Nederland

A former mining and mill town at the top of Boulder Canyon and on the scenic Peak to Peak Highway, "Ned" embodies that small, mountain-town spirit in look and attitude: laid-back, independent, renegade, and friendly. Nederland is quite possibly quirkier than Boulder, with its famous "frozen dead guy" in a storage shed, community-wide coffin races, and unusual art throughout town. The town got its name from a Dutch company that owned several mines in the area: "Nederland" is Dutch for "Netherlands," or low lands. The downtown retains the character of its silver-mining days, and has several good bars, cafés, restaurants, and shops. Nederland is the gateway to skiing at Eldora Mountain Resort and high-altitude hiking in the Indian Peaks Wilderness.