Best Boulder Day Trip: Drive up to Nederland Colorado
Nederland Colorado reading time: 14 minutes
I took this day trip from my home in Boulder up to Nederland Colorado in November 2023. It’s a small town but I had a wonderful day hiking, eating great food, delicious craft beer, and exploring what Nederland has to offer.
Just 30 minutes above Boulder, you can find the charming mountain town of Nederland Colorado. While the population of Nederland hovers just over 1500 people, there is plenty to keep you busy in this quaint little hippie enclave. If you’re looking for a great day trip from Boulder, CO, Nederland may be just what you’re looking for. Nederland has a great downtown, fantastic wilderness areas, and a great foodie scene.
Check out my reel on Instagram about Nederland.
Nederland Colorado Things To Do
Once you enter the city of Nederland, you may want to make a quick stop at the Nederland Visitors Center to grab a map and chat with a local. It’s located just next to the main roundabout as you first enter Nederland. Nederland may be small, but there are plenty of things to do to keep you entertained here for a day.
Nederland is quite small, so once you find a place to park your car, you won’t have to worry about it until it’s time to leave again. You can easily walk everywhere around town. There are a few streets with a small ascent, but for the most part, it’s pretty flat.
Where to Eat in Nederland Colorado
Surprisingly, there is a great foodie scene with some pretty fantastic local Nederland Colorado restaurants. Here are a few of my favorites.
Crosscut Pizzeria & Taphouse
This is one of the most well-known restaurants in Nederland. It’s popular with both locals and visitors alike for its thick-crust pizza. Stop in for a pie and a beer overlooking the Middle Boulder Creek that it backs up to.
Kathmandu Restaurant
This is one of the absolute best Nepalese restaurants in Boulder County Colorado. They also have some of the best chai tea around. If you’re not in the mood for pizza, I highly suggest heading over to Kathmandu.
Tres Gringos
Tres Gringos is another fantastic dining option. I was recommended by a local to come here for lunch and it did not disappoint. The service was quick and the food was delicious. There was so much for one person that I even had leftovers for another day.
Decent Bagel
If you’re in Nederland early and in the mood for a coffee and a bagel, this place is the perfect pit stop. It’s in a small little house on the east side of town near the reservoir. You won’t be disappointed.
Where to Drink in Nederland Colorado
Knotted Root Brewing Company
If you’re headed to the city of Nederland, do yourself a favor and stop at the Knotted Root Brewing Company. It’s on the west side of the main roundabout. There is a small outdoor patio where you can enjoy your craft brews in the fresh air. But if it’s too cold, the inside is also cute and cozy. They have an array of rotating beer options but are well known for their sours and “Goos,” which are like a mix of juicy IPA and kolsch. It is a local hangout where the Nederland hippies come to chill.
The Train Cars Coffee and Kava
This is more than just a gimmick. The Train Cars Coffee is a cute cafe made from two old train cars put together at the corners. Inside you can find a cozy, sweet cafe with great design and decoration, covered in plants and local art. They have a variety of coffees, teas, pastries, etc.
Go Shopping in Nederland Colorado
There are a ton of small shops and boutiques around Nederland with books, jewelry, clothing, etc. It’s worth it to just wander around town, in and out of the shops.
Blue Own Books & Boutique
This is one of my favorite places to stop into when in Ned. They have a ton of books, including a banned book section. There are also a lot of metaphysical books, as well as candles, incense, prayer flags, and more.
Be Entertained in Nederland Colorado
Carousel of Happiness
The Carousel of Happiness in Ned is one of the best parts of coming up from Boulder to Nederland. It only opened in 2010 in its current location, but it has a history that goes much further back than that. The creator, Scott, received a music box from his sister while he was in Vietnam in the 70’s. He listened to that music over and over and started dreaming of a carousel.
Fast forward several years, Scott was living in Ned and had some extra wood scraps from building his home; he started experimenting with carving animals. He continued for the next 26 years carving each and every animal by hand. He eventually got his hands on the carousel structure (another long story), created a board, and voila the Carousel of Happiness found its home.
Listen to this interview with Scott on AtlasObscura for the full story about how the Carousel of Happiness came to be. It’s a truly fascinating story.
Farmer’s Market
The Ned farmer’s market is every Sunday from 10 am-2 pm. It’s located not far from Decent Bagel, near the reservoir. You can find live music, beer, good food, gifts, etc. It’s very lively.
NedFest
NedFest is a multi-day music festival that occurs each summer in Nederland, usually in August. It is located in the front lawn of the Caribou Room (which is another great music venue throughout the year). There are lots of local bands and well-known jam bands, dancing, beer, music, camping, kids activities, etc.
See the Nature in Nederland Colorado
Nederland is right in the middle of nature. There are so many places to enjoy while you’re up here. You can go skiing, hiking, camping, etc.
Click here to read my Women’s Hiking Gear List for Beginners
Lost Lake
This is the best hike in the area. It’s very easy to get here too. Drive through the town of Ned, and continue on through Eldora, until you reach the Hessie Trailhead. You can park at the Hessie Trailhead (near the fork in the road with Fourth of July Road). The hike up to Lost Lake takes just about one hour, and then another 45 minutes coming back down. I suggest spending some time up near the lake though because it is very beautiful and peaceful.
If you’re looking for Nederland Colorado Camping, this is the place to do it. Bring your tent and camping goods, and wake up next to this incredibly beautiful lake with clear water.
I use AllTrails Plus when I go hiking. I highly recommend it as you can download offline maps, and send out “lifelines” to friends and family to let them know exactly where you are. You can rate trails, and get inspired to try new ones. The membership is $35/year, but with this discount, it is just $25 for the year. That’s barely $2/month.
Click here to get 30% OFF of your own AllTrails Plus account
Use code: nickiposts30
Boulder Falls
You can find the Boulder Falls about halfway between Boulder and Nederland, along Boulder Canyon Drive. There is a small area where you can pull over and park your car. Then the walk to the falls is just a couple of minutes. The falls are on the north side of the road. It’s a great stop between the two cities, and definitely worth it.
Go Skiing in Nederland Colorado
Eldora Mountain Resort
Eldora is often the butt of many jokes as it is much smaller in comparison to the many ski resorts in Colorado. However, it is much better than it is made out to be. It’s the closest ski resort to Boulder, making it an easy day trip if you don’t have the time to go all the way up I-70 to Breck or Vail.
You can also take public transit there from Boulder. The NB1 bus will take you directly from the downtown Boulder bus station and drop you at Eldora Mountain parking lot. The bus ride takes about one hour.
Where to Stay in Nederland Colorado
There are not a ton of hotels in Nederland Colorado exactly, but there are several options in the surrounding areas. Maybe you want to stay in Boulder and come up to Nederland just for the day. Or maybe you want to stay in some cabins deeper in the woods. You’ve got options!
The Boulder Creek Lodge
The Boulder Creek Lodge is located in the center of Nederland, a short walk from the supermarket and Carousel of Happiness. They have cozy rooms that make you feel like you’re in a cabin. Continental breakfast is included. Free parking. Laundry service is available.
Book the Boulder Creek Lodge HERE to stay in the center of town.
Secluded Black Hawk Log Cabin with Fire Pit
This cabin is located further south along the Peak to Peak Highway on the way to Black Hawk (famous for casinos). This is a private 2-bedroom cabin with wifi and a full kitchen. The minimum stay is 2 nights.
Book the Black Hawk Log Cabin HERE to stay near the casinos.
Colorado Chautauqua Cottages
The cottages are located inside Chautauqua Park, just near the base to many hikes as well as the Chautauqua Dining Hall in Boulder. There is a summer concert series in the park as well. The cottages include a living room and a front porch. There is free wifi, parking, and breakfast for an additional charge. The drive from here to Nederland is about 35-40 minutes.
Book the Colorado Chautauqua Cottages HERE
Foot of the Mountain Motel
This motel is located just next to Eben G Fine Park and about a 5-minute walk from the Red Rocks Spur Loop trailhead in Boulder. Bike rentals are also available. Breakfast is included. One free parking space is allotted to each room. This place is highly recommended by friends who have stayed here.
Book the Foot of the Mountain Motel HERE
FAQ for Nederland CO
Where is Nederland CO?
Nederland is a small mountain town that sits about 16.5 miles to the west of Boulder, Colorado. It is part of Boulder County.
How far is Nederland from Denver? How far is Nederland from Boulder?
Nederland Colorado to Denver is approximately 45 miles and takes one hour by car. Via public transport, you can take the FF1 from Union Station in Denver to the downtown Boulder bus station. From there you can take the NB1. The total trip from Union Station to Nederland takes nearly two hours by bus.
From the center of Boulder, Ned is about 16.5 miles and 30 minutes away by car. You can take the NB1 bus from the downtown Boulder bus station, which takes about 50 minutes.
How big is Nederland?
The total area of Nederland Colorado is 1.6 square miles. The population lies just around 1550.
What is the elevation in Nederland CO?
Nederland sits at 8,234 feet (2,510 m) above sea level. For comparison, Denver is at 5280 feet (1609 m), and Boulder is at 5430 (1655 m) feet above sea level.
How to pronounce Nederland CO?
Nederland has three syllables: Ned-er-land. The ‘e’ vowels are regular short vowels. The ‘a’ is flattened. It sounds more like ‘lund’ than an exaggerated ‘land.’
What is Nederland CO known for?
Nederland was previously known for the Frozen Dead Guy Days, however, it is no longer held in Nederland. The event got too large and the small town of Ned couldn’t handle it anymore. It is now held each spring in Estes Park, CO. Click here to learn the story of the Frozen Dead Guy, Grandpa Bredo.
Is Nederland Colorado safe?
Absolutely yes. It is a very small town. Not once did I feel threatened, nervous, or scared. The only possible dangers would be nature-related. Check the weather before accidentally getting stuck in a snowstorm.
Is Nederland Colorado Worth Visiting?
Yes, Nederland is worth visiting. It’s a great day trip from Boulder. Even though it’s a small town, there is a lot that it can offer you from beautiful nature to great food and drink options.
Is Nederland CO a good place to live?
This is quite subjective. It’s a good place to live if you like small towns that lean hippy. The people who choose to live here are people who have purposefully escaped bigger cities and towns. You need to be comfortable with small-town life, and rapidly changing weather conditions, including snow and rain.
Was Nederland a Mining Town?
Yes. Nederland got its start as a mill site for silver ore from Caribou. During WWI, it became a mill site for Tungsten ore fo the surrounding areas. There are no longer mines in use.
How did Nederland Colorado get its name?
It may come as no surprise but Nederland got its name because of well, the Netherlands. Previously the city had a series of names, but when a Dutch company bought a silver mine in town, they changed the name to Nederland, and it stuck.
Can you take public transportation to Nederland CO from Boulder?
Yes! You can take the NB1 bus from the downtown Boulder bus station. The NB1 goes directly from Boulder to the center of Nederland, and takes about 40-45 minutes.
Final Thoughts on Nederland Colorado
Visiting Nederland from Boulder is one of the most fantastic, and easy day trips that you can do. You will never be bored. From great food and craft beer to amazing hiking trails, Nederland has it all. It’s a place that you can enjoy when traveling solo, or as a family. There is something for everyone.
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