Directions:
Depending on where you would like to explore on this trail you can park at three different places
*Boulder Public Library: 1001 Arapahoe Avenue, Main entrance and extensive FREE parking located at 11th & Arapahoe.
This area is great in the summer and fall. On this part the trail children can play in the water and build sand castles at “Library Beach”.

This area is located just Southwest of the library overpass. Don’t forget to bring buckets, shovels, and water shoes. In the spring the Boulder Creek can get high and strong currents may exist. Caution and common sense is advised.
*Across from the justice center: large parking area at 6th and Canyon
If you take the bike path next to the creek you will find a magical dirt trail that runs parallel to the bike path. Follow this under the 9th street Bridge. Just a little while further on there is a little stone island the kids LOVE to play on. And a huge open grassy field to play games in.

There are also children fishing ponds just west of this area. The ponds are filled with fish and crawfish, ducks and geese!
Tip: Crawdads will often grab onto a piece of meat attached to a stick or a line. After studying in a Tupperware of water make sure you put them back in the water.

*Eben G. Fine Park: 3rd and Arapahoe

Also further onto Eben G. Park provides fun views of the creek and a playground. Past the park you can follow the trail west as it chases the creek. After a while you will come to a “junction” and a bench. Continue to follow the dirt trail west and you will be rewarded with hidden play spaces that become magic houses and horsetail forests (or “puzzle pieces” as some of the kids have called them). The creek here is slow and shallow in the summer. The perfect place to cool off!
Careful:
Watch out for bikes and glass.