Route

Colorado 93

Name: Colorado 93
Address: Boulder, CO, US

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Valerie

April 25, 2022

DinosaurHwy. 93 and The Back Road to Boulder The most interesting way to drive Boulder from Denver is to head west to Golden, then go north on Hwy. 93. This is one of the last undeveloped stretches of road along the Front Range for two good reasons. Large parts of it have been preserved as open space by Boulder and now offer ranch lands, canal walks and pretty grass fields with the Flatirons as a backdrop. The east side of the road was preserved because it was Rocky Flats, a high security area where the triggers for nuclear bombs were once made. All 70,000 atomic bombs made by the U.S. have parts that were made at Rocky Flats. The bombs are long gone, and Rocky Flats is being restored and brought back as a wildlife refuge. Trails, biking and horseback riding will soon be open in the area. In addition to the scenic drive, two attractions along Hwy. 93 are well worth a stop. Eldorado Canyon State Park is one of the world’s top rock climbing attractions. The sheer 500-foot high cliffs here are dotted with climbers, seeming to defy gravity. If you’re not a rock climber, you’ll still love the views, the scenic river flowing through the center of the canyon, and a wonderful one-mile trail that is an old abandoned railroad cut, every inch of it offering incredible scenery into the canyon. In South Boulder is the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The buildings were designed by I.M. Pei, who also designed the pyramid at the Louvre in Paris. NCAR is considered one of his masterpieces and was also used in the Woody Allen movie, “Sleeper.” There’s also an outdoor half-mile Weather Trail that explains some of the unique aspects of weather in Colorado. From here, you can backtrack down scenic Hwy. 93 to Golden, for a quick stop in one of the town's restaurants or breweries. You'll also want to look for the colorful dinosaur art installations just outside of Golden. Spot the colorful Triceratops sculptures, located off Hwy 93, near 56th Ave.