Davidson Mesa Scenic Overlook

This is not your scenic overlook of the past. For decades, on returning to Boulder, whether from a day trip to Denver metro or returning from a long vacation, I crested the hill here and my heart would go flippy just seeing the awesome view of home, highway down into the city of Boulder with the majestic and often snow capped continental divide across the valley.
There are tradeoffs when modern demands need to be met. Yes, we now have a flowing sea of concrete, rather than a «ribbon of highway» on the approach. But the traffic moves, it is hardly ever stop and go anymore. There is an awesome bike path along side, to cruise or huff and puff, depending on direction. The highway is safer, with better lighting and signage, in addition to more lanes, but the designers apparently could not figure out a way to do this without marring the landscape and the view. The hill is shaved down, the shrubbery gone, the angle less steep, the signage huge, the view is forever so much less. But it still will please some, especially newcomers. And it still provides a reasonably expansive view. Times change and it is no longer a 5 star experience.

While I really miss the old overlook park, with the bronze plaque map of the foothills and front range mounted on giant boulders that surround the parking area, I can appreciate the «modernization» of the place. A few benches are now where those boulders used to be. An information hut with all the Boulder business brochures you could ever want. A mountain/​road bike repair station with tire pump and fully paved 10 foot wide bike path running up and down Davidson Mesa from Superior/​Louisville to Boulder. It’s smaller, but updated to make way for the widening of 36 (progress?). This was and still is one of my favorite spots to stop with family whenever we end up in Colorado and make our way into Boulder and a beautiful spot for pictures– especially in the late morning when the lighting is just right. Great spot to see all of Boulder Valley if you’re not interested in driving up the mountains.