Week 5 | Texas Tech at Colorado | Saturday, Oct. 3 | Folsom Field, Boulder, CO | 7:30 PM ET | FOX
OK, let’s not pretend this is a marquee matchup on paper.
Colorado stumbled out of its Big 12 opener with a 23-13 loss to Baylor, dropping Coach Prime’s Buffaloes to 2-2 and looking like (potentially) the worst team in the conference. That’s on the heels of a 41-7 blowout at Northwestern that was ugly enough for Deion Sanders to dismiss a handful of players for conduct detrimental to the team days later.
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Texas Tech, meanwhile, rolls into Boulder undefeated at 4-0, ranked No. 12, and looking every bit like the defending Big 12 champs they are.
An interior view of the video scoreboard and empty stands at Folsom Field before a game between the Colorado Buffaloes and Colorado State Rams on Sept. 16, 2023, in Boulder, Colo. (Getty Images)
So no, the Buffaloes probably aren’t pulling off the upset. But the vibes in Boulder remain immaculate, and this might be the single best outdoor city on the entire schedule this season.
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Whatever happens at Folsom Field, fans in town for the game still get to enjoy some of the best terrain in the country.
Chautauqua Park & The Flatirons
Under 10 minutes from Folsom Field | Easy to strenuous
The single best trailhead in Boulder, and it’s basically in town. Options range from the easy 1.3-mile Chautauqua Trail loop to the legendary Royal Arch hike — 3.3 miles, steep, a 4.8-star rating from over 20,000 AllTrails reviews, ending at a natural stone arch overlooking the city. If your group has wildly different fitness levels, this is the one trailhead that can handle all of them at once.
Sunrise over the Flatirons in Boulder, Colo. (Getty Images)
Boulder Creek Path
Walkable from Folsom Field | Easy
Runs right through downtown, so there’s no real “drive time” to speak of. Rent a bike from University Bikes or B-Cycle and ride the paved path, or just walk down and watch people tube, fish and wade in the creek itself. The lowest-effort option on this list.
Cyclists enjoy the Boulder Creek Path near Boulder Creek on a cool, rainy day in Boulder, Colo., on Oct. 9, 2018. (Denver Post via Getty Images)
Eldorado Canyon State Park
About 20 minutes from Folsom Field | $10-12 per vehicle | Moderate to strenuous
Boulder’s rock-climbing mecca, and a legitimately beautiful canyon even if you’re not the one climbing. The Eldorado Canyon Trail is a 6.8-mile out-and-back along South Boulder Creek, 4.7 stars, with towering sandstone walls the whole way.
Eldorado Canyon State Park entrance sign in Colorado. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Boulder Canyon
Minutes west of downtown | Easy to moderate
The free alternative to Eldorado, running along the same corridor. Climbing, fishing and creekside scenery without the entrance fee — a good pick if you’d rather not pay to park.
About an hour from Folsom Field | Entrance fee applies | Varies
The obvious star of the show.
This one runs a little past our usual drive-time window for game day, but c’mon — it’s Rocky Mountain National Park. Just don’t try to squeeze it into a pregame window. Between the drive and the sheer size of the park, this isn’t a two-hour detour before kickoff. It’s a half-day minimum, and honestly a full day if you want to do it right.
If you’re only in Boulder for the game itself, save this one for another trip. But if you’re turning the weekend into a longer stay, or tacking on an extra day before or after, this is exactly where you want to be.
Alpenglow kisses Hallet Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. (Getty Images)
Heads up: Between late May and mid-October, driving into RMNP during peak hours (9 a.m. – 2 p.m. for general park access, or 5 a.m. – 6 p.m. for the Bear Lake Road corridor) requires a Timed Entry Permit reserved in advance on Recreation.gov ($2 reservation fee) in addition to the standard entrance fee.
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Every week this season, OutKick OutDoors is finding the best ways to touch grass before you touch down at the tailgate. Got a favorite spot near your campus we should know about? Hit us up on Instagram and TikTok.