Achievement Get: Boulder Day Hike Flatiron #1

On the first day, we hiked to the first flatiron (Flatiron #1) from Chautauqua Park. This was only a 3 mile hike, but you gain over 1,400 feet in elevation and some of the climbing portions are fairly rocky and steep. However, practically the whole trail is beautiful. I would highly recommend this hike. Most trail guides you will read (such as ProTrails) give this hike a moderate / strenuous rating which I think is fair. But, if you take your time and aren't afraid of a little scrambling in a couple of rocky areas, this hike is easily worth the effort. What follows is a little beginning-to-end  photo journal with a few bonus shots at the end:

Flatirons from the trailhead

Our goal behind

Break looking at Flatiron #2

If you bring your ropes, you can climb the Flatiron faces

Pretty spectacular views of Boulder on the trail!

Flatiron #2 (looking South toward the Denver area)

The end of the trail on the back side of Flatiron #1!

Your reward for reaching the top is a fabulous view of the Continental Divide!

Flatiron #1 from the south side

Very dramatic! (with some visual effects)

Of course there were chipmunks - never take your eye off of them! They may be small, but they will tear your throat out in a second!