Open Space and Mountain Parks
Boulder's Open Space & Mountain Parks are a very special place. The 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 citizens with passive recreation opportunities. Trails are used by walkers, hikers, bicyclists, horseback riders, dog walkers and other passive recreational uses.
OSMP Alerts
- Voice and Sight Education Classes cancelled Feb. 26: All Voice and Sight Education Classes have been cancelled for Thursday, Feb. 26 because of the weather.
- Prescribed burn tentatively planned for Feb. 26: A prescribed burn of slash piles is planned for the Settler's Park/Red Rocks area, learn more and read about prescribed fire on OSMP.
- OSMP to increase enforcement of Voice and Sight Tag Program changes: When the program updates took effect, OSMP rangers focused on educating and warning dog guardians about changes to the program in order to promote compliance. Now enforcement will transition to citations of guardians whose off-leash dogs do not have current Voice and Sight Tags. Previously issued green tags are no longer valid. Visit voiceandsight.org to start the process to obtain a 2015 blue tag.
- Share your opinions on what the city needs to look for in its new OSMP director: Come to two public meetings later this month to offer your thoughts. Learn more about the meetings.
- Several trails are closed for longer-term projects: Please see the temporary closures page for details on the following closures:
- Sanitas Valley Trail closed
- Section of South Boulder Creek Trail on both sides of US 36
- Boulder Falls Trail closed
- Gregory Canyon Access Road closed
- Anemone Hill closed - a portion of the trail is temporarily open for out and back use only
- Flagstaff Summit Road closed to vehicles for winter season
Featured Projects & Pages
2015 Voice & Sight Tags
To let your dogs walk off-leash on Boulder open space trails in 2015, you must first take an education class.
Open Space & Mountain Parks Annual Reports
Read OSMP's 2014 annual report to learn what the department accomplished last year and what's next for the department.
Open Space & Mountain Parks Amateur Photography Contest
Check out some of the winning entries in OSMP's 2014 Amateur Photography Contest!
Royal Arch Repairs
The Royal Arch Trail reopened on Sat. Nov. 8. Learn more about how OSMP and local climbers came together to rebuild the trail.
NIST Protected Area Trails
OSMP is working with NIST to designate a trail system for visitor access and use in the NIST Protected Area.
Open Space and Mountain Parks to Improve Chautauqua Meadow Trails
Starting on Aug. 25, OSMP will kick-off a long-term project to improve the sustainability of trails in the Chautauqua Meadow.