Celebrate the Mountain Research Station’s 106th anniversary and INSTAAR's 75th at our scenic field science outpost in the Indian Peaks.

Calling all science lovers! The Open House at the Mountain Research Station is your chance to visit Colorado's premier alpine field science facility, run by INSTAAR. The day will feature guided field trips, hands-on activities, dinner, and a keynote from eminent ecologist Katharine Suding. You can come for one session only or stay for the whole day. Tickets are limited, so be sure to reserve tickets for each session you’d like to join.

2026 is the 150th anniversary of CU Boulder, the 75th anniversary of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), and the 106th anniversary of the Mountain Research Station (MRS). Come celebrate with us!

This event is supported by INSTAAR and was partially funded through a grant from the 150th Initiative Fund. If you are able, please consider making a donation to help offset the remaining event costs and support INSTAAR and the Mountain Research Station. You can also donate to the Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research Program via the NWT-LTER giving page.

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Many activities to choose from

Space is limited for all activities except the Field Science Fair and self-guided interpretive trails (both 2-6 pm), so be sure to reserve tickets for each session you’d like to join. 

Reserve your tickets with Eventbrite >

07:45 AM - 01:00 PM
Hike to Niwot Ridge
Dr. Nancy Emery, Dr. Scott Taylor
The Niwot Ridge Long-Term Ecological Research site is the home to one of the world's premier alpine research programs, with a legacy that spans decades of continuous scientific inquiry. This strenuous hike will begin with a 30-minute drive up a rugged mountain road, followed by a 1.5-mile hike gaining 1,000 feet over steep, rocky terrain. Program scientists will guide attendees through the ridge's core research area, offering an inside look at the instruments and experiments behind key long term inquiries in the alpine.

02:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Field Science Fair
Reservations not needed, just walk on in
Join researchers in the Kiowa Classroom and Lab for an interactive, come and go, showcase of field science at the MRS. Researchers will share field equipment, samples, specimens, and more, covering a diverse set of topics including insects, biogeochemistry, plant evolution, alpine lake ecology, bird biology, and mammalogy.

02:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Self-guided interpretive trails
Reservations not needed, just start walking
Explore our three self-guided interpretive trails on your own. The trails are short, roughly 1/4 to 1/3 mile long and have interpretive signs in key areas along the trail. Key rules: foot traffic only, stay on trail, no dogs, and no bicycles. 

• Trail 1: Como Creek / Riparian Zone. Learn about forest diversity, hydrology and aquatic ecology, our geomorphic setting, and our high-mountain watershed.

• Trail 2: Subalpine Forest. Learn about our dynamic forests, biological interactions, and mammals— including how to identify their tracks and scat.

• Trail 3: Research at the MRS. Learn about environmental monitoring, long-term data sets collected on Niwot Ridge, and the history of monitoring on Niwot Ridge.

02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Hike to C1
Dr. Sara Hart, Dr. Keith Musselman, Jen Morse
Catch a glimpse into long term monitoring at the MRS. C1 is a subalpine climate station established along a monitoring transect in 1951. This is a moderately strenuous hike (3 miles round trip) that starts and ends at the Marr Lab (9500 feet), highlighted by a mid-hike tour of C1 (10,000 feet), a SNOTEL site, and the Eco Tram project. Along the way, you'll stop and discuss the long-term forest plots that have been monitored since the 1980's.

02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
MRS campus tour 1
Lucas Florsheim, Nathaniel Neal
Learn about the history of the MRS on a tour of the facilities, housing, Como Creek, and Elk Meadows. This easy to moderate hike will stay within the CU-Boulder owned Columbine Spring Reserve. The final ascent to Elk Meadows involves a narrow and steep rocky trail.

03:00 PM - 04:30 PM
MRS campus tour 2
Dr. Scott Taylor
Learn about the history of the MRS on a tour of the facilities, housing, Como Creek, and Elk Meadows. This easy to moderate hike will stay within the CU-Boulder owned Columbine Spring Reserve. The final ascent to Elk Meadows involves a narrow and steep rocky trail.

04:00 PM - 05:30 PM
MRS campus tour 3
Lucas Florsheim, Nathaniel Neal
Learn about the history of the MRS on a tour of the facilities, housing, Como Creek, and Elk Meadows. This easy to moderate hike will stay within the CU-Boulder owned Columbine Spring Reserve. The final ascent to Elk Meadows involves a narrow and steep rocky trail.

06:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Dinner
Enjoy a catered dinner at the MRS dining hall. Chat with other science lovers and INSTAAR faculty over hearty local fare from Kathmandu Restaurant.

07:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Keynote with Dr. Katharine Suding
Dr. Katharine Suding
Enjoy a keynote seminar from ecologist Katharine Suding in the historic Megaron building. Katharine Suding is a plant community ecologist, the former principal investigator of the Niwot Ridge LTER, and the recipient of the Franklin Institute Bower award in science.

Reserve your tickets with Eventbrite >

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Map of the station campus

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Park nearby and use the free shuttle 

Open House parking is extremely limited at the station.  Set your mapping app to park at the South Sourdough Trailhead instead (115 Colorado Road 116).

From the trailhead, hop on the free shuttle 0.7 mile to the station.  Thanks!

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Frequently asked questions

Is this event accessible?
There will be a free shuttle between all event locations throughout the day, so no walking is required for non-hiking events. Please reach out to station manager Michael Haffey (mhaffey@colorado.edu) for accommodations or station director Scott Taylor (scott.a.taylor@colorado.edu) with questions.

How do I get to the MRS?
Our main parking area for this event is the South Sourdough Trailhead (115 Colorado Road 116), just down the road from the Mountain Research Station. There you can pick up a free shuttle to the event. The trailhead is a 40-minute drive from Boulder. Please drive slow and watch out for wildlife on the final stretch of dirt road!

What should I bring to the MRS open house?
No matter which activity you sign up for, be sure to bring water, extra clothing, a rain coat and sun protection. If you sign up for one of our hikes, you will get an email with further guidance.

Can I bring my dog to the MRS?
No. We love our dogs too, but please leave your dogs at home for all MRS open house events unless they are designated service animals.

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Please consider donating

We are able to make this a FREE event thanks to partial funding from the CU Boulder 150th Initiative Fund. But if you are able, we would greatly appreciate a donation to help offset our remaining event costs, feed the grad student volunteers assisting the event, and generally support our research, education, and outreach.  Your options:

• INSTAAR giving
• Mountain Research Station giving
• Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research Program giving

Learn about INSTAAR's 75th anniversary, its events, and how you can contribute >

Drone view of the Mountain Research Station campus looking west to the Indian Peaks (Credit: Gabe Allen)