Longmont & Hygiene, Colorado: A Front Range Base That Feels Quiet
Why Longmont and Hygiene Work as a Front Range Travel Base
Words by Michele Underwood | Photos by Michele
Winter light over Heron Lake at Pella Crossing Park near Hygiene.
I’m staying in Longmont and spending time out in Hygiene. You’re close to the Front Range mountains, close to Boulder without being in the middle of it, and surrounded by enough open space that the days slow down. Mornings are quiet, roads are easy, and the landscape feels more agricultural than polished. The farmers look like they could be related to Robert Redford. It’s the kind of base where you can live for a few days—work, get outside, drink good coffee, and breathe—without feeling like you’re passing through something built for visitors.
I’ve never been to this part of Colorado before. I’ve spent time in Boulder and Denver, and made a quick visit to Fort Collins to see my best friend, who now lives in Longmont. A lot of what I learned about this area came through her. She knows what I like and showed me the places she thought I’d enjoy. This article looks at two areas that sit right next to each other but feel very different.
Longmont and Hygiene: Two Very Different Front Range Towns
Longmont
Greetings from Longmont mural in downtown Longmont, Colorado.
Longmont is a mid-sized Front Range city that grew out of agriculture in the late 1800s, founded in 1871 as part of a planned settlement project tied to irrigation and farming. Sugar beet production, grain, and cattle shaped much of the early economy, and traces of that history still show up in the wide street grid and older brick buildings downtown.
Today, Longmont feels practical and lived-in rather than resort-driven. It has a working-town rhythm—industrial edges, neighborhoods, breweries, and a steady local crowd—while still sitting close enough to Boulder and the foothills to make mountain access easy.
Hygiene
Hygiene is tiny by comparison and much more rural. It began in the 1880s as a farming community and took its unusual name from a local health movement that promoted fresh air, clean water, and outdoor living—ideas that were gaining traction at the time along Colorado’s Front Range.
Today, there are still working farms with modern farmers and quaint red barns. But the farms here are different from where I am from. Every farmer I saw was fit and handsome, and the homes on the farms were gorgeous—some quite large.
For years, it mainly served the surrounding farms and ranches. That past still defines the place: open land, old barns, narrow roads, and long views toward the mountains. Hygiene is popular with road cyclists, since the area is great for long-distance riding with less traffic, with the backdrop of their rides being the Rocky Mountains.
Why I Stayed in Longmont, Colorado
I started my stay in Longmont at my friend Susan’s house on the way to ski and mountain bike farther west on I-70. She works in Boulder at CU. As you know, owning a home in Boulder is very expensive, but Longmont is only about 20 minutes away and an hour from Denver, and it’s more affordable—though still not cheap.
Longmont has an older downtown that is quaint, and it also has big-brand stores like Whole Foods, Target, and more. Homes are being built on the flat rangeland, where you can see prairie dogs popping up out of their holes. I kind of felt bad for them.
All in all, Longmont is a pretty standard township, but a good place to hunker down if you want something quieter and less busy while still being close to the things you want to do.
How Far Is Longmont, Colorado from Nearby Places
Longmont works well as a Front Range base because you can reach a lot of northern Colorado without long drives.
Boulder is about 16 miles away, usually a 20–30 minute drive depending on traffic. That makes it easy for grabbing dinner, meeting friends, or heading toward trailheads in the Flatirons.
Denver sits roughly 33 miles south and usually takes 45 minutes to an hour. It’s close enough for errands, airport runs, or city stops without feeling like you’re in it day to day.
Estes Park is about 30–35 miles northwest and typically takes around 45 minutes to an hour. Most people stay in Estes Park when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, but Longmont is a solid option too—especially if you want more space, easier grocery runs, and a less tourist-heavy place to come back to at night. See Estes Park.
Rocky Mountain National Park is about an hour from Longmont, depending on which entrance you’re heading for. It’s a manageable day-trip distance, and starting from the east side makes early mornings a little easier when timed-entry permits are in play.
Places I Recommend for Coffee and Eats in Longmont
The good thing about seeing a local is that they know where to go for good eats and coffee. And my local is my best friend, so she knows what I like. Here are some of my favorite places that I highly recommend.
For dinner my first night in town, Susan wanted to go to Westside Tavern. It’s a renovated 1915 grocery store in the heart of Old Town, Longmont, Colorado, serving delicious cocktails and amazing food. I had the short ribs, and Susan had the steak frites. We sat at the large shared table. View Westside Tavern’s menu.
For coffee, I went to Spruce Cafe a lot. Spruce Cafe is part of Spruce Confections in Boulder. They make their food and treats by hand every day. They have good coffee, make a great honey latte, and have delicious scones. The scones are unlike other scones, as they have a layer of deliciousness inside. I had the raspberry scone with a walnut honey topping. See Spruce Cafe.
Inside Tangerine in downtown Longmont.
For brunch, Tangerine in downtown Longmont is a good bet. Their menu includes your typical brunch items. The atmosphere is cute, and the staff is extremely friendly. We had something very simple: buttermilk pancakes and extra-crispy bacon. The bacon was the best. It was not grocery-store bacon. It was legit off-the-farm bacon.
Why I Love Hygiene—and Would Move There
Hygiene, Colorado, is this four-corner stop with a shop on each corner—and that’s it. But these shops matter. This four-way stop, not a light but stop signs, is surrounded by gorgeous farmsteads, the Great Plains, and to the west, views of the Rocky Mountains.
There is a park, Pella Crossing Park, with tiny lakes and a walking path that Susan introduced me to. We took our dogs out there one day, and I continued doing so during my stay. It was peaceful. All locals. Lots of dogs. And a pretty walk where you can get steps in. If you’re into fishing, you can also do that at Pella Crossing Park. There were always lots of cars parked in the lot, with people walking their dogs. After I walked Chloe, I would sit in the van for a bit and work because it was so peaceful at this park. Below is the map of Pella Crossing Park near Longmont.
Chloe and Teddy at Pella Crossing Park near Hygiene.
A hidden gem in Hygiene is Cafe Fritz. It is an unexpected spot—the design is very sophisticated and well-thought-out. The vibe is cozy. I met the owner, Olivia, who will likely serve you as well. You will find only locals at this spot, from farmers to retired folks. The community is friendly, as you would expect in a small Colorado farm town. The coffee is delicious, but they are known for their limited menu. Susan told me the French omelet is very good—and it was delicious. It was not heavy, but a light omelet.
Inside Cafe Fritz in Hygiene, Colorado.
While I was sitting there, two old gentlemen sat down. They were old friends—I could tell—talking about the past, even the war, as pilots, I gathered. One gentleman mentioned the best sandwich he has ever had was here. It is called, I think, the French onion soup–dipped sandwich. They also serve dinner on Saturdays, which, when I am back in the area, I am definitely going. See Cafe Fritz.
French omelet with greens and buttered bread at Cafe Fritz in Hygiene.
At the other corner is The Mountain Fountain. Cyclists use this as their coffee-shop stop on rides. But they are also a butcher shop, so you can grab breakfast or lunch. I stopped in to check it out and ended up purchasing their instant coffee, which they tailor toward cyclists who might want coffee literally on their ride. See The Mountain Fountain.
A place to shop and see on the other corner is Low Rider. Low Rider is a vintage shop where you can find one-of-a-kind items. Susan purchased a gorgeous chair from there that I noticed as soon as I walked into her house. See Low Rider.
Take a Hike at Rabbit Mountain
I wanted to go on a hike like a legit Colorado hike, and Susan took me to Rabbit Mountain. I highly recommend it if you are in the area and want to stretch your legs—go here. The trails are great and not too long, and your surroundings feel very Colorado—gorgeous.
Views across the plains near Rabbit Mountain outside Longmont.
Rabbit Mountain has a long past. The Arapaho used the area as a winter home because of its shelter from the wind, natural springs, and access to game. In the late 1800s, homesteaders arrived hoping to find gold, and many ended up farming instead. A major water canal now cuts across the landscape as part of Colorado’s Big Thompson Project, and in the 1980s, the land was preserved by Boulder County, keeping it open for public use today.
We went later in the day and decided to hike the Little Thompson Overlook Trail. See the map below of Rabbit Mountain.
Trail map of Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain near Lyons and Longmont.
Where I Parked the Van After Leaving Susan’s
In the heart of Longmont is the Boulder County Fairgrounds Campground. It was easy—all you had to do was pull up at the kiosk and pick your spot. Because I was there in January, the downside was that the bathrooms were closed and there was no water access either. But overall, I could tell they take care of the campground, and it’s also very convenient for an RV.
Final Thoughts
Longmont and Hygiene made a great Front Range base—easy access to trails, quiet roads for riding, good coffee, and enough space to settle in for a bit before heading farther into the mountains. Seeing my old friend Susan and having her point me in the right direction made the stay even better. Between Rabbit Mountain hikes, mornings at Pella Crossing Park with Chloe, and a few standout food stops, it felt like a place I could stay longer than planned.
Colorado is just getting started for this trip. More soon.
Michele Underwood writes Overland Girl, where she shares gear she uses on trips — from the Northwoods of Wisconsin to the Ozarks. She values quality and craftsmanship in everything she buys, from outdoor gear to everyday clothes and furniture. Her choices may seem expensive to some, but she believes in buying less and buying better. Longevity matters, both in terms of function and style. Her couch is five years old and still sold at Design Within Reach — that’s the kind of timelessness she looks for.
Some of the links in this review are affiliate links, which means she may earn a small commission if you buy through them. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and it helps support her work. She only recommends gear she’d bring herself.
