Boulder Creek is a creek draining the mountains to the west of Boulder, Colorado and the plains between the city and St. Vrain Creek.
Route
The creek rises from its many forks along the continental divide above the town of Nederland. Its various tributaries flow into Barker reservoir, a water supply for the city of Boulder. From the reservoir, the creek flows through a hydroelectric dam down Boulder Canyon, and into the city. Boulder Creek forms much of the beauty of downtown Boulder. It is a popular summer recreational spot for many outdoor activities, including inner tubing, fly fishing, and wading. The Boulder Creek Festival takes place during the summer along the creek in Central Park. The Boulder Creek Path follows the creek from Eben G. Fine Park in west Boulder to E. Pearl Pkwy on the east side of the city. The creek's flow takes it through the rural subdivisions of northeast Boulder, and into Weld County, where it joins St. Vrain Creek. The water from Boulder Creek ends up flowing into the South Platte River, which is a fork of the Platte River, and runs to the Missouri River, the Mississippi River, and eventually into the Gulf of Mexico.
