Boulder's natural icons
Flatirons
Why locals love it
Few towns in the world as blessed with settings as naturally spectacular as Boulder. At the edge of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, the city sits at the foot of five sandstone monoliths known collectively as the Flatirons, named for their resemblance to the old-fashioned clothes irons of early settlers.
Why you should visit it
Climbing the Flatirons is a rite of passage for college freshman and adult visitors alike. Ascents range in difficulty from easy strolling to hairy scrambling, so choose according to your personal comfort level. Rock climbers also love this area, with it's wealth of similarly varied bouldering, trad and sport routes.
Special tip
The third Flatiron (counting from north to south) bears a large CU insignia faintly visible in red paint against the red rock. See if you can spot it.