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Our favorite? If you would like to escape the sizzling summer days on the plains, discover the diverse cooler vegetation at Caribou Ranch Open Space. Caribou Ranch Open Space is located on County Road 126, approximately two miles north of Nederland. Horse trailer parking is available ONLY at the Mud Lake Open Space (turn left off CR 126 near the Peak-toPeak Highway) and enjoy the short ride from Mud Lake to Caribou. Car parking is available both at Mud Lake and about 1.2 miles up CR 126 at the actual Caribou Ranch trailhead. The 2,180-acre property offers visitors a rich tapestry of wetlands, meadows, streams, forests and woodlands. Caribou Ranch is a haven for wildlife where 50 species of mammals could potentially live and/or travel through the open space annually. This represents nearly half of all mammal species found in Boulder County. The most common ungulates are elk and mule deer. A moose group has been observed on portions of the property in the past two years. Also, signs of mountain lion, black bear, bobcat, coyote, red fox, marten, and short-tailed weasel have been found. This open space also includes the Switzerland Trail railroad grade, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.  Mining began at the Blue Bird Mine complex in the 1870s and operations followed the boom and bust cycles of the industry until the 1960s. In the early 1900s, Blue Bird became a tourist destination, a “whistle stop” during the summer months to a growing demand by city dwellers who wanted to