Open Space and Mountain Parks

Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) are a very special place. The open space lands teem with native plants and wildlife and are home to threatened and endangered species. They serve as a buffer between Boulder and nearby development. They sustain agriculture uses and add untold benefits to the natural environment - clean air, water, and earth.

The lands shape the urban mosaic of the Boulder Valley and provide residents with passive recreation opportunities. Trails are used by walkers, hikers, bicyclists, horseback riders, dog walkers and other passive recreational uses.

Please leave your valuables at home: We’ve recently seen an uptick of car break-ins at our trailheads. If you’re visiting open space, please leave your valuables at home. Do not leave anything of value in plain sight in your vehicles and please remember to always lock your car doors. Please call the non-emergency police line at 303-441-4444 to report any suspicious activity.

OSMP Alerts

Trail/Trailhead Closures

Trail closures related to Xcel transmission line work: Starting as early as Wednesday, Aug. 1, the Bear Canyon Trail west of the National Center for Atmospheric Research will be closed while Xcel Energy continues work to replace electric transmission line infrastructure on city-owned open space and utility lands. This long-term trail closure west of the Mesa Trail will be in effect 24 hours a day and is expected to continue through November, weather permitting.

Additional Closures beginning Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018: Beginning Tuesday, August 21 and lasting one to three days, the NCAR-Bear Connector and NCAR-Bear Canyon Trails and a section of the Mesa Trail will be fully closed, view a map of trail closures .

More information can be found at osmpprojects.org.

Please see the temporary closures page for more details on the trail closures below. OSMP's interactive trail map also shows these longer-term trail closures and restrictions:

1st/2nd Flatiron Trail work: The trail will be closed Monday through Thursday every week, beginning June 4.
East Boulder/White Rocks Trail bridge closed

Project Updates & Other Alerts

OSMP administrative offices have moved: The offices relocated to 2520 55th St. in Boulder.

Boulder County fire restriction: Boulder County has enacted Level 1 Fire Restrictions, effective June 12, for western Boulder County. OSMP grills and fireplaces are closed because of the ban. More information from Boulder County on what's included in the ban.

OSMP Master Plan: See a video about recent community engagement and learn how the draft focus areas emerged from your input. Learn more about how additional community input helped refine draft focus areas and related topics, and sign up for email updates.

Rocky Mountain Greenway Soil Sampling: The City of Boulder is part of a multi-agency partnership supporting the development of the Rocky Mountain Greenway in Jefferson and Boulder County including an underpass beneath Colorado Highway 128 connecting Boulder’s open space trails with the Rocky Mountain Greenway and the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Part of the partnerships due diligence is conducting soil sampling to address public health and safety concerns. The draft soil sampling and analysis plan (SAP) is now available for review. Visit Jefferson County's site to review and comment on the draft SAP, learn more about the partnership and sign up for project updates. Learn more.

Purchase OSMP annual parking permits online: Visitors whose vehicles are registered outside of Boulder County can now purchase OSMP annual parking permits online. Learn more about parking permits.

Open Space and Mountain Parks Calendar

«August 2018»
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
			1 Wed1 9:30 a.m. Storybook Hike at South Teller Lake! Wednesday, August 1 @ 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.	2 Thu2 6 a.m. Sunrise Forest Bathing – Shanahan Ridge Thursday, August 2 @ 6 to 8 a.m. Thu2 9 a.m. Nature Play Date at McClintock! Thursday, August 2 @ 9 to 11 a.m.	3	4
5 Sun5 8 a.m. Biking for the Family Sunday, August 5 @ 8 to 10 a.m.	6	7	8 Wed8 9 a.m. Fishin’ Fun With the Rangers Wednesday, August 8 @ 9 to 11 a.m. Wed8 9:30 a.m. Storybook Hike at South Teller Lake! Wednesday, August 8 @ 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wed8 6 p.m. Open Space Board of Trustees Meeting (Televised) Wednesday, August 8 @ 6 to 8 p.m.	9 Thu9 9 a.m. Nature Play Date on Flagstaff Mountain! Thursday, August 9 @ 9 to 11 a.m.	10 Fri10 6 p.m. Fishing Fun for Kids! Friday, August 10 @ 6 to 8 p.m.	11
12	13	14 Tue14 2 p.m. Nature Play Date at Bobolink Trail! Tuesday, August 14 @ 2 to 4 p.m.	15 Wed15 9:30 a.m. Clouds, Colors, and Jumping Fish: Story Hour and Kids' Hike Wednesday, August 15 @ 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wed15 6 p.m. Fishing Fun for Kids! Wednesday, August 15 @ 6 to 8 p.m.	16 Thu16 7:30 a.m. Escape to White Rocks - PROGRAM FULL Thursday, August 16 @ 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thu16 9 a.m. Nature Play Date at Teller Lake! Thursday, August 16 @ 9 to 11 a.m.	17	18
19	20	21 Tue21 2 p.m. Nature Play Date at McClintock! Tuesday, August 21 @ 2 to 4 p.m.	22 Wed22 9:30 a.m. Magnification Story Time Wednesday, August 22 @ 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wed22 12 p.m. OSMP Master Plan Process Committee Wednesday, August 22 @ 12 to 1:30 p.m.	23	24	25 Sat25 9 a.m. Fishing Fun for Kids! Saturday, August 25 @ 9 to 11 a.m. Sat25 2 p.m. Dog-Friendly Hike to Woods Quarry Saturday, August 25 @ 2 to 4:30 p.m.
26 Sun26 9:30 a.m. Hiking as a Family Sunday, August 26 @ 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sun26 7:30 p.m. Sunset & Moonrise Hike at Bobolink Trail Sunday, August 26 @ 7:30 to 9 p.m.	27	28 Tue28 2 p.m. Nature Play Date on Flagstaff Mountain! Tuesday, August 28 @ 2 to 4 p.m.	29 Wed29 10 a.m. Cuentos Para Niños Wednesday, August 29 @ 10 to 11 a.m.	30 Thu30 9 a.m. Nature Play Date at Bobolink Trail! Thursday, August 30 @ 9 to 11 a.m.	31 Fri31 6 a.m. Sunrise Healing and Relaxing Through “Forest Bathing" Friday, August 31 @ 6 to 8 a.m. Fri31 8 a.m. Treasures of White Rocks Friday, August 31 @ 8 to 11 a.m.