There are regular debates on the forums and discussion groups about mountain living. On the up side, it agrees with some folks for obvious, natural beauty and lifestyle reasons. And depending on the exact location, mountain home prices are cheaper than most premium city sites. On the down side, it requires some adaptation, depending on where you’re from.  Today we’ll discuss the realities of living in a mountain town that’s 17 miles west and 3,000 feet up from Boulder. Formerly called Middle Boulder, it’s the former tungsten mining town called Nederland.

The properties: Land, single-family homes, farms/ranches, some income property, no condos/townhomes to speak of. Average home price: about $377,000 today, compared to Boulder’s average price of about $806,000.  Homes either are fitted for city water, sewer, gas, or some combination of well water, septic, propane. Lots of homes are designed to exploit passive solar heat. It’s doubtful there are lots with in-ground irrigation systems, as there are a mere 59 frost-free days for gardening and greening.

The commute: 17 miles from Nederland to Boulder. About 60 miles to Denver. About 30 miles to Golden. About 35 miles to I-70 on ramp. About 16 miles to Black Hawk/Gilpin County. About 40 miles to Estes Park.

The lifestyle: Slow down. Way down. A little more. Are you from New York, New Jersey, or anyplace with a “scene?” You’ll be either happy or disappointed to know that the person in line in front of you at Happy Trails Coffee will want to chat with the barista after ordering, and vice versa.  It once took the person at the Business Connection 45 minutes to prepare a FedEx shipment. Considering it was going to Denver, I almost could have driven it there in the same amount of time. The speed limit is 25, and it’s enforced. If you like to take your time, relax, and leave the road rage in the flat land, this is the place to do it.

The wear and tear: First off, there’s the wind and the weather at 8,500 feet above sea level. That means you’re going to do a bit more exterior home maintenance. You’ll have to take care of your roof, and keep your deck and siding stained/painted.

Peak to Peak Highway is the north-south road that passes through Nederland, and winds up (and down) the Indian Peaks range to and from places like Ward, Gilpin County, Black Hawk. It’s one of the more elevated highways in the US, and even when it’s well-maintained and ploughed in the winter, it’s still slow going on snowy days. That means good tires, an all-wheel drive vehicle, and a temperament for driving in bad weather. Nederland is also accessible from Boulder by way of Sugarloaf, which has a small community of its own, and Magnolia Road (with neighborhoods, land, and farms/ranches.) Both are smaller roads, about half of which the distance are dirt, and are much steeper and vulnerable to extreme conditions. Even during mild winters, the winding roads take a special toll on tires. You’ll be looking at a new set each year.

The transportation: When the going gets rough, some folks opt to take the RTD bus that runs regularly all day between Boulder and Nederland, and goes on to Eldora, Nederland’s own ski mountain.  Chances are, if the bus can’t make it up the mountain, neither can most everyone else. The canyon road, however, is well-maintained by Boulder County, and only the big-big storms have shut it down for any length of time.

Here’s some video footage of what the commute is like.  (Seconds later, just after I had put down the video recorder of course, a young bear ran across the highway.) Watch for deer, foxes, racoons, and other wildlife crossing the road. There are mountain lions in them thar hills, but Boulder has experienced many more negative incidences with them than anyone in Nederland.

Boulder Canyon Drive to Nederland, CO from CO Homefinder on Vimeo.

The Front Range has had such wet weather this spring, that it’s just green and gorgeous out there. The locals haven’t seen this much spring moisture in years, which is great for the vegetation and for reducing summer fire risk, but lousy for cabin fever.

The amenities: 9 restaurants/bars, a mid-sized grocery store, one grocery co-op, movie rental, an ACE hardware store, and 2 coffee stops (to speak of).  There’s an Elementary, Middle, and High School within the city limits. One dental office, two medical offices, no medical or urgent care facility. A large and well-staffed post office; almost no home mail service, however. The majority of residents pick up mail at a group mailbox stand at an intersection or at their PO Box. The volunteer fire department is an admirable squad of committed residents who do a great job of keeping the public safe. Full time police department within the city limits. Well-stocked community library and new/used bookstore with summer time ice cream shop. Liquor store. Frozen Dead Guy Days festival and Fourth of July parade and fireworks display (that isn’t always held on July 4th). Eldora Mountain Resort, a modest ski mountain by Colorado standards, but adequate for most skiers and families who want to avoid the I-70 congestion and save time and money. There is no swimming or boating on Barker Reservoir, but the fishing is dandy.

The news: The new youth center skateboarding park is the result of seven years’ work, and according to all sources, the best skate park in the state. In fact, the big news is Tony Hawk plans to make a much publicized visit this summer. (Jumbotron and all.)  Also coming soon, The Carousel of Happiness Project. Happy Trails, once located in the train car in the middle of town, has moved across the street, into what was once known as the Good Karma Garage. For all the local news and views, see The Mountain-Ear, Nederland’s own independent press.

If there’s anything else you wanted to know about Nederland, but were afraid to ask, make a visit! With the beautiful summertime weather coming, and the wildflowers blooming, take a drive, and maybe a hike down one of the hundreds of great trails there. Stop at the Visitors Center on the main drag for a wealth of information on the town, its people, and its homes.  If you’re hot on the Nederland trail, you can always take a ride with a local Nederland REALTOR in the know.