North Boulder / Wonderland Lake

Welcome to North Boulder / Wonderland Lake

North Boulder and the Wonderland Lake neighborhood comprise a quiet area with friendly neighbors and trendy businesses. North Boulder was first developed with post-war tract housing in the mid-20th century. Recent years have seen an influx of new developments with attractive single-family homes, townhouses, and condominiums. The Wonderland Lake neighborhood was developed in the 1970s under the concept of creating a luxury Boulder suburb with outdoor recreation right on its doorstep. Trails run through Wonderland Lake Park and rise through the surrounding mountains and open space. North Boulder offers an artsy vibe with enticing ethnic restaurants, hip craft beer breweries, and laidback cafes. Downtown shopping and dining at Pearl Street Mall is just two miles away.
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What to Love

• Quiet residential streets
• Trendy arts hub
• Exciting restaurants
• Outdoor recreation

People & Lifestyle

North Boulder is a major hub of the Boulder arts scene. Often called NoBo for short, North Boulder is teeming with galleries and art-focused events. The neighborhood also offers great restaurants and access to outdoor recreation in the mountains. Wonderland Lake is one of the best places in Boulder for enjoying outdoor recreation on your doorstep. The neighborhood’s namesake lake is surrounded by a large public park with trails and a playground for kids.
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Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

North Boulder’s dynamic dining scene includes some of the city’s most exciting restaurants. Dagabi Cucina is a hip Spanish-style tapas bar with gourmet small plates and happy hour drink specials. Proto’s Pizzeria Napoletana offers thin-crust pizzas with creative toppings fired in a brick oven. The North End at 4580 is a sophisticated New American bistro with an eclectic menu of globally-influenced and market-driven cuisine. The North End focuses on flawless execution of straightforward dishes prepared with fresh local ingredients. Meals are paired with an impressive drinks selection that includes rotating hand-crafted cocktails, local craft beers, and an extensive wine list. The North End also boasts great mountain views through large windows inside and an outdoor patio dining area. Bacco Trattoria & Mozzarella Bar serves inventive Italian cuisine and delicious specialty cheese. La Choza and Wapos are great choices for authentic Mexican eats.​​​​​​​

The original Lucky’s Market is a landmark North Boulder store specializing in locally grown organic groceries, locally reared premium meats, and delicious prepared deli foods and baked goods. The adjacent Lucky’s Bakehouse and Creamery is a must-visit, with unbeatable ice cream and exquisite sweet and savory baked goods prepared by a world-class pastry chef.
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Things to Do

Wonderland Lake Park is a picturesque open space area surrounding Wonderland Lake. Popular activities at the park including fishing and wildlife spotting. The 1.5-mile Wonderland Lake Loop Trail encircles the lake, and other trailheads in the park offer scenic hikes into the surrounding foothills. The park also has hang gliding and paragliding launch sites. The 65.2-acre Foothills Community Park has hiking trails, picnic shelters, a dog park, and sports facilities including inline hockey rinks, basketball hoops, and a soccer field.
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North Boulder’s artsy atmosphere comes to the fore during monthly First Friday Art Walks. These Art Walks are centered on the NoBo Art District along Broadway. More than 40 working artists’ studios and other creative businesses open their doors to the public for a fun evening featuring art demonstrations, live music, and refreshments.
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Schools

North Boulder and Wonderland Lake are served by the Boulder County School District.
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Highlights include:
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• Crest View Elementary School, Public, K-5
• Centennial Middle School, Public, 6-8
• Boulder High School, Public, 9-12