Major Projects on Open Space in 2026

• View projects on a web map

Foothills North Trail Reroute

• July - December
• Shift portions of the existing trail onto a more sustainable path that follows the natural contours of the land, that are less prone to erosion and trail widening.
• Some trail segments may be temporarily closed to support construction and for visitor safety.

Hidden Valley Trail Reroute

• May - November
• Reroute trail to improve trail sustainability and expand visitor experience for cyclists and adaptive mountain bikers. Trails will be opened to bicycle use, while retaining historic hiking and equestrian uses.

Boulder Valley Farm Agricultural Lands Restoration

• August 2026 – August 2031
• Restore agricultural production on more than 450 acres of irrigated agricultural land on Boulder Valley Ranch.  This project will result in improved agricultural production for the current and future local farmers on this land system.  Work will entail removing prairie dogs; seeding a diverse plant community; improving soil health; fixing fences, gates, and irrigation infrastructure, such as irrigation laterals; and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of irrigation across the land system.  

Wonderland Lake / Silver Lake Ditch Invasive Tree Removal and Ditch Fuels Project

• August
• Remove non-native trees, dead/down woody material and ladder fuels along the Silver Lake Ditch and Wonderland Lake Trail west of Wonderland Lake.
• Full trail closure between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. due to the use of chainsaws, wood chippers and heavy equipment throughout the project area.

Waneka-South Intermittent Stream Restoration

• August - September
• Restore an eroding intermittent stream channel on the Waneka South near High Plains Trail. Natural materials are used to slow runoff, reduce channel erosion, encourage sediment deposition and improve hydrologic function and habitat within the stream and adjacent wetland and riparian areas.

Coal Creek Beaver Dam Analogues

• August - October
• Restore a degraded section of Coal Creek south near the High Plains trail. Install a series of small temporary structures that mimic beaver dams to slow water in strategic locations and encourage sediment deposition to raise the elevation of the bottom of the channel.

Mesa Trail Corridor Forest Thinning

• July - October
• Mesa Trail near the junction with the South Fork of the Shanahan trail
• Remove some small diameter trees that have grown into open meadows and create ladder fuels that could carry wildfire into the larger tree canopies. Thinning will create a more diverse and open forest structure that is more resilient to extreme wildfire and mountain pine beetle outbreaks.

Teller Farms North Trailhead Renovation

• September – January 2027
• Renovation to improve parking, including added horse trailer parking, add a vault restroom and update aging infrastructure.
• Trailhead parking will be closed the entire time, but the trails will remain open.

Fox Stone Barn Rehabilitation

• July - October
• Stabilize and repair damage caused during the Marshall Fire as this is on the National Register of Historic Places.  

Bosque Alimentario Development

• September - 2027
• Plant perennial edibles and plants with other traditional uses.

Lower Boulder Creek Wetland Restoration

• Ongoing
• Restore natural ecological processes in the wetlands and uplands of the lower Boulder Creek floodplain to support the overall functioning and flood resiliency of Boulder Creek. Grade the floodplain, plant native seeds and wetland plants to enhance habitat for wildlife.

Serpentine Trail Repairs

• June - November
• Construct stone steps and additional drainage to improve the sustainability of the trail.

Undesignated Trails and Climbing Access Management

• July - November
• Designate, repair and improve popular climbing access trails in the Flatirons while closing and restoring undesignated trails.

Bluebell Drainage Non-native Tree Removal

• October – February 2027
• Restore the Bluebell Drainage along the McClintock trail near Chautauqua by removing accumulated debris and non-native trees and shrubs. Plant native riparian trees and shrubs and seed with a native seed mix to promote recovery of native plant communities, improve riparian habitat and enhance ecological function.
• Lower McClintock Trail closed weekdays during active work

Red Rocks Forest Thinning

• August - October
• Remove small diameter trees and dead and down fuels to create more open forest conditions along the ridgeline adjacent to the Knollwood neighborhood.
• Some temporary trail closures in the Red Rocks area may be necessary for short periods of time during the week.

Mt Sanitas Trail Repairs

• May - November
• Replace failing infrastructure, rebuild failing switchbacks, reduce trail braiding (where the trail is excessively wide and has parallel tracks) and install stone steps to reduce soil erosion of the trail and better protect vegetation.

1-2 Flatiron Trail Repairs

• June - August
• Rebuild failing switchbacks and construct steps, walls and drainage to support the longevity of the trail.
• 1-2 Flatiron Trail will be closed starting at the 1^st Flatiron climbing access point Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for visitor and crew safety.

North and South Shanahan Trail Repairs

• June - August
• Re-surface and repair eroded and muddy sections of trails with new gravel and maintained drainage infrastructure.

Saddle Rock Trail Reroute

• June - November
• Reroute trail to address sustainability issues with the current alignment and provide new recreational opportunities around the First Flatiron. The new trail will connect to E.M. Greenman Trail, First-Second Flatiron Trail, popular climbing descents off the First Flatiron, Spy and Amphitheater trail.

• Read the OSMP Master Plan