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Nature reserve · Colorado

National Center for Atmospheric Research

National Center for Atmospheric Research from directly overhead

National Center for Atmospheric Research is a nature reserve in Colorado, at a modelled elevation of 1,792 m. Starr Peak stands 3,198 m to the southwest, 9.7 miles off. The nearest named place is Two Tree Hill, a peak 0.1 miles away. Lariat Loop Scenic and Historic Byway passes 16 miles off.

Visiting

What to expect

Operated by
National Science Foundation
Access
Permitted
Getting there

How to reach it

Driving directionsPlan a drive around it
Coordinates39.97660, -105.27289

Overlooks nearby

Around it

Named places within 25 miles

Peaks
Museums
Artworks
Parks
  • Bear Creek Park: 0.6 mi
  • Bill Bower Park: 1.0 mi
  • Harlow Platts Community Park: 1.3 mi
  • Boulder Mountain Park: 1.3 mi
  • Shanahan Ridge Park: 1.4 mi
Gardens
  • Centennial Community Garden: 1.2 mi
  • Waterwise Garden: 1.5 mi
  • Centennial Garden: 1.5 mi
  • Goss Grove Community Garden: 2.7 mi
  • Hickory Community Garden: 2.7 mi
Historic sites
  • En Memoria de Los Seis de Boulder: 1.5 mi
  • Arbor: 1.6 mi
  • Colorado Chautauqua National Historic Landmark: 1.7 mi
  • Baseline marker: 1.7 mi
  • Frank Shorter: 2.4 mi
Attractions
Nature reserves: 55
Cliffs: 49
  • Front Porch: 0.8 mi
  • Raptor Nesting Site: 1.8 mi
  • Eagle Rock: 6.0 mi
  • The Amphitheatre: 6.3 mi
  • Bitty Buttress: 6.3 mi
Picnic sites: 27
  • Barbeque: 1.8 mi
  • Red Barn Group Picnic Area: 10.0 mi
  • Mount Alto Picnic Area: 10.2 mi
  • Bootleg Bottom Picnic Area: 12.4 mi
  • Ole Barn Knoll Picnic Area: 12.7 mi
Ghost towns: 9
Waterfalls: 8
  • Boulder Falls: 7.4 mi
  • Copeland Falls: 22.3 mi
  • Lower Copeland Falls: 22.3 mi
  • Upper Copeland Falls: 22.3 mi
  • Hidden Falls: 22.3 mi
Springs: 3
  • Crystal Spring: 20.0 mi
  • Arapaho Spring: 23.1 mi
  • Wilson Spring: 23.2 mi
Natural arches: 1
  • Keyhole Rock: 22.3 mi
On the horizon

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 11.5 miles of National Center for Atmospheric Research. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Starr PeakSW 234°3,198 m9.7 mi
Thorodin MountainSW 233°3,195 m10.2 mi
Centralia MountainSSW 207°2,982 m11.5 mi
Miramonte MountainSW 230°2,915 m9.3 mi
Blue MountainSSW 207°2,846 m7.7 mi
Bald MountainWNW 290°2,782 m10.1 mi
Windy PeakSW 216°2,779.776 m9.7 mi
Crescent MountainSSW 201°2,724 m6.2 mi
Conditions

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:0518:3819:13
June solstice05:3319:5320:34
September equinox06:4918:2419:00
December solstice07:2015:5716:40

Local time (America/Denver).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: May–Oct.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F343543495767737164524134
Precip in0.81.02.03.03.21.91.81.72.11.61.20.8

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Boulder, 1 mi away.

Wildlife nearby
  • creeping mahonia644 obs
  • Rocky Mountains Ponderosa Pine524 obs
  • Front Range Beardtongue339 obs
  • Black-billed Magpie315 obs
  • Great Plains yucca288 obs
  • chokecherry277 obs
  • Gunnison's Mariposa Lily268 obs
  • broad-leaved sweet pea251 obs

Research-grade iNaturalist community observations within 3 km — what people have recorded, not a species inventory.

Sources

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapWikipedia

OpenStreetMap element way/709831419

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