Just down the road, quaint Nederland offers the advantages of small-town life coupled with staggering scenic beauty and unending recreational opportunities. Sitting at 8,233 feet above sea level, Nederland is perfectly positioned between Barker Reservoir and National Forest land.

What started as a small cluster of cabins known as Dayton grew to become Middle Boulder in the 1870s. The discovery of the Caribou Mine put the sleepy mountain town on the map, and when the Dutch Mining Company Nederland purchased the mine in 1874, the town’s name officially changed to Nederland.

Today, with a population of just 1,500, Nederland historic downtown is home to unique boutiques, coffee houses, restaurants, and craft breweries. The town also hosts two of Colorado’s largest music festivals, Frozen Dead Guy Days and Ned Fest.