Western Boulder Valley Ranch Trail Improvements

OSMP expects that construction-related trail closures will be minimal during upcoming work, although there may be short, intermittent closures to support construction work in the area. Upcoming closures will be posted below.

• Boulder Valley Ranch Trailhead closed Tuesday, Sept. 17: The trailhead will be closed from 7 am - 5 pm for a large volunteer project in the area. Nearby trails will remain open.

• The section of Eagle Trail between the Sage Trail junction west to the shade shelter will be re-routed with a new 2/3-mile route. This will replace the existing steep and erosive section of trail with a more sustainable and enjoyable trail grade. Trail use will remain open for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. In conjunction with this project, a section of narrow single-track trail adjacent to Sage Trail will be constructed to connect the historic Eagle/Sage Trails junction with the new one.
• Shale Trail will be constructed from the Boulder Valley Ranch Trailhead to the mesa-top to the southwest (connecting to Eagle Trail). This new 2/3-mile trail will replace two existing undesignated trails in order to reduce impacts to rare Bell’s twinpod plant habitat. This trail will be open to hikers and equestrians only in order to provide a non-bike route to the top of the mesa.
• Cobalt, Hidden Valley, and Degge Trails will be re-routed to improve trail sustainability and visitor experience. All of these trails will be opened to bicycle use, while retaining historic hiking and equestrian uses.
• Mesa Reservoir Trail and portions of Degge Trail will be closed to improve habitat conditions around Mesa Reservoir.

Project progress depends on weather conditions and trail system-wide priorities. OSMP estimates the following schedule for implementation of the western BVR area projects:

• Eagle Trail re-route: Expected to start Wednesday, Sept. 4.
• Cobalt Trail: Expected to start Monday, Sept. 16.
• Shale Trail: Spring-Summer 2025
• Hidden Valley and Degge Trails: 2025
• Closure of Mesa Reservoir and Degge Trails: 2025

You can help!

Please visit www.volunteerosmp.org to learn more about volunteering on this effort!

Improving trail condition and sustainability

Re-routing trails to sustainable standards will make them less prone to erosion and other issues. Several trail sections will be surfaced with gravel to alleviate seasonal mud issues. OSMP expects that occasional closures will be necessary during muddy conditions in order to maintain good trail conditions.

Additional bicycle access

Some trails, when re-routed, will allow for mountain bike use, along with historically allowed hiking and equestrian use.

Improving accessibility

OSMP has placed high priority on providing trail experiences for visitors with disabilities. In the western BVR trails complex, trails that are open to mountain bikes will be constructed to also accommodate adaptive mountain bikes – hand-pedal driven bikes used by people with disabilities. Through use of modest trail design changes, these trails can be constructed such that they are available for a broader range of the community to enjoy.

Improved habitat

Undesignated trails (social trails) currently traverse through sensitive habitats, such as areas that are home to the rare Bell’s twinpod – a plant that only exists in a few locations in Boulder and Larimer Counties, and nowhere else in the world! OSMP will close these trails and others that the North TSA Plan has identified for closure to improve vegetation and wildlife habitat.