Copyright ©2021 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Have you heard of or been to the Flatirons outside of Boulder, CO? I had never heard of them before, but I ran across an article or review of them while researching “things to do in and around Denver”. The hikes sounded interesting and pretty so we added this destination to our itinerary.
It was just over an hours drive from our hotel so we got up early had breakfast at the hotel then headed out for Chautauqua Park in Boulder, CO. That’s where we’d find the Flatirons. They’re rock formations that back in the 1900’s were know as the Chautauqua Slabs, and later they were called the Crags… Wikipedia.
They do resemble clothes irons. They’re numbered 1 through 5. The big one in front is number 1.
Upon arriving and reading the trail map we discovered a big sign notifying hikers that the trail we hoped to hike was closed for repairs, so Plan B. We hiked up this trail in the image above and caught the Bluebell-Baird trail which made a nice loop and a great stretch the legs hike.
Ready? Let’s go I’ll show some of what I saw along the way.
The wide open space soon changed to a dense forest.
There were still some wildflowers in bloom. I think this is Narrow Goldenrod, but I’m not positive. Any one know for sure? I apologize for the missed focus. My iPhone and I weren’t having a good moment with focus. 😂
We walked around a bend in the trail and on both sides of the trail were cairns! I can’t recall seeing so many in one place before!
There are so many! More than fit in my frame. The park had fenced off both sides of this area but, if you know me and rocks…you just know what happened next. Shhh! Don’t tell anybody, but I had to, HAD TO add a rock to a cairn. This one.
Then before we knew it we out in the open again. Here’s a little view of Boulder, CO.
It’s all downhill from here. Before we finish up let’s take a look behind us shall we?
Geoolgy Fun Facts:
“The Flatirons consist of conglomeratic sandstone of the Fountain Formation. Geologists estimate the age of these rocks as 290 to 296 million years; they were lifted and tilted into their present orientation between 35 and 80 million years ago, during the Laramide Orogeny. The Flatirons were subsequently exposed by erosion. Other manifestations of the Fountain Formation can be found in many places along the Colorado Front Range, including Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs, Roxborough State Park in Douglas County, and Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Morrison.”~ Wikipedia
I’d like to go back to this park one day and hike the trail that was closed. From here we headed to Estes Park the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. More on that in a future post.
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more to come…
Circadianreflections Blog 
My kind of hike! Beautiful!! After California, Colorado is to me the second most beautiful stated! Is this a new blog? I like it. Your camera skills come out much better here:):) I will be even more irregular for the next coming months since I am learning pottery – to make a bowl is NOT as easy as they show on youtube, lol. In May went to a pottery workshop and I was smitten! But I had to save up for a while for the wheel and the kiln.
Thank you so much, Jesh! It’s a new theme. I’m glad you like it!
How exciting you’re learning a new art form! I tried ceramics years ago and had a blast and created a few pieces I love. Unfortunately the teapot I made broke, but the my Thanksgiving platter is still like new, and I love it! You’re doing even more actually creating your own pot! I know you’ll get it and make beautiful things.
Thank you Deborah for the encouragement! My first two times I did not come further than half a bowl, haha. Wanted to do this for several years, but never took the step. It’s now or never:)
Anytime! 😀
I’m glad you’re doing it now! 😀
Beautiful! I hear of and see pictures of the Flatirons on the local news all the time. They certainly have a cool and unique look. I just love your first composition. It would be nice if there were designated areas for cairns for those who feel the need! 🙂
Thank you so much, Denise! I hope they fenced the cairns off so people wouldn’t destroy them. They’re really neat and I am often struck with an urge to create them or add to them when hiking. 😀
Added, not add
I did not know of this. I’m glad you add that rock, Deborah!
We were too. Thank you so much, Jennie!
You’re welcome, Deborah!
Cool! I love to learn!
I had never heard of these, Deborah, thank you for the intro! They are neat looking, actually makes sense why they are named Flatirons. Shhhh….I won’t tell! 😉
Thanks, Donna! 😀😂
Wonderful to see and learn about the Flatirons, Deborah. Beautiful and unique rock formations.
Thank you, Jet! It was a neat find. I’m glad you liked the post.
I did know about the Flatirons but lovely to see them here. Right after college I lived and worked in Steamboat Springs for two years, then spent a year in Greeley going to grad school. I love it but I’ve very glad not to be living in Colorado these days although I’d love to visit lots of places again. Just don’t love driving through south to north (or vv) when passing through to Wyoming!
Thank you, Janet! Well, we learned something new about you too!! What makes that part of the drive so intolerable?
Terrible traffic.
Oh, that wasn’t my first thought. I thought it might be boring. 😀
Hard to be bored when you have endless traffic and lots of construction!
What a grand adventure! All the photos are wonderful and the Cairns…😍😍
I do know Estes Park. My sons used to go to wrestling camp there in Summers.
👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you so much, Cheryl! Did you all like Estes Park? I’d like to return one day. It was a fun little town.
Unfortunately I have never been to Colorado. They took those camps when they were with their father.
Ah, I see!
Thanks for taking us along on your hike Deborah, it appears to be a a very interesting place. Sad the trail was closed, but I know the feeling as we have experienced the same usually after very bad weather, and especially when you have visited to walk those trails. The cairns are interesting:, what are they in memorial of or are they just for fun ?
Thank you, Ashley! Thankfully, we were able to pick another trail and enjoy the area. Those cairns were such a surprise. There weren’t any signs that I found explaining them so I think it’s something that happened organically and fun.
Thanks for taking us along, Deborah. The flat irons are amazing. So many cairns.
Thank you, John! I’m glad you came along via the post. 😀 Both the Flatirons, and the Cairns were a neat find.
They were. 😁
Love those cairns. 🙂
Aren’t they neat! I love them too. Thanks, Pit!
🙂
Cairns are created to add more stones on top. 🙂 One wonders why they congregate like that! That must have been a great walk, Deborah, and you made pictures that make me want to hike there too.
I like the way you think, Peter! It was a good hike. I’m glad we added it to our itinerary.
This looks like a wonderful place to hike and explore. I use the iNaturalist app to help me identify plants and animals/insects I capture with my phone. It’s free and fun to use.
Deb
Thanks, Deb for the tip! I’ll look that app up.
I’ve tried several free ones, but deleted them for different reasons. I’d really like to find one that’s as good as my birding ID apps that don’t cost a fortune.
It was a neat and pretty place to hike.
This is one of the plant apps I deleted. I haven’t got ID’s the one plant I uploaded, and I just reinstalled it and uploaded this photo and no ID help at all no instant recognition of the flower or plant. I don’t get it. ? The one I like and is super easy to use is Picture This but it’s pricey! I don’t want another $30 app that I only use a few times a year.
I clearly need to visit Colorado someday. So much natural beauty. In the meantime, thanks for this preview of the wonders that await!
It was my first time in CO and I’d like to go back. Thanks for reading my post, Paul!
I was going to say that they look like the rock formations in the Garden of the Gods. The geology out there is simply fascinating. I can’t help with the flower identification. I’m just going to assume that you’re correct. It looks like a very nice hike and you had a beautiful day. Thanks for taking us along.
How cool you’re familiar with the formations and one area! It is fascinating, and beautiful.
Thanks for coming along!
I’ve hiked there twice. It’s amazing.
Nice introduction and accompanying photos!
Thank you so much, Belinda!
I love cairns! I’ve been to Bolder but never saw this area. You are bringing back lots of good Colorado memories. I couldn’t count the number of times we went to Colorado for short or long vacations. Of course, we lived next door so the trip was fairly easy. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Judy! It was my first time in CO I hope to get back to it one day there are other regions I want to explore too.
I love cairns too! I can’t resist adding my own rock or starting a new one.
Last night a good friend texted me to say she had news. She’s retiring and moving to CO in less than a month! It all happened really fast she said, but now I’ll have another friend to visit there! Of course if I drive it’s a 2 day trip one way! Blah!
I raise my glass to reasonable air fares versus two-day drive. 🙂
😀Me too!
Like you, I’d not heard of the Flatirons near Boulder. (However, being from New York, I’m quite familiar with the Flatiron Building.) Now you can tell everyone you’ve explored an orogenous zone in Colorado.
I’ve seen the Flatiron Building in NY! That was a must see item on my visit there.
It’s quite interesting seeing those formations and also in Red Rock State Park and learning more about their formation. I seriously doubt I’ll remember the orogenous period name though. 😀