just $10 USD!

And on weekends, there are even free carriage rides in the area!

Take a photo with Santa at Saint Nick on the Bricks.

St. Nick on the Bricks is a fun event in Boulder annually for families with kids. It’s completely free and is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit in winter, taking place at the Boulder Visitor Center downtown.

The main attraction at this event is, of course, Santa! Sometimes Mrs. Claus is also there, so you can get a photo with both of them. If you have the kids bring their Christmas list, you can even have them read it and take it to the North Pole.

This activity takes place on the Saturdays leading up to Christmas, starting on November 30th (with a bonus opening night the prior Friday, November 29th) and running until December 14th. Get an early start: the hours are only from 11 AM to 2 PM.

Buy a book at Boulder Book Store.

Photo Credit: Kent Kanouse via Flickr

One of the best things to do in Boulder in the winter is to support local shops like the Boulder Book Store. This historic shop was actually recently ranked number one out of all the independent bookstores in the United States, so it’s certainly made its mark on bibliophiles around the nation!

The shop is located right on Pearl Street and is located in a historic old building, and it’s great fun to explore spanning its 3 floors with a whopping 100,000+ books inside. There are so many little nooks to grab a book and enjoy a little preview before you buy.

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