Each winter, one star in the skies above Boulder shines brighter than all the rest: the Boulder Star, a giant display glowing high on Flagstaff Mountain.
You can see the Boulder Star from miles away in town, but the best way to soak up its magic is with a nighttime hike to its home.
You’ll be rewarded with stellar views of the city — especially at Christmastime, when the residential light displays turn Boulder into a perfect candy cane village.
Boulder Star Dates and Hours
The Boulder Star lights up each year on Veterans Day, November 11, and stays illuminated until early January. (We hiked on January 4th.)
The star comes on near 4:30pm (some reports say exactly 4:30, though on our night it was 4:39) and stays lit until early morning.
Hiking to the Boulder Star – Directions and Maps
There are two main trails leading to the Boulder Star: Viewpoint Trail and Flagstaff Trail. We took Viewpoint Trail on advice from a friend and loved its city views.
Viewpoint Trail | Trailhead on Google Maps | Download AllTrails map
Head west on University Avenue until it dead ends after 5th Street. Park in the neighborhood there, then begin hiking uphill — you’ll soon see a sign for Viewpoint Trail. When you reach Panorama Point, cross the road towards a stone outhouse. At the outhouse, turn right towards another building, the Halfway House. You’ll see the star from there. (See the coordinates of the Boulder Star here on Google Maps.)
Flagstaff Trail | Trailhead on Google Maps | Download AllTrails map
Find the sign for Flagstaff Trail at the intersection of Baseline Road west and Flagstaff Road. At the first junction, turn right towards Halfway House. At the next junction, continue straight and pass a stone outhouse. At the outhouse, turn left to see the star. (See the coordinates of the Boulder Star here on Google Maps.)
The final scramble from Flagstaff Road is short, steep, and slippery with snow and mud. (Microspikes and trekking poles are highly recommended.) Take your time and follow existing paths until you reach a good sitting spot near the center of the star.
If you time it right, you can enjoy splashy sunset colors from inside the star just before it lights. (We even shared the view with a lone deer who was utterly unbothered by our presence.)
Then, as the light fades to blue and black, FLICK! the star will turn on, flooding the hillside with a heavenly glow. It’s pure Colorado magic.
There are a few parking spots on Flagstaff Road directly below the star, so you could technically drive and save yourself all but the final scramble. But what’s the fun in that? Nothing says “Colorado” more than hiking, and nothing says “Boulder” more than hiking to the Boulder Star.
What to Bring on Your Hike
In addition to warm, windproof layers and a good headlamp, you’ll want microspikes for the frequently icy slopes. (Lest you fall on your head and see stars.)
Trekking poles are also highly recommended, as the hill the star sits on is very steep, muddy and/or icy with no established trail.
Most important, though, is a hot beverage to sip at the top as the lights come up. I recommend hot cocoa with marshmallows or a bourbon apple cider.
History of the Boulder Star
The Boulder Star first twinkled in 1947, as a temporary gesture of holiday cheer from Boulder to its residents. The star became so popular, though, that it quickly became a fixture of Boulder’s holiday skyline. (The City of Boulder even sells a holiday card and signature wine to benefit the star’s upkeep. )
It took a few forms through the years, from star-and-cross to, after protests that the cross was too religious, just a star again (and briefly, in the late 1960s, a giant peace sign.)
And of course, being Boulder, it’s environmentally friendly, with 365 energy-efficient LED bulbs. It’s also lit entirely by wind power.
Inside the Boulder Star, you’ll share the dazzling view with starry-eyed young couples, laughing families, and happy pups all partaking in a 73 year-old Boulder tradition. Everyone glows beautifully in the star’s golden light.
Have you hiked to the Boulder Star before? Questions about seeing this uniquely Boulder rite of passage? Let me know in the comments!
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