Discover Longmont: Nature, Culture, and Water Activities

Longmont offers a range of reasons to visit: nature trails, insights into the city’s history, and water activities. At the Sandstone Ranch Visitors & Learning Center, a nature trail passes several historic buildings and runs close to sandstone cliffs; there is also a lookout point. The Longmont Museum complements outdoor experiences with the history of Longmont and the St. Vrain Valley. When choosing a vacation rental, you can consider which of these aspects of the city you would most like to shape your stay.

Nature and history in different formats

The trail at the Sandstone Ranch Visitors & Learning Center brings nature and historic buildings together in one visitor experience. If you would like to spend more time at the site, you can choose one of the guided group tours offered year-round: they last one or two hours. The two durations give groups a clear choice when planning their visit.

The McIntosh Lake Nature Area has 3.5 miles of easy walking trails. It also offers good opportunities to spot prairie dogs, bald eagles, pelicans, and other wildlife. This makes it an interesting place for anyone looking to combine wildlife watching and walks during their stay. By contrast, the Sandstone Ranch trail and its historic buildings add a historical dimension.

Get active outdoors: water, cycling skills, and sailing

At the Dickens Farm Nature Area, a floating course runs along St. Vrain Creek. It is open to inner tubes, kayaks, paddleboards, and small non-motorized boats. This gives you a choice of different ways to get around for water activities. The Dickens Farm Nature Area also has a beginner cycling skills course. If you would rather add a land-based sport to your stay, you’ll find a different kind of experience there than on the creek course.

Near Longmont, the Union Sailing Club is located on Union Reservoir. The club holds weekly regattas in spring, summer, and fall. Annual regattas, social events, youth programs, and courses open to the general sailing public are also held there. For travelers interested in sailing, this offers another focus, distinct from the water course in Longmont.

Collections, art, and local experiences

The Longmont Museum’s collection includes more than 17,000 objects, 10,000 photographs, and thousands of documents about the history of Longmont and the St. Vrain Valley. This breadth offers different ways to explore regional history: through objects, images, and written documents. In Longmont, Art in Public Places features permanent and temporary art installations, complementing the museum with art in public spaces.

Hands-on activities and local drinks may also be of interest: at The Art of Cheese, you can make cheese yourself. The Brewhop Trolley lets passengers hop on and off at numerous craft beverage locations in Longmont. These experiences are quite different from a walk, a museum visit, or water activities, and offer further ideas for planning your stay.

Longmont as a base

Longmont’s bus network makes it easier to explore the city and take day trips to Boulder, Denver, and Fort Collins. If you choose Longmont as your base, you can therefore consider both experiences in the city and trips to these other destinations. Which other places you’d like to explore is a separate decision: Boulder, Niwot, Allenspark, Louisville and Superior.

Back to the main travel overview: Boulder.