Back-to-School Resources for Boulder Students and Families

Discover fun, safe and easy ways you can walk, bike, roll or catch a ride across town:

Bus for Free

Taking the bus in Boulder is free for most students!

• Boulder’s local HOP bus and all regular RTD services run free fare for youth ages 19 and under.
• University students can use their university-issued CollegePass to travel on local, regional and airport transit for free.
• View the Boulder bus map to find routes.

Share the Path

Getting around by foot, scooter, skateboard, bike or e-bike are great options to get to school and explore Boulder, too.

• Safe paths start with you! Learn about rules of the road, quick tips to Share the Path, and which wheels go where, including for scooters, bikes and e-bikes (e-motos aren’t allowed anywhere),
• If you own a bike, register it online for free to help keep your bike secure.
• If you don’t have your own bike or scooter and are at least 18, you can also rent Shared E-Scooters and E-Bikes across town. CU Boulder students are also eligible for a free Boulder BCycle annual pass.
• Check out the Boulder Bike Map for routes around town.

Planning to Park Instead?

Check out the University of Colorado Boulder Student Parking Resources or the city’s Parking Guide.

Made by kids, for kids. View the child-friendly map online or pick up a print copy outside the Growing Boulder office at the north side of the Boulder Main Library.

• Boulder's Child-Friendly Map

Before you head outdoors on our 155 miles of open space trails, remember our 10 essential tips for enjoying and protecting Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks system. Read our Open Space tips.

• 10 Essential Trail Tips

Get your recreation on by exploring the fun off-campus. Tee off at Flatirons Golf Course, try a new fitness or dance class, ride the 42-acre Valmont Bike Park or swim and paddle at Boulder Reservoir. From workouts to outdoor adventures, there’s plenty to explore beyond campus.

• Fall 2026 Recreation Guide
• Boulder Parks and Recreation Facilities

The Family Resource Schools program, a partnership between the City of Boulder and the Boulder Valley School District, is dedicated to supporting families’ capacity to raise healthy, well-functioning, and successful children through a broad array of prevention and early intervention services paired with case management.

• Learn how FRS can support you and your family

Whether you’ve lived in Boulder your whole life or are new to town, we welcome students as part of our community! Upcoming community events include:

• North Boulder Public Art & Mural Walking Tour. Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, 4:30-6 p.m.

  Join the City of Boulder's Office of Arts and Culture and Street Wise Arts for a free walking tour of North Boulder's public art and murals.

• Youth Volunteer Opportunity: Fire Mitigation at Cottonwood Grove. Sat, Sep 12, 2026, 8-11:30 a.m.

  To help protect our community and the landscapes we all enjoy, Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) conducts critical fuel reduction projects throughout the system, and you can be part of the effort! Join the Junior Ranger team for a morning of wildfire mitigation work on one of Boulder's eastern properties

• Dark Skies & Deep Space: Andromeda Rising. Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, 7-10 p.m.

  Join OSMP staff and partners from the Longmont Astronomical Society, DarkSky Colorado, and the Fiske Planetarium for an evening of guided stargazing beneath Boulder’s dark skies.

• Autumn Stroll and Scoop: North Boulder Park Family Guided Walk | Joy of Walking. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, 9-11 a.m.

  Tour North Boulder Park, a year-round favorite for outdoor activities, picnics and relaxation, and its Newlands neighborhood. The free, guided walk ends with ice cream, sponsored for kids 18 and under — registration required.

Find more ways to participate in local government, volunteer or apply for jobs, and sign up to stay in the loop about local news:

• Sign Up for City News

• Participate in Local Government

• Volunteer Opportunities for All Ages