There are many rock cliff faces accessible from the road, making Boudler Canyon one of the premiere climbing areas in the world. Boulder Canyon connects the City of Boulder with the Town of Nederland, Colorado, and provides direct access for Boulder to the Continental Divide. Boulder Canyon is designated as a scenic by-way, Colorado State Highway 119. From up in Nederland, CO 119 passes along the
northern shore of Barker Meadow Reservoir and drops into the scenic Boulder Canyon, alongside Boulder Creek. The Boulder Falls resides about 1/2 way up Boulder Canyon, and is the confluence of Middle Boulder Creek and North Boulder Creek. Boulder Creek forms much of the natural beauty of downtown Boulder. It is a popular summer recreational spot for many outdoor activities, including tubing, fly fishing, and wading. The Boulder Creek Festival takes place during the summer along the creek in Central Park. Gold was discovered in 1859, along Boulder Creek at the confluence of South Boulder and Beaver Creeks, called Deadwood Diggings, and six miles northeast, called Gold Run
Nederland was established in 1874. The town started as a trading post between Ute Indians and European settlers during the 1850s. The town's first economic boom came when minerals such as tungsten, silver, and gold were discovered near Tungsten (east of Nederland), Caribou (northwest of Nederland, 1859), and Eldora (west of Nederland, 1875). Nederland, CO - Barker Reservoir
Today Nederland is better known as a hub for outdoor recreation in the nearby Indian Peaks Wilderness, Rocky Mountain National Park, Roosevelt National Forest, and the recently established James Peak Wilderness. Nederland is located 19 miles (27 km) southwest of Boulder, 41 miles (66 km) south of Estes Park, and 47 miles (76 km) northwest of Denver.
