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Project Overview

The Foothills North Trail Reroute is part of the implementation of the North Trail Study Area (TSA) Plan. The plan’s purpose is to improve visitor experiences and increase the sustainability of trails and trailheads while conserving the area’s natural, cultural and agricultural resources.

The project will shift portions of the existing trail onto a more sustainable path that follows the natural contours of the land, that are less prone to erosion and trail widening. The new design will support long-term trail conditions and enjoyable, accessible visitor use.

Trail Closures

Some trail segments may be temporarily closed to support construction and for visitor safety. Additionally, re-routed trail sections will be permanently closed and re-vegetated to support ecological restoration.

Project Schedule

Construction is scheduled for approximately mid-June through December 2026, pending weather conditions.

Reroute Benefits

Recreate Responsibly

The rerouted trail is designed to improve the overall visitor experience while supporting responsible recreation:

  • Improves alignment and connections with the North Sky Trail and Hogback Ridge Trail.
  • Creates a more consistent trail quality and experience with recent improvements in the Western Boulder Valley Ranch area.
  • Expands opportunities for adaptive mountain biking experiences for visitors with disabilities.
  • Enhances mountain biking experiences through a more natural, flowing trail design that follows the landscape rather than straight-line routes.
  • Improves trail conditions on neighborhood access trails along 2nd Street.
  • Reduces muddy trail conditions while still providing a natural experience by surfacing the trail with gravel.

Ecological Conservation

The project also prioritizes long-term ecological health and sustainability:

  • The new trail will include frequent drainage features to move water off the trail and reduce erosion.
  • Improved design will help alleviate seasonal muddy conditions.
  • Most sections of the existing trail will be closed and restored using native seeding, erosion control and recontouring to reflect natural landforms.
  • The trail alignment avoids habitat for Bell’s Twinpod, a rare plant found only in a few locations in Boulder and Larimer counties.
  • The new trail alignment moves the trail out of low-lying wetland habitat, which is high value for plant and wildlife species.

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