The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) will close the Chapman Drive Trailhead and a short section of the Boulder Canyon Trail starting as early as Monday, March 3. This closure is necessary for the construction of a new bridge that will connect the Boulder Canyon Trail to an upgraded Chapman Drive Trailhead, which will include enhanced amenities for visitors.
The trailhead will be closed through the fall while work occurs. Chapman Drive Trail will remain open from Flagstaff Mountain, allowing people to descend to the closed Chapman Drive Trailhead. However, they will need return back to Flagstaff Mountain as the trailhead closure will not provide through-access to the Boulder Canyon Trail. Likewise, visitors along the Boulder Canyon Trail will not be able to ascend to Flagstaff Mountain through the trailhead closure area. This recreational impact also will occur through the fall.
A short section of the Boulder Canyon Trail – about 1,000 feet – will be closed for three months beginning Monday, March 10, as the pedestrian bridge is under construction.
OSMP and Boulder County will install a new pedestrian bridge over Boulder Creek, linking the Boulder Canyon Trail to the Chapman Drive Trailhead. This bridge will provide a separate, safer route for cyclists, hikers, and equestrians.
The new pedestrian bridge and upgrades to the Chapman Drive Trailhead are the final phase of a long-term project involving the City of Boulder, Boulder County, and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). The project improves recreational opportunities in Boulder Canyon and along the Boulder Canyon Trail. Previously, CDOT extended the Boulder Canyon Trail from Fourmile Canyon Drive to Chapman Drive. This work included the construction of two bike-friendly tunnels under the highway and added approximately 3,500 feet to the trail's length.
