10 Essential Tips Visiting Boulder Open Space Mountain Parks

Come explore, enjoy and care for our remarkable Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks! Before you head outdoors to enjoy Boulder's 155 miles of trails and its diverse and sensitive natural areas, remember to keep 10 responsible recreation guidelines in mind when visiting shared public land:

• Know Before You Go
• Plan and Prepare
• Enjoy and Protect the Land
• Be Courteous and Inclusive
• Know Your Limits
• Stay Alert
• Demonstrate Trail Courtesy
• Be A Good Dog Guardian
• Help Prevent Wildfires
• Respect Bears and Mountain Lions

Read more in-depth tips and reminders to help our community enjoy and protect open space.

Learn more about Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) before you visit the trail:

• Explore Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks trails and trailheads online. Find just the right trail by searching for trail length, elevation gain and difficulty.
• Check our online trail map to see which trails are closed for repairs, maintenance and emergencies. Visit our closure webpage to learn about more current trail and trailhead closures. Community members can also receive updates on muddy trail closures by texting “OSMP” to 888-777 to sign up for text updates about muddy trail closures.
• Visit the Colorado Trail Explorer to see OSMP trails and other trails maintained by neighboring open space and public land agencies.
• Understand open space rules, including dog and glass/alcohol regulations. Glass containers and alcohol – including beer, wine and spirits – are prohibited on city open space. View online maps to see current wildlife closure areas and dog regulations across Boulder's open space system.
• Read our guide to recreate responsibly and help prevent wildfires. Remember: All ignition sources – including fireworks, smoking, campfires – are prohibited on City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks lands.
• Read our guide to learn more about the types of e-bikes allowed on Open Space and Mountain Parks trails and where you can ride them. Whether biking or e-biking, be considerate when passing others on a bike. Slow down and communicate before you pass.
• Receive information about Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks trails, nature hikes, and projects to help our community enjoy and protect open space. Sign up for our "Field Notes" e-newsletter!
• Follow Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Planning your visits is critical for an enjoyable and safe outdoor experience. Don't forget to:

• Download a trail map and carry a print map.
• Create a backup plan. Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks' trailheads are often full during the weekends.
• Look at the weather forecast. Colorado weather is highly unpredictable.
• Charge your phone. Make sure your phone is charged in case you need assistance or if there is an emergency. But remember: Cell service may be extremely limited in mountain locations.
• Wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Trails can be slick from snow and ice during the winter months. To avoid an accident on the trail, use strap-on boot chains for extra traction.
• Bring food and water for longer hikes. Don't forget to bring water for your dogs!
• Don't forget sunscreen. Boulder's high elevation can cause uncomfortable sunburns.
• Tell people where you're going.
• Create a plan for adverse weather or emergencies, such as fires and floods. Consider alternative routes you can take to leave the area.

Enjoy your time outdoors! But remember: You also have a responsibility to protect land, wildlife, water and plants. Numerous small disturbances can quickly harm sensitive natural resources and have a lasting impact on shared public lands.

• Enjoy the land. We recognize the special connection our community visitors have with nature. We invite our community to enjoy our shared land responsibly.
• Remember to Leave No Trace. Pack out all trash and dog waste when receptacles are full or not available. And give back to the land we all love! Volunteer for Open Space and Mountain Parks.
• Remember to stay on trail and walk through mud. If you need to step off trail, step onto a bare spot or rock. Once others pass, immediately step back on the path. When people walk off trail around mud, they widen trails and damage nearby plants. Walking off trail also increases unmaintained “social” trails that can reduce – or fragment – large habitat areas that many wildlife species need to thrive.
• Be aware of your surroundings and read signs. Do not go off trail in sensitive habitats or in locations designated as wildlife closure areas.

People visit trails and public lands for many reasons, including emotional and physical well-being and spending time with friends and family members. Visitors of all identities and abilities deserve respect and courtesy while recreating outdoors.

Boulder's elevation and its dry conditions can take a toll on long and strenuous hikes. Boulder's steep and rugged trails can also be challenging – even for those who visit open space every day.

Consider the type of activity you are planning and don't take unnecessary risks. Don't forget: Colorado also has highly unpredictable weather. If bad weather appears, reconsider your plan and head back home. If something happens, if someone is injured of if you are lost, always call 911.

Stay alert when on the trail and don't give into distractions.

• Always stay focused on what’s in front and around you as the outdoors is a changing environment and natural hazards may be present.
• Don't wear headphones/earphones. This helps visitors to not only connect to nature but also to be aware of their surroundings.
• Read the signs and know where you're going.
• Call 911 if there is an emergency, such as a fire starting or if you see smoke. Try to text 911 if you don’t have enough cell service to get a phone call through.

Help everyone enjoy open space. Remember to slow down and communicate when you're passing others. Remember these guidelines on how to yield to other trail users:

• Yield to People Going Uphill. It takes a lot more energy to go uphill than downhill, so help them keep that momentum going!
• Everyone Yields to Horses. Don’t forget to give horses a friendly “hello,” especially when approaching a horse from behind, to let them know you’re there.
• Bikers Yield to Hikers and Horses. Colliding with anyone on the trail would ruin everyone’s day.

Don’t forget to:

• Slow down
• Be prepared to stop
• Say something like “on your left”
• Pass safely

We recognize how important it is for our community to enjoy open space with their furry friends. But we also want to remind dog guardians of their responsibility in helping us protect nature and providing an enjoyable outdoor for everyone.

• Let’s DOO IT: Always pick up after your furry friend. BAG IT, PACK IT and CAN IT. Immediately BAG your dog’s DOO. If a waste can is not immediately within reach, PACK IT (carry it with you) and then CAN IT in a pet waste composting or waste receptacle.  Not only is dog waste unsightly and creates a bad smell for everyone, but it can also harm water quality and native plants.
• Leash Dogs: The best way to minimize dog and wildlife encounters and provide enjoyable experiences for people who may not like dogs is to always leash your dog. All dog guardians, including participants in the Voice and Sight Tag Program, must always have a leash while visiting open space with their dog.
• Participate in the Voice and Sight Tag Program: Would you like your dog to enjoy open space without a leash? Does your dog follow your voice commands? Consider participating in our "Voice and Sight" off-leash trail program. Keep in mind that it may take up to a month to complete all of the program requirements before your dog can visit open space without a leash.

Remember these key guidelines:

• Know city fire regulations. All ignition sources – including fireworks, smoking, campfires – are prohibited on City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks lands.
• Know the current fire risk. Check and follow all fire restrictions and fire bans instituted by local authorities.
• Create a plan. Download a trail map and carry a print map. Develop a back-up plan for adverse weather or emergencies, such as fires and floods. Know where you are going and consider alternative routes you can take to leave the area.
• Charge your phone. Make sure your phone is charged in case you need assistance or there is an emergency. But remember: Cell service may be extremely limited in mountain locations.
• Stay alert when on the trail. Be aware of your surroundings. Call 911 if there is an emergency, such as a fire starting or if you see smoke. Try to text 911 if you don’t have enough cell service to get a phone call through.

If you see a bear, stay calm and:

• NEVER RUN. Running can make a bear chase you.
• Keep your distance. Back slowly away facing the bear. Avoid direct eye contact.
• Slowly and calmly leave the area. Talk aloud so the bear will become aware of you.
• Be extra careful around a female with cubs. Never approach a cub.
• Never throw food to distract a bear. This teaches a bear to approach people for food.
• Fight back if attacked. Black bears have been driven away when people fight with rocks, sticks, binoculars, or even bare hands.
• Don't litter. Please dispose of all litter in bear-proof trash cans when you are in bear habitat. Remove it from the area if trash cans are full. Your consideration could save a bear's life!

If you see a mountain lion:

• Do not approach lions. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give the lion a way to escape.
• Stay calm if you come upon a lion. Talk to it in a firm voice in an effort to demonstrate that you are human and not its regular prey.
• Back away slowly. Running may stimulate a lion's instinct to chase and attack.
• Face the lion and make an effort to appear as large as possible. Open your jacket or lift objects to appear like a more formidable opponent. Pick up your children.
• If the lion behaves aggressively, throw rocks, sticks or whatever you can pick up, without turning your back to the lion or bending down.
• If the lion would happen to attack, fight back. Lions have been driven away by prey that fights back. Remain standing and keep attempting to get back up if you are brought to the ground.