Need a suggestion for sunrise tomorrow morning

If I spend one more hour studying without getting outside I'm going to implode ...I need a suggestion for a place to shoot the sunrise tomorrow morning. I have to be in Longmont at 9:15am to coach a track meet. I'm not afraid of getting up early, so anything within an hour of Longmont is welcome (Boulder, RMNP). Company is welcome. Thanks for the suggestions in advance.

How 'bout Boulder or RMNP?

Thanks Todd. I'm looking for something more specific in terms of location since I need to be at sunsrise, and back to my car in time to get to Longmont by 9:15.

I'd head out to Chautauqua Park (Baseline Road in Boulder). I don't have a spot more specific than that, but there should be plenty of comps to choose from near the parking lot - either up the trail, or a little further up the road. You should have a good 20 minutes or so of pre-dawn light where you could figure out the best location.

I also like the Flatirons Mesa Trail. The TH is just off of Hwy 93, about 1/4 mile south of the intersection with Hwy 128.

Yep, I'd say Chautauqua too. My favorite vantage point is along the trail that heads west from the parking lot, low and parallel to Baseline Rd.

There's some reservoirs east of Boulder that could provide a nice reflection shot of the the Flatirons and/or Indian Peaks if you're lucky with no wind. One that comes to mind is on Baseline, between Boulder and Lafayette. Technically I think you're not supposed to cross the small fence to go to the water, but I doubt that anyone would catch you at dawn. Check out some maps!

Scott, give this place a shot: Sawhill Ponds, on 75th Street, north of Valmont. Good luck!!!


http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/openspace/nature/scenery.htm#sawhill

http://www.coloradophotos.com/basefolder9/img0015.htm

http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/openspace/trailheads/trailhead-sawhill.htm

http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/openspace/images_nature/sawhill_regs.jpg

I've always wondered about that area, as I drove by. I'm gonna have to check out Sawhill Ponds for myself...

Thanks Brent!

I took my daughter on a hike on the McClintock Trail at Chautauqua Park last weekend. Some good views of the Flatirons from a slightly different vantage point. I wasn't there for photography, so I don't have any examples to show you, but it looked like it could be good. And the good views are only about a 5 or 10 minute hike in. The trailhead is next to the Chautauqua Auditorium.
http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/openspace/trailheads/trailhead-e-mesa-mclintock.htm

wow, that is a lot of ponds ....which one is the vantage point from?

Thanks for the full response. Chautauqua it is. I'm liking Scott Bacon's vantage point. Maybe I'll give it a try

I've ducked into Walden Pond on the way to work, but never went back to Sawhill. I obviously missed the better part. Walden is nice, but the views aren't that great. Might have to check it out one morning before work. Thanks for posting the links, Brent!