Bobolink Trailhead

This trailhead is easy to get to from many parts of Boulder and has a dirt parking lot for about 20 cars if you aren’t close enough to bike or walk here, and I am not. There is also overflow parking on a nearby neighborhood street, but read the parking regulation signs carefully.
Because some of the trail from here is closed for wet, muddy conditions right now, parking is relatively easy. But in good weather it can be quite busy. There are a lot of runners, cyclists and dog walkers starting out from this point. I bike and depending on whether I will be accessing a paved part of the path around the nearby East Rec Center or north to the junction with the Boulder Creek Path or the dirt trail heading south to Marshall Rd, I can use either my road bike or mountain bike. I see mostly others on road or hybrid bikes on the trails. I would say runners and dog walkers predominate at the trailhead.

Bobolink is perfect for the not so hearty runner/​walker/​hiker. It’s relatively flat and pretty. From the parking lot there is a paved path and a dirt path. Once the paved path ends it turns into a crusher fine path which is wide and well groomed for the most part. It’s not a difficult hike at all but more of a nice walk. There are the regulars who jog/​walk with their dogs and/​or kids or alone. I’ve never felt alone here or scared and I go regularly for my jog alone. Maps and other records indicate that it’s 1.5 miles from the parking lot to the tunnel which takes you under South Boulder Road. I have a bone to pick with that one. I have several GPS devices and I get about 1.2 miles. Sure it’s off by .3 miles but for a jogger that wants to do a complete 3 miles I feel like you’re being gypped slightly. This path is as good as it gets!

This was my first hike of the season back in early May and it was an easy, friendly choice. Flat, creekside, very family-​oriented. It’s a great choice if you’re squeamish about hiking alone, which some people are (or that is my impression I have gotten as I emerge from some trail by myself to the surprise of some other hikers). This trailhead is popular and being beside the creek makes the walk cool.
The trail is used by walkers, runners, cyclists and dog-​owners, but didn’t feel crowded. I believe this trail is even wheel-​chair accessible. A great I-​wanna-​start-​hiking trail.

Gorgeous and Flat. This wonderful trail follows South Boulder Creek Trail for 1.5 miles between Baseline & South Boulder Rd and another 2 miles between South Boulder Rd & Marshall Rd.
Tons of birds (Bobolinks, duh!) No dogs. Horses are allowed.
The historic Dorn Barn (c. 1900) on the Van Vleet property is pretty cool (photo from Fall — City of Boulder web site), as is the Abernathy Barn at south end of trail across from creek. It’s currently grazed and ranched, and all the little calves earlier this Spring were pretty damn cute. The Moms didn’t seem to mind.