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Home » Osmp » Gregory Canyon Trailhead

Gregory Canyon Trailhead

Gregory Canyon Trailhead

COVID-19 ALERTS

Always bring a face covering when you leave home and maintain 6 feet of distance

  • You will need a face covering to visit Boulder’s open space trails and parks. Always bring one with you when you leave home.
  • Place it over your nose and mouth when you can’t maintain 6 feet of distance from others.
  • Wear it around your neck or wrist when no one else is around.
  • Parents should help children older than 2 years old properly wear a face covering.
  • Help protect vulnerable community members and each other. 

Don’t forget: Keep the space in open space! Always stay at least 6 feet from others you don’t live with or haven’t agreed to have close contact with.

Please follow these other responsible recreation reminders:

  • Visit OSMPTrails.org to see current trail closures, historical data that shows areas of high and low open space use and trails that are wider than 6 feet. See when trails are busiest through our Visitation Data Explorer.
  • Protect first responders. Know your limits and don’t take unnecessary risks. 
  • Plan ahead and consider recreating closer to home as parking is extremely limited - especially on Flagstaff Mountain.
  • Remember: Leave No Trace! Pick up trash and dog waste. Stay on trail and walk through mud. Step off if you need to maintain distance but quickly step back on trail.
  • For more responsible recreation reminders, please visit the Covid-19 Recovery page.

LOCATION

Turn south from Baseline Road onto Gregory Canyon Trailhead access road. The turnoff is west of the Chautauqua Meadow and east of where Baseline Road becomes Flagstaff Mountain Road and goes up Flagstaff Mountain.

Please check for Trail & Area Closures.

Or view the interactive trail map (includes trail closures) and the interactive wildlife closures map. 

You are responsible for knowing and complying with all closures and OSMP rules & regulations.

PARKING

Parking lot at trailhead and parking fee.

TRAILHEAD SAFETY

Please keep your car doors locked and your car windows rolled up at all times while leaving your vehicle parked at OSMP trailheads. Also consider leaving important valuables at home or take them with you while visiting open space. To report suspicious activity please call City of Boulder Dispatch 303-441-3333 or Boulder County Dispatch 303-441-4444. For crimes in progress, call 911 immediately.

TRAILS

View Gregory Canyon Area Trail Map pdf

Gregory Canyon (1.1 mi; 900 ft.) goes west past the junction of the Saddle Rock Trail, crosses a ridge with spectacular outcrops and views.  It then climbs to a saddle and drops into a drainage to end at a dirt road leading up to Realization Point.

Saddle Rock (1.3 mi; 1,400 ft.) branches south off the Gregory Canyon Trail, crosses a bridge and climbs to the junction of the upper end of Amphitheater Trail. Climbs steeply to Saddle Rock, a spectacular overlook worth a detour. The trail continues past Saddle Rock to end at E.M. Greenman Trail.
Post-flood Update - Saddle Rock Trail now has a ladder: OSMP crews had to rebuild the trail in locations where floodwater removed large sections of earth. Department crews also installed a ladder in a steep, flood-damaged section of trail. Visitors need to exercise caution while on the ladder. OSMP also advises that visitors should not allow their dogs to attempt to negotiate the ladder.

Bluebell-Baird (0.7 mi; 340 ft.) branches southeast off the Amphitheater Trail and climbs a ridge, then follows the ridge south past the Chautauqua and Bluebell Mesa Trails to end at the Bluebell Road just behind the Bluebell Shelter.

Amphitheater (0.4 mi; 540 ft.) crosses a bridge and goes up a draw past the junction with Bluebell-Baird Trail. It then follows a draw steeply up past Gregory Amphitheater, a little bay in the rocks where you often see rock climbers. The trail ends at Saddle Rock Trail.

Flagstaff (moderate/strenuous) (1.5 mi; 1,120ft.) starts where Baseline Road turns into Flagstaff Road and the trail follows up to Panorama Point and up to Flagstaff Summit.

Crown Rock (0.5 mi; 400 ft.) starts from the Gregory Canyon Trail and goes north to join Flagstaff Road at the Crown Rocks bouldering area.

RESTROOMS

Restroom facilities at trailhead.

PICNIC FACILITIES

Picnic facilities.

BIKE REGULATIONS

Bicycles are not allowed on trails in this area.

DOG REGULATIONS

Gregory Canyon Area Dog Regulations Map

Learn about bringing your dog to OSMP. All dogs must be leashed in the Trailhead Leash Area. Beyond the trailhead, dog control requirements vary from trail to trail, so carefully watch for dog regulation signs at trailheads and trail intersections. On most OSMP trails in this area, dogs must be on a hand-held leash at all times unless they meet the voice and sight control standard and display a City of Boulder Voice and Sight tag. Dog excrement removal is required by law.

HORSE REGULATIONS

Horses are allowed on most trails. On-trail riding is encouraged to protect rare plants and wildlife habitat. Learn more about riding your horse on OSMP.

WILDLIFE

Black bears and mountain lions inhabit this area. Many other wildlife species are common including birds of prey, mule deer and coyotes. White-tailed and mule deer are common. Red-tailed hawks, foxes and coyotes are sometimes seen.