Trail provide visitors with an opportunity to bike, walk or ride all the way from Boulder to Left Hand Canyon.

Boulder, COLO. – The City of Boulder today opened the North Sky Trail, a new 3.5-mile trail north of Boulder and west of U.S. Highway 36.

The new trail provides an important trail connection beyond Boulder, linking the city's Foothills North Trail in north Boulder to the Joder Ranch Trail near U.S. Highway 36 and Neva Road. The new trail is open to hikers, bicyclists and equestrians and will provide visitors with an opportunity to bike, walk or ride all the way from Boulder to Left Hand Canyon.

Key Regulations
Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) welcomes community members to visit the new trail but reminds visitors of several important regulations to help minimize disturbances to important plant and wildlife habitats in the area:

  • Visitors must always remain on trail. There is no off-trail access.
  • Dogs are prohibited on the trail May 1 to July 31. Dogs are allowed on the trail August 1 through April 30, but they must be leashed at all times.
  • No e-bikes are allowed on the trail.

OSMP will close the North Sky Trail when it’s muddy to help prevent trail tread damage and protect adjacent plant resources. Text “OSMP” to 888-777 to sign up for text updates OSMP muddy trail closures.

Responsible Recreation Reminders
Open Space and Mountain Parks Rangers and education staff – along with volunteers – will be at the trail after it opens to welcome visitors and remind them of trail regulations and responsible recreation guidelines, including:

  • Demonstrate courtesy and respect to all who are visiting the trail. Whether biking or hiking, be considerate when passing others. Slow down and communicate before you pass.
  • Remember to stay on trail to help safeguard sensitive wildlife and plant habitats. Visitors who go off trail in this area may receive a citation.
  • Follow "Leave No Trace" principles to leave open space just as you found it. Remember to pack out all trash and dog waste when receptacles are full or unavailable.
  • Stay alert. The outdoors is a rapidly changing environment. Unexpected terrain challenges and natural hazards may be present. Be aware of what's in front of you and your surroundings.
  • Follow these key yielding guidelines: 1) Everyone Yields to Horses; 2) Bikers Yield to Hikers and Horses: 3) Yield to People Going Uphill.

Plan Your Visit to the North Sky Trail
OSMP highly encourages community members to visit its trail and trailhead search webpage and its online trail map to plan their visits to city open space, including plans to visit North Sky Trail. Visitors can also access Colorado Trail Explorer to see OSMP trails and other paths maintained by neighboring open space and public land agencies. OSMP trailheads that provide immediate or nearby access to the new North Sky Trail include:


Gratitude to Volunteers
OSMP extends its deep gratitude to community organizations and community members who have volunteered their time to help build the new trail. Since trail construction began in June of last year, hundreds of volunteers have donated more than 4,500 hours of their time to build the new trail. Learn how to participate in open space volunteer projects at VolunteerOSMP.org.

Designing and Building the North Sky Trail
The North Sky Trail – which has required extensive design and permitting work to help protect sensitive natural resources – was called for in OSMP’s North Trail Study Area Plan. Throughout the extensive trail planning effort, OSMP staff followed City Council guidance to minimize natural resource impacts. As part of trail construction, which began in June of last year, OSMP followed its sustainable trail building principles to help minimize erosion and muddy trail conditions. Construction of the North Sky Trail required the assistance of a helicopter to install a 50-foot bridge and a 38-foot bridge.

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