8,461 Feet of Mountain Majesty Meets a Sky Painted in Blues and Gold
There are Boulder sunrises — and then there are mornings like this.
Today’s Outdoor Picture of the Day captures a breathtaking scene as the first light of day spills across Bear Peak and the hilltop silhouette of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The image feels both powerful and peaceful — a perfect balance between natural beauty and human curiosity perched above the city.
Bear Peak rises prominently in the background at 8,461 feet above sea level, one of the tallest and most recognizable summits in Boulder. At sunrise, its rugged ridgelines take on new character. The early morning sunlight grazes its upper slopes, illuminating rock faces in warm gold while leaving other sections in cool shadow. The elevation gives the mountain authority. It doesn’t dominate the skyline — it defines it…