Web: http://www.bouldercounty.org/os/parks/pages/rabbitmtn.aspx
When: Day use only
Located between Longmont and Lyons off of Highway 66, Rabbit Mountain Open Space is one of our tried-and-true hikes when we don't feel like driving all the way into the mountains. Its easy-to-moderate trails are great for kids; with little effort, you'll all be rewarded with spectacular panoramas -- on a recent clear day, we could see all the way down to Pikes Peak, just about 130 miles away. Beyond the views, Rabbit Mountain is also a popular spot for mountain biking, jogging and even horseback riding.
Rabbit Mountain is a transitional area between the Rockies and the plains, so the landscape here feels unique for the Front Range, with wildflowers and high desert shrubs bumping up against red rock outcroppings and Ponderosa Pines. Keep an eye out for birds -- we've seen bald eagles, hawks and American kestrels while hiking here. As for other wildlife, oddly enough, we've never seen rabbits on Rabbit Mountain. But take note: the area's previous name was Rattlesnake Mountain.
