10 Essential Tips to Enjoy and Protect Boulder Open Space and Parks

Take time to plan your visit to Boulder open space and parks areas. Visit our trail search webpage to see a trail's length, its difficulty and whether it's open to bikes, dogs and horses. Don't forget to visit a Boulder park! See current closures across the open space trail system. See what days and times open space trails are most popular. Consider visiting a place you haven't gone before.

Open Space and Mountain Parks' trailheads are often full on weekends, so you might not be able to find a parking spot. There may also be trail and parks and recreation facility closures that will affect your plan. Adverse weather or emergencies like fires and floods may also occur on open space, so have alternative routes if you need to leave the area.

Look at the weather forecast when creating your plan. Think about leaving earlier in the morning rather than in the afternoon. But remember: Colorado weather is highly unpredictable. If bad weather appears, use your backup plan and head back home.

Having several layers of clothing when visiting open space is important for Colorado and Boulder's unpredictable weather. Ensure your hiking shoes or boots fit well and provide good ankle support. Before embarking on a long hike, wear your new shoes on shorter walks to break them in. Trails during the winter may be icy, so wear traction devices on your shoes.

If you are planning a longer hike, bring water and food to help prevent fatigue, dizziness, and dehydration. If you want to bring your dog along, always remember have water for your furry friend.

Boulder's high elevation exposes you to stronger UV rays, which can cause uncomfortable sunburns. Applying sunscreen will help you stay safe and comfortable during your outdoor adventure.

Make sure your phone is charged in case you need assistance or if there is an emergency. But remember: Cell service may be extremely limited in mountain locations. Try to text 911 if you don’t have enough cell service to get a phone call through.

Tell people where you're going. It's important for others to know your route and expected return time in case of an emergency. It can also expedite search and rescue efforts if you become lost or injured.

We recognize the special connection our community and visitors have with nature. We invite our community to enjoy shared open space and parks responsibly.

Help preserve our special lands for future generations. Follow "Leave No Trace" principles to leave open space just as you found it. Remember to pack out all trash and dog waste when receptacles are full or unavailable. And give back to the land we all love! Volunteer for City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks.

When people walk off trail on open space, they widen trails and damage nearby plants. Walking off trail also increases unmaintained “social” trails, which can reduce large habitat areas that many wildlife species need to thrive. Remember to walk through mud.

Reading signs and following city open space regulations are crucial in helping our community enjoy and protect open space. Be alert for open space signs, particularly ones that remind visitors not to go off trail in locations designated as wildlife closure areas.

Through unique learning opportunities and programs, we hope to inspire an informed community who will participate in local stewardship. Join us and learn some of the stories these lands have to tell. Sign up for a nature hike and other OSMP education programs at NatureHikes.org. Learn more about nature on City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks.

Our “Staff Picks” for summer outdoor experiences brings you recommendations from the people who know the system best. Read our summer recommendations for community members can find the shade, beat the heat, take out-of-town guests and enjoy city open space!

You love hiking. You love OSMP. You love the trails. Challenge yourself to hike all OSMP trails! Some people may choose to hike all of the designated trails, but others may decide to create their own personalized challenge. Here are some personal challenges that have been suggested to us.

The outdoor environment is a rapidly changing environment. Unexpected terrain challenges and natural hazards may be present. Be aware of what's in front of you and your surroundings.

If bad weather begins to appear or if it begins raining, visitors should reconsider their plan and head back to their vehicles. Do not take unnecessary risks if you hear thunder or see lightning.

Wayfinding, safety and regulation signs are critical in helping visitors have enjoyable and safe outdoor experiences while protecting our shared natural areas. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for signs to keep you headed on the right trail and to avoid entering a sensitive wildlife habitat.

Call 911 if someone is injured, if you see smoke or if there is another emergency occurring. Try to text 911 if you don’t have enough cell service to get a phone call through.

Be thoughtful about wearing headphones or earphones. It’s important to hear everything around you, including the incredible sounds of nature.

We recognize how important it is for our community to enjoy Open Space and Mountain Parks with their furry friends. But we also want to remind dog guardians of their responsibility to help us protect nature and provide an enjoyable outdoor environment for everyone. View online maps to see dog regulations across Boulder's open space system. View Boulder Parks and Parks regulations, including dog regulations. Consider visiting one of Boulder Parks and Recreation's dog parks.

Always pick up after your furry friend. BAG IT, PACK IT and CAN IT. Immediately BAG your dog’s DOO. If a waste can is not immediately within reach, PACK IT (carry it with you) and then CAN IT in a pet waste composting or waste receptacle.  Not only is dog waste unsightly and creates a bad smell for everyone, but it can also harm water quality and native plants.

The best way to minimize dog and wildlife encounters and provide enjoyable experiences for people who may not like dogs on Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks trails is to leash your dog. All dog guardians, including Voice and Sight Tag Program participants, must always have a leash while visiting open space with their dog.

Would you like your dog to enjoy open space without a leash? Does your dog follow your voice commands? Consider participating in our "Voice and Sight" off-leash trail program. Completing all program requirements may take up to a month before your dog can visit open space without a leash.

Boulder is unique among the Front Range for the unique and diverse natural areas and wildlife habitats we protect. Please help us to keep wildlife wild! Observe wildlife from a distance, do not follow or approach them and never feed animals.

Did you know that City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks provides habitat for 1,046 plants? When people go off trail and create new paths – known as "undesignated" or "social trails" – they can steadily harm plant habitats. Those trails can also reduce the size of wildlife habitats. Numerous small disturbances can quickly harm sensitive natural resources and have a lasting impact on shared public lands.

We are all responsible for protecting the land that feeds and cares for wildlife. Do not enter designated closure areas that help us protect sensitive wildlife areas.

Open Space and Mountain Parks is home to bear habitats. If you see a bear, stay calm and

• NEVER RUN. Running can make a bear chase you.
• Keep your distance. Back slowly away facing the bear. Avoid direct eye contact.
• Slowly and calmly leave the area. Talk aloud so the bear will become aware of you.
• Be extra careful around a female with cubs. Never approach a cub.
• Never throw food to distract a bear. This teaches a bear to approach people for food.
• Fight back if attacked. Black bears have been driven away when people fight with rocks, sticks, binoculars, or even bare hands.
• Don't litter. Please dispose of all litter in bear-proof trash cans when you are in bear habitat. Remove it from the area if trash cans are full. Your consideration could save a bear's life!

Open Space and Mountain Parks is also home to mountain lion habitat. If you see a mountain lion:

• Do not approach lions. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give the lion a way to escape.
• Stay calm if you come upon a lion. Talk to it in a firm voice in an effort to demonstrate that you are human and not its regular prey.
• Back away slowly. Running may stimulate a lion's instinct to chase and attack.
• Face the lion and make an effort to appear as large as possible. Open your jacket or lift objects to appear like a more formidable opponent. Pick up your children.
• If the lion behaves aggressively, throw rocks, sticks or whatever you can pick up, without turning your back to the lion or bending down.
• If the lion would happen to attack, fight back. Lions have been driven away by prey that fights back. Remain standing and keep attempting to get back up if you are brought to the ground.

Bears have always been a part of life in Boulder. Urban bear activity typically increases in late summer and early fall as bears enter the stage of hyperphagia, a period of excessive eating, to fatten up for hibernation. The city encourages community members, including University of Colorado Boulder students, to be extra vigilant and ensure trash containers are locked. Learn what you can do to help keep bears safe and help make your home unattractive to bears.