Trailhead upgrades underway; Mount Sanitas repairs and other trail maintenance projects set to begin this summer

The City of Boulder is working on numerous trail and trailhead improvement projects across the city’s 162-mile open space trail system, with additional trail construction, maintenance, and repair efforts scheduled for this summer and later in the year.

These upcoming trail projects are informed by extensive monitoring of the city’s trail system and support the goals outlined in past planning efforts and the city’s open space strategic plan, which identifies trail maintenance as a top open space priority. Significant Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) trail and trailhead projects in 2025 include:

  • Mount Sanitas Trail: Starting in June, the city will begin a multi-year trail and ecological restoration effort on Mount Sanitas. This year, city efforts will focus on repair and maintenance work in the summit area along the main Mount Sanitas Trail and East Ridge trails. This work is supported by a grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and by community support through the Boulder Open Space Conservancy, the department’s official philanthropic partner.

  • Shale Trail: OSMP began construction of the new trail – which was recommended in a past planning effort for open space north of Boulder – after completing extensive work on the Eagle Trail. The new trail will connect the Boulder Valley Ranch Trailhead to Eagle Trail. It will be open to hikers and horseback riders only, providing a non-bike option in the Boulder Valley Ranch area.

  • Foothills North Trail: OSMP will reroute the Foothills North Trail from the Foothills Trailhead at U.S. Highway 36 west to the North Sky Trail junction. The trail also will be rerouted from the North Sky Trail south to Dakota Boulevard. The project will include a short reroute of the lower part of Hogback Ridge Trail and improvements to the neighborhood access trail at Second Street and Denver Street in the Dakota Ridge neighborhood. Work aims to minimize trail erosion and help improve outdoor experiences for community members experiencing disabilities.

  • Saddle Rock Trail: This summer, the city will continue a multi-year project to minimize trail erosion, improve visitor experiences and create new recreational opportunities for the trail near the First Flatiron. A key part of this project is a new trail that will connect to other Flagstaff Mountain Trails – including Amphitheater, E.M. Greenman, First-Second Flatiron Trail – and popular First Flatiron climbing descents.
  • Hidden Valley and Degge Trail: OSMP also will begin work to reroute these multi-use trails – open to hikers, bikers and equestrians – in the Boulder Valley Ranch area to improve visitor experiences, minimize erosion and protect nearby resources. Upcoming trail work has been specifically designed to accommodate adaptive mountain bikes, helping to improve access for visitors experiencing disabilities.

  • Other Trail Projects: OSMP will also conduct repair and maintenance work along the 1st/2nd Flatiron, Red Rock, Sanitas Valley, Mesa, Shadow Canyon South and NCAR-Bear Canyon trails. The department also will work to improve trails and trail connectivity on Shanahan Ridge in south Boulder.

The city is also working on several trailhead and area improvement projects:

  • Marshall Mesa Trailhead: Improvement work at the trailhead has started following the completion of state coal mine mitigation work earlier this year. Trailhead improvement efforts are expected to be completed in the fall. The trailhead is closed; however, visitors can access most of the Marshall Mesa trails. Learn more about access and view access maps.
  • Sawhill Ponds Trailhead: Work is underway and is expected to be completed this fall. The trailhead is also closed. However, visitors can access the Sawhill Ponds Trail loop during the trailhead closure through the Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat trailhead and the Walden Ponds Trail to the north.
  • Chapman Drive Trailhead: Work has begun with full trailhead improvements expected to occur through the summer. While the trailhead is closed, the Chapman Drive Trail and the existing vehicle bridge from the highway to the Chapman Drive Trail remain open. Learn more about trail access and view a map.
  • Gebhard Integrated Site Project: The city is nearing completion of work near the East Boulder Community Center intended to enhance visitor experiences and restore sensitive habitats along the South Boulder Creek corridor. Guided by extensive community input, the project includes a new bridge connecting to the South Boulder Creek Trail, grassland and creekside gathering areas and habitat restoration plantings.

City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks encourages community members to learn about trail closures associated with this work as well as other open space projects by visiting the department’s 2025 project webpage and an online web map. Go to OSMPTrails.org to see current trail closures across the city’s open space system.

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