Nederland is a quaint mountain town about an hour from Denver that boasts a strong culture of music and art. Despite being small, there is no shortage of things to do in Nederland, Colorado.
It is a great weekend destination for those seeking cooler temperatures and a break from the city. Nearby outdoor recreation options are abundant. There are enough things to do in Nederland to fill many visits.
21 Unique Things to do in Nederland
In addition to the weird stories, Nederland offers an abundance of things to do.
We share 21 unique things to do in Nederland to help you find something you’ll love.
Nederland town attractions
For a small town, Nederland offers several things to do in town including a hand-carved carousel, a museum, a nature center and more.
1. Check out the Frozen Dead Guy
Nederland is known for the frozen dead guy and it’s a weird story.
National News reported on a resident who created a low-tech cryonic storage facility for human bodies in their backyard.
A Norwegian family living in Nederland decided to cryogenically store their grandfather’s body in the shed behind their house in the early 90s. They used dry ice to keep the body preserved.
Who is the Frozen Dead Guy?
In 1989, Bredo Morstoel died from a heart condition in Norway. Trygve Bauge, his grandson, brought “Grandpa Bredo” from Norway to the US shortly after he died.
Tygve and his mother, Aud, decided to preserve grandpa’s body by keeping it frozen. They believe when science advances and a cure for his heart condition is discovered, they will be able to revive Grandpa.
Trygve began constructing a cryonics chamber at his home for his grandpa’s body.
In the meantime, he stored the body in liquid nitrogen at a California cryonics facility.
In 1993, Trygve moved his grandfather’s frozen body to his home in Nederland. He kept the body in cryonic suspension in a shed behind his house using a steady supply of dry ice.
Frozen Dead Guy Gets a New Home
Trygve was deported from the US due to visa complications. His mother, Aud, continued to live in their house in Nederland with ‘Grandpa Bredo’ frozen in the backyard.
The town became aware of code violations at the home and eventually evicted her. Surprisingly, the violations were unrelated to the dead body storage. Aud was living in the house without running water or electricity which violated local ordinances.
After being evicted, Aud contacted the press to share their story. The family worried grandpa’s body would thaw out in the shed if no one was there.
As you imagine, the story made the news headlines and several businesses stepped in to help.
TuffSheds built a shed in the middle of downtown Nederland which houses a few bodies including grandpa and sponsors the annual Frozen Dead Guy Days celebration.
It has become a tourism draw and we saw Frozen Dead Guy branded souvenirs around town.
What is the Frozen Dead Guy Festival?
Seeing the commercial potential of the weird story, the town of Nederland renamed their spring festival to the Frozen Dead Guys Days.
The Frozen Dead Guy Festival is one of the most unique things to do in Nederland, Colorado.
The annual March festival includes a parade, dozens of live music acts, craft food vendors, craft brews and cocktails. Three large heated tents keep attendees warm while enjoying the festivities.
Trygve receives a portion of the proceeds of tours offered during the Frozen Dead Guys Festival.
Popular festival activities include frozen turkey bowling, Tuff Shed Coffin races, frozen t-shirt contests, salmon toss and snowy beach volleyball.
2. Ride the Carousel of Happiness
A happier tourist attraction in Nederland than a frozen dead guy is the Carousel of Happiness.
The carousel is primarily volunteer-run. I would rank the Carousel as a can’t miss thing to do in Nederland.
Even without any kids, we rode the carousel and loved it. It kicked off my interest in Louff carousels and was one of my favorite things to do in Nederland.
The story of human perseverance to make this unlikely carousel dream a reality is impressive. The hand-carved wooden animals and Wurlitzer band organ are worth the $3 admission price.
Why You Can’t Miss The Amazing Carousel Of Happiness in Nederland Colorado includes the story of the Carousel of Happiness, a few videos and why I think it’s a great thing to do in Nederland.
Location: 620 Lakeview Dr. Unit 107 Nederland, CO 80466 (Caribou Village Shopping Center)
Admission: $3
3. Visit the Wild Bear Nature Center
The Wild Bear Nature Center is an education organization focused on mountain ecology.
Its mission is to help “adults and children forge a lifelong connection to nature through creative exploration”. They offer an abundance of programs for all ages including summer camps.
If you don’t have time for a program, check out the hands-on Wild Bear Nature Center in the Nederlands shopping center.
Admission is free to the Wild Bear Nature Center and kids of all ages will enjoy the live animal residents, maker space, and hands-on displays. They have several educational displays and half an hour is more than enough time to visit the center.
- Location: 20 Lakeview Dr. Unit 107 Nederland, CO 80466 (Caribou Village Shopping Center)
- Admission: free to just wander around
4. Relax in a Train Car with a Treat
The Train Car Yogurt and Coffee Company is located next to the Carousel of Happiness. Update 2022: Sadly, the Train Car Yogurt and Coffee Company has closed.
It is housed in 3 cars including a Pullman, a caboose and a circus car. The circus car toured with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.
They offer sandwiches, soups, coffees, drinks and sweets. Sweet treats include housemade mini-donuts, milkshakes, frozen yogurt and smoothies. The donuts looked amazing but we chose beer over sweets while in Nederland.
Preparing your own meals but enjoying smaller treats out (like donuts, ice cream or beer) is a great way to enjoy a road trip on a budget.
- Location: 101 CO-119, Nederland, CO 80466 (Caribou Village Shopping Center)
- Admission: a few bucks for snack OR free to just wander around
5. Nederland Visitor Center
A great way to get information about a new location is to visit the visitor center when you arrive. Most visitor centers offer free brochures, maps and priceless local insights.
If you aren’t sure which things are available to do during your visit, check out the Nederland Visitor Center.
Seasonal closures are common in both winter and spring for wildlife and habitat protection so check at the visitor center for real-time updates before heading out into the wilderness.
- Location: 45 W 1st St # 1, Nederland, CO 80466
- Admission: FREE
6. Nederland Mining Museum
The Nederland Mining Museum in downtown is open on weekends from 11 am until 5 pm. It is operated by the Boulder County Parks Department. Admission is free.
The museum offers educational displays about the history of hard rock mining in Boulder County in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Learn about the life of early miners that called the area home.
Displays include antique mining equipment and an opportunity to try your hand at panning for gold.
- Location: 200 N. Bridge Street Nederland, CO 80466
- Admission: FREE
Go for a hike
Hiking is a great thing to do while visiting Nederland Colorado.
There are several great hikes near Nederland Colorado. We love hiking because it’s a low-cost activity that provides both exercise and time in nature.
Popular hiking trails near Nederland include the Jasper Lake Trail, the Caribou Trail and the Hessie Trail to Lost Lake.
7. Hike Jasper Lake in Nederland Colorado
Jasper Lake is a 9.8-mile moderate hike to another alpine lake in the Roosevelt National Forest.
8. Hike the Caribou Trail in Nederland Colorado
The Caribou trail is a 4.0-mile easy loop trail through the popular Caribou Ranch Open Space.
It offers wildflower and meadow views. To protect local wildlife populations, the trail may be closed in spring.
9. Hike to Lost Lake on the Hessie Trail
One of the most popular and crowded things to do near Nederland is to hike the Hessie Trail.
The 4.0-mile roundtrip Hessie Trail leads to the Lost Lake, an crystal clear alpine lake. It is a moderate trail that requires some elevation gain but is possible with kids.
Trailhead parking for Hessie Trail and Lost Lake fills up quickly. Shuttle service from town is available during summer weekends.
Read Hike to Lost Lake from the Hessie Trailhead for everything you need to plan your hike.
Try some local brews and food in Nederland
One of our favorite things to do in a new place is to visit a local brewery to try new beers and Nederland is no exception.
A pint of beer on a local brewery patio surrounded by local is generally just as entertaining as dinner out on a road trip and much less expensive. Be sure to check out other ideas to save money on a road trip without sacrificing the fun.
Nederland is home to a few breweries including Knotted Root, Busey Brews and Very Nice Brewing.
During our 2021 visit, we tried all three breweries. For research purposes 😂.
10. Knotted Root
Knotted Root Brewing is located a few minutes from downtown in a red barn-esque building. They have a large outdoor seating area in addition to limited indoor seating. This is by far the best atmosphere of the three breweries in Nederland.
I enjoyed a smoothie-style Berliner Weisse on their back patio after a long hike. It was a creamy and smooth fruit-flavored beer. The beer oddly reminded me of a mimosa (fizzy and fruity).
11. Busey Brews
Busey Brews is located in downtown Nederland very close to the Frozen Dead Guy. It is a brewery and a smokehouse.
We ate lunch here with a friend. It seemed they were more focused on their food than their beer. The service was a bit unorganized and we aren’t really sure what beers we actually drank.
Of the three pints we ordered, they all had a sour element. I was happy since I ordered a Saison and expected a little sour. The other two guys were not expecting sour so they were a bit disappointed in the beers.
12. Very Nice Brewing
Very Nice Brewing is located in the only shopping center in town. It is near the Wild Bear Nature Center downtown location and the Carousel of Happiness.
The beers at Very Nice are the most accessible options in Nederland in my opinion with a few solid flagship brews.
They seemed to place less focus on the most recent trends and more attention on producing solid classics. Our favorites were the English brown ale and Belgian Ale.
We enjoyed a sunny afternoon on their outdoor patio which shared space with the local grocery store parking lot. Nederland is a great location for people-watching.
13. Support a local restaurant
For such a small town Nederland has several restaurants.
If your budget allows it, supporting a local restaurant is a great thing to do in Nederland. We didn’t do much dining out in Nederland and were really surprised by the queues at most places during our visit.
Plan ahead to arrive early if you tend to get hangry while waiting.
A few of the more popular dining out locations in Nederlands based on waiting times and lines of waiting customers are Busey Brews and Smokehouse, Crosscut Pizzeria and Taproom and New Moon Bakery and Coffee.
- Busey Brews and Smokehouse
- Busey Brews and Smokehouse is a popular barbeque restaurant in downtown Nederland. I would recommend the mac & cheese.
- Crosscut Pizzeria and Taproom
- Crosscut Pizzeria and Taproom had a line of people waiting for a table every time we drove by. We didn’t eat there but their woodfire scratch-made pies have great online reviews.
- New Moon Bakery and Coffee
- New Moon Bakery and Coffee was also very busy during our visit. They offer beverages, baked goods and sandwiches via counter service.
14. Shop Local
Nederland is an adorable town with several small shops offering unique handmade and vintage items. There are also gift shops with Frozen Dead Guy t-shirts and shot glass if that’s your speed.
But I recommend wandering through a few of the more unusual offerings like
- Alpaca Store & More
- Alpine Botanicals (closed as of 2022)
- Blue Owl Books.
Additionally, I enjoyed wandering through several small shops in the Caribou Village Shopping Center while Kevin enjoyed a beer at Very Nice Brewing. Each shop had both pre-owned and new goods available.
Get Outdoors
Nederland is a great place to outdoors and explore the beauty of Colorado.
15. Visit Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Golden Gate Canyon State Park is only 11 miles from Nederland.
The park offers two established campgrounds and several hike-in backcountry camping sites. Cabins and yurts are also available for those seeking more luxury.
19 miles of multi-use trails are open to leashed dogs, hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riding.
Other popular park activities include hunting and fishing which require special permits. Backcountry rock climbing opportunities also exist for experienced climbers.
Check out Top 12 Things to do on your Visit to Golden Gate Canyon State Park for everything you need to know before you visit the park.
Or Complete Guide to Hiking Trails at Golden Gate Canyon State Park: What to Expect Before You Go to learn where we encountered moose in the park.
- Location: 92 Crawford Gulch Rd, Golden, CO 80403
- Admission: $10 day-use fee
16. Hit a bike trail
Active visitors are probably looking for more challenging things to do in Nederland and mountain biking is an extremely popular attraction.
The West Magnolia trail system includes 8 miles of non-motorized singletrack trails and 8 miles of gravel roads that can be combined in many ways to create your perfect bike ride near Nederland.
West Magnolia is one of the most popular trail systems in the Boulder Ranger District.
For even more biking trails, the West Magnolia trail system can be combined with those at the Front Range trailhead via a short section of Magnolia Road.
The Front Range trail system offers 10 miles of non-motorized in addition to many unofficial social trails.
17. Drive the Scenic Peak to Peak Highway
The Peak to Peak Highway is Colorado’s oldest scenic byway. It was established in 1918.
The 3-hour drive runs from Estes Park, just outside the Rocky Mountain National Park, to I-70. The route passes through Nederland and can be enjoyed in smaller sections.
It begins as CO Highway 7 in Estes Park, passes Lily Mountain and Twin Sisters, then turns south just past Allenspark on CO Highway 72, goes to Nederland where it continues south on CO Highway 119, through Blackhawk, through Clear Creek Canyon and down to I-70.
Several old mines line Highway 72 and 119. Weekend prospectors still search for gold flakes in the area creeks.
Some of the old mines are open for those interested in trying gold panning without the equipment investment.
The drive passes through aspens groves. The bright yellow and orange aspen leaves are particularly gorgeous during the autumn leave changes.
A downloadable self guided tour is available for this Colorado scenic drive from Boulder to Vail.
18. Visit the Caribou Ghost Town
As described in the Mining in Nederland section above, Nederland’s early economy relied on silver mining in nearby Caribou.
Over 3,000 people, mostly miners and their families, lived in Caribou at its peak in 1875.
There was a church, a brewery, 3 saloons and even a town newspaper. The Caribou mining operations are no longer in operation but you can drive right up to the ghost town.
Two stone ruins and one collapsed wooden cabin remain in Caribou.
- Location: GPS 39°58′50″N 105°34′40″W
- Admission: Free
Explore Nearby Boulder
Boulder is located 17 miles west of Nederland and is a perfect day trip destination.
19. Bike Boulder
Boulder is a great day trip from Nederland, especially on summer weekends when the farmers market is open.
We spent a full Saturday exploring the best of Boulder on our bicycles, including the award-winning farmers’ market.
Boulder is very bike friendly and a guided e-bike tour is a great way to explore the city even if you didn’t bring your own bicycles.
There are several bike tour options in Boulder including themes based on historic, nature, backroads and even street art.
20. Take a Self-Guided Walking Tour of Boulder
If your budget or physical abilities exclude biking, then consider an affordable self-guided walking tour of downtown Boulder or a wacky scavenger hunt.
For under $10 you can get lifetime access to a one-hour self-guided walking audio tour of downtown Boulder that includes stops at many of the town’s highlights including a Buddhist meditation center, a teahouse, the farmers market and more.
Alternatively, for a few bucks more you can make your walking tour of Boulder into a game that will entertain everyone (including strangers).
A city scavenger hunt is a great way to explore new destinations while laughing with friends or family. I personally think scavenger hunts are the most fun with at least 4 people.
21. Camping for free in Nederland
Free camping is available in several locations on public lands around Nederland. However, the area is really popular so sites fill quickly.
Plus many of Colorado’s dispersed free campsites have been closed in 2022 due to ecological damage caused by abuse. This means there are overall fewer free dispersed Forest Service campsites in Colorado.
Based on our experience, iOverlander is the best free app for finding free campsites with personal reviews in any part of Colorado including Nederland.
A Colorado friend recommended using the iOverlander app for boondocking spots. So far, I have noticed the ioverlander app includes several boondocking sites not listed on the other free campsite apps.
Free Campsites Aren’t Always Easy
The hardest part is finding an open spot in this popular location. After a Google navigation mishap sending us up a very steep dirt road, we finally decided to park our motorhome, Pippi, on BLM land overlooking the highway.
We disconnected the car and spent the next 4 hours looking for a camping spot for the weekend.
During our stay, we noticed Colorado locals bring their tents and set them up days before the weekend to ‘save’ their campsite.
Luckily, we were able to secure a nice site for our stay in Nederland by “inheriting” a site as a camper was leaving.
Free Camping at West Magnolia Dispersed Camping in Nederland
West Magnolia is a dispersed National Forest area with no amenities free camping. The location is available on Google maps for driving directions.
There are over 20 designated campsites that are first come first served in Nederland.
They are scattered along National Forest Service Road 355 and its offshoots within one mile of the main paved road, CR 132W.
Some of the roads are not accessible by larger or low clearance vehicles so be sure to scout before taking your RV down a route.
There are no amenities at West Magnolia dispersed camping in Nederland but there is a lot of wildlife. We saw ground squirrels, chipmunks and a moose while camping for free at West Magnolia Dispersed Camping in Nederland Colorado.
Where to Stay in Nederland
If you are not interested in camping and are worried about where to stay in Nederland don’t worry there are several cabins and vacation rentals available nearby.
A few of highest rated cabin options in Nederland are:
Many more options including hotels are available in the surrounding area including Lincoln and Boulder.
Interactive Map of Nederland Things to Do
Where is Nederland?
Nederland is located 44 miles from Denver and is a popular day trip for city dwellers. The journey from Denver to Nederland takes an hour.
Boulder is only 17 miles away from Nederland but driving the curvy Boulder Canyon Road takes half an hour. The drive from Boulder to Nederland is scenic and offers roadside viewing of Boulder Falls.
History of Nederland
Nederland was first inhabited by the Ute and Arapahoe tribes. They used the mountain valley and river as summer hunting and foraging grounds.
Hunters and fur trappers seeking beaver pelts discovered the valley in the early 1800s. The flat area with a good water source was very attractive to early settlers. White homesteaders gave the town a variety of names over time including Dayton, Brownsville, and Middle Boulder. The first post office was opened in 1871 in the town of Middle Boulder.
Nederland’s Mining History
In 1871, the nearby Caribou Mine was purchased by Abel Breed. He decided to bring silver ore from Caribou Hill to Middle Boulder for milling in a warmer climate.
Also in 1871, the Boulder Canyon Road was completed to Nederland from the town of Boulder. However, the first automobile didn’t make the difficult journey from Boulder to Nederland until 1910.
In 1873, Abel Breed sold the Caribou Mine to the Netherlands Mining Company from Holland.
Why is it named Nederland
Miners began calling the mine’s ore milling base as “the Netherlands”. The Netherlands translates to “low lands”.
The name is appropriate for the valley location compared to the mine’s Caribou location at 10,000 feet elevation. One year later when the town incorporated, the residents voted for the name Nederland.
As with most mining towns, the area suffered several booms and busts over the next century.
First, silver brought miners but in later years tungsten attracted new business. Tungsten used in the manufacturing of steel was particularly critical during WW2. The town lost most of its residents after wartime demand for tungsten declined.
The town experienced a population surge in the 1960s when hippies started moving to Nederland. The new residents created a vibrant music and art scene.
The development of shopping and dining venues has been supported by both resident and tourism dollars. Since the 1960s surge, the town’s population has leveled out. Many current Nederland residents commute to jobs across the Front Range.
What is Nederland known for?
Nederland has a rich mining history but today Ned is known for being quirky. The small mountain town’s residents embrace their quirk. The town’s motto is “Keep Ned Weird”.
When exploring shops in town, I noticed most had new and used goods for sale. Many had unique handmade products and art.
The most famous news story from Nederland is super weird. A resident of the town made national headlines for keeping a dead body frozen in their backyard.
It resulted in the creation of the annual Frozen Dead Guys Festival.
Is Nederland worth visiting?
Overwhelmingly YES, Nederland Colorado is worth visiting.
We love quirk and the Colorado town of Nederland has more than its share.
The town claims a full-time population of 1,500 residents. Summer tourism supports a good variety of restaurants, local breweries, and unique shops. Nederland attracts both day-trippers from nearby Denver and Boulder and overnight travelers and campers from further away.
Hiking and mountain biking trails attract most visitors to Nederland but those aren’t the only things to do. If you visit one of our favorite Colorado towns, Nederland, you definitely won’t regret it.
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