Just outside Boulder, along one of Colorado’s most scenic drives, stands a structure as timeless and dramatic as the mountains that surround it. St. Malo’s Chapel on the Rock, officially known as St. Catherine of Siena Chapel, sits perched on a natural stone pedestal with Mount Meeker and Longs Peak rising sharply behind it. Today’s epic Outdoor Picture of the Day captures this moment where architecture, landscape, and light all come together in pure Colorado fashion.
Although the chapel isn’t located in Boulder itself, it has long been a favorite side trip for Boulder hikers, cyclists, photographers, and weekend explorers. Sitting less than an hour northwest of town, St. Malo’s feels like a natural extension of Boulder’s outdoor spirit—another iconic stop in the series of mountain adventures that begin the moment you leave Pearl Street and head toward the peaks.
The story behind this landmark adds to its appeal. Construction began in 1935, inspired by Monsignor Joseph J. Bosetti, who first noticed the dramatic rock outcropping in 1916 and envisioned a chapel resting on top of it. Built entirely from local stone, the chapel blends into the surrounding terrain so seamlessly that it seems to grow out of the mountain itself. That rugged simplicity, combined with the jaw-dropping setting, is why it remains one of Colorado’s most photographed sites…