Shift Into Gear: Boulder Walk and Bike Month Starts This Weekend

June 1 marks the start of Boulder Walk and Bike Month, an annual event that promotes active transportation throughout the city and county. What started as a one-day “bike to work” challenge in 1977 has grown to a multi-week celebration with free programs for all ages and abilities.

“We try to be very inclusive,” comments Sandee Cirian, marketing and programs director for nonprofit Community Cycles, which spearheads the event alongside the City of Boulder. From families with children to seniors and adaptive athletes, she says that a range of bikers participate in the month’s opening event: a tour of the B360, which forms a 24-mile loop around Boulder.

“It's a very well thought-out path,” Cirian affirms. Though mostly set along paved bike and pedestrian trails, roughly a quarter of the route is shared with vehicle traffic. However, most streets and crossings appear in quiet residential neighborhoods.

No particular type of bike is necessary to complete the circuit, and pedal-assisted e-bikes are permitted. If you don’t own a set of wheels, look to local outfitters, including University Bicycles and Full Cycle, as well as BCycle stations across town. Also, aside from a helmet, don’t worry too much about technical apparel. “You don't need spandex for this,” jokes Cirian.

Ready to raise the kickstand? Here are the key 2025 Boulder Walk and Bike Month events to add to your calendar.
B360 and B180 – Circle Boulder by Bike
Sunday, June 1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Valmont Bike Park, 3160 Airport Road
Boulder Walk and Bike Month will commence with an organized ride along the B360 and its abbreviated 12-mile version, the B180. Starting at 10 a.m. from Valmont Bike Park, participants will complete the circuits and return to a post-ride party featuring activations from local cycling organizations, bike-themed games and bites from Moe’s Bagels, plus Häagen-Dazs ice cream from Lindsay's Boulder Deli. Costumes are encouraged. Register online for free.

Public Art Walking Tours
Wednesdays, June 4, 11, 18 and 25, 5:30 to 7 p.m.; Saturdays, June 7, 14, 21 and 28, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Downtown Boulder, 17th and Pearl streets
On Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings, join representatives from the City of Boulder’s Office of Arts and Culture for free 90-minute walking tours through downtown’s public art scene. Sculptures, vibrant murals and urban design projects appear along the route, which begins at the corner of 17th and Pearl streets and ends at the 13th Street and Canyon Boulevard intersection — where you’ll find one of the metro area’s best farmers markets in full swing. Space for guided walking tours is limited; register online to secure your spot.

Walk 180 (Eastern Half of Walk 360)
Saturday, June 7, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Neptune Mountaineering Cafe, 633 South Broadway
Start your morning with a coffee and breakfast burrito from Neptune Cafe, then set out on an urban group hike along the eastern half of the Walk 360 (which slightly differs from the B360). This 13-mile point-to-point path links the Table Mesa Shopping Center with the East Boulder Recreation Center, Valmont Bike Park and the North Boulder Art District. Admire the sights along paved and dirt trails, then enjoy lunch at the end alongside new friends. This free event requires online registration via Meetup.

Boulder Bike Show
Wednesday, June 11, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Sanitas Brewing Company, 3550 Frontier Avenue
At 4:30 p.m., come along for a quick group gravel ride between Boulder’s REI and Sanitas Brewing Company, then enter your sweet ride into the Bike Show. There will be several contest categories, spanning from “hottest single speed to “most vintage” and “best Franken-bike.” Spectators will act as judges, determining what two-wheelers are worthy of exclusive prizes. This free event will also involve a bike parade and a bike wash station, plus discounts on street tacos and Sanitas’ craft beer.

Pride Ride with Boulder County Parks & Open Space
Thursday, June 12, 6 to 8 p.m.
Betasso Preserve Trailhead, Betasso Road
Celebrate Pride outside with local nonprofit Boulder Mountainbike Alliance, which will host an intermediate no-drop group ride within the foothills’ Betasso Preserve. Expect flowing singletrack, with the full figure-eight route totaling 800 feet of elevation gain across nearly seven miles. Attendance is free and online registration is available on Meetup.

Big Boulder Dog Walk
Saturday, June 14, 9 to 11 a.m.
Cottonwood Trailhead, 5102 Independence Road
Nearby Denver has gone to the dogs, and with one in every three Boulder households, you can bet this event will be a popular one. Join friendly pups and fellow dog-lovers on a leisurely 2.4-mile walk along Cottonwood Trail. All participating pooches will receive a special gift bag filled with treats and a toy.

RIDE: BiciFiesta
Wednesday, June 18, 6 to 8 p.m.
Erie Singletrack, 2100 WC Road 5, Erie
To help make mountain biking more diverse and accessible, the Boulder Mountain Bike Association will host an all-levels group ride led by guides from the local Latinx community. Meet them and other community members, as well as those looking to practice their Spanish, at the Erie Singletrack trail network at Sunset Open Space. After some fun downhill riding, refuel with barbecue fare. This event is free; online registration is listed on Meetup.
Walk and Bike to Work Day
Wednesday, June 25
Boulder County
“I'm not sure I would like to drive around Boulder on this morning because it's so covered in bikes. It's pretty spectacular,” comments Sue Prant, executive director of Community Cycles. This year, an estimated 7,000 participants will engage in the Walk and Bike Month’s flagship event. From 6:30 to 9 a.m., more than a hundred breakfast stations will pop up around the city and county, from Superior all the way north to Longmont. Find items like sizzling bacon and breakfast burritos on your route, plus Conscious Coffee and Lamar’s Donuts from the Community Cycles’ station.

Pledge to ride, then celebrate camaraderie at the Walk and Bike to Work Day happy hour hosted at Zeal, a health-conscious American eatery located at 3101 Pearl Parkway. Free food and drink specials will be available from its patio, along with informative displays and giveaways between 4 and 7 p.m.

Walk 360 Slow Marathon
Saturday, June 28, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fourmile Canyon Creek Trailhead, 420 Lee Hill Drive
Gain a whole new perspective of Boulder on the Walk 360, an all-day “slow marathon” that closely follows the B360 route on foot. From scenic dirt paths along the foothills to sidewalks in neighborhoods you may not have yet explored, there’s a lot to be seen on this 26-mile loop — and a lot to learn, as the event will be co-led by Darcy Kitching, author of The Best Urban Hikes: Boulder. Register online for this free event through Meetup.

For more events, including senior rides, a children’s bicycle rodeo and educational workshops, visit walkandbikemonth.org/events.