If you can deal with a few annoyances and signs of wear and tear at an older property, this is an OK choice—friendly, clean and modestly priced. We had a generally comfortable stay adjacent to natural areas but not far from the center of town. We had hoped for a one-bedroom log -cabin-style unit but could only get a two-bedroom “suite” in the two-story motel part of the Silver Saddle complex, which we were offered for the same price. We paid $78 including taxes, which is very reasonable for Boulder.

The Good: The natural surroundings are the motel’s best attribute. The motel is set back a good distance from the western end of Arapahoe Ave., near where Arapahoe joins Canyon Road (State Hwy 119). It’s nestled right against the Rocky Mountain foothills at the eastern end of Boulder Canyon, close to Boulder Creek. Both sides of the motel offer views of the nearby rocks, which are particularly beautiful early and late in the day. There’s a wide balcony upstairs and breezeway downstairs with park benches where you can sit outside the room and enjoy the view. The motel is convenient for recreation on the creek and in the nearby Eben G. Fine Park. At the same time, this is not a bad location if your business takes you downtown or to the University of Colorado, both of which are driveable in only a few minutes. The place is family owned and operated, and service is friendly. There are picnic tables and a barbecue grill on the grounds, which are landscaped and well kept. Our room had a mid-size fridge, microwave, coffeemaker, and CRT TV, all of which were in good working order. The small bath with tub-shower was clean and had plenty of fluffy towels, and the hot water was prompt and plentiful. Outside the bathroom there is a handy vanity area with an additional sink and mirror. The air conditioning worked well and felt good on a hot August day.

The Not-So-Good: The first impression of the business is poor. The small and cramped office appears disorganized and is cluttered with paperwork and boxes. The owner advises up front that the Wi-Fi is undependable in the units, and for uninterrupted online usage one should bring a laptop to the office. The office closes at 9 p.m. Though it will not be a problem for cabin dwellers, the folks staying at the motel unit at the west end of the complex have to endure a couple of large dogs in a fenced-in area near the parking lot. One of them in particular likes to bark at every car that rolls in and at everyone who strolls by. I didn’t hear any barking after about 10 p.m., though, so maybe they were brought inside. The two-bedroom suite turns out to be exactly two bedrooms and a bath – no sitting room. One enters from the outside into a bedroom which also has the TV, microwave and refrigerator, and there’s a second smaller bedroom in the back. There is a single upholstered chair in the front bedroom. The modest price brings some correspondingly modest features. One bedroom has a clock radio, but the other does not. There are occasional signs of wear around the edges, such as old furnishings, damaged carpet and a broken window screen in the back bedroom. Even though it cooled off nicely at night, we slept with the window closed so as not to risk an influx of bugs. The mattress was OK, though the pillows are anything but fluffy. The bedsheets are not as thin as the cheap toilet paper in the bathroom, but they’re pretty thin. In case it makes a difference to you, this is one of those businesses where the proprietors opt to make their religious affiliation known to customers. Though we were not aware of it until after we checked in, Silver Saddle identifies itself with the Christian fish emblem, which appears on some of the printed matter in the rooms. Fortunately, the religious representations are not obnoxious. The motel’s cancellation policy requires notification a week ahead of arrival, so Silver Saddle may not be the best choice if there’s a chance your plans could change at the last minute.