Posts tagged trailhead
Boulder’s newest trail gets suggested guidelines
Apr 12th
Access expected to go into effect April 24
The newly purchased portion of the Chapman Drive Trail starts at Boulder Canyon roughly at the location of the Red Lion Restaurant and proceeds south, uphill for approximately 1.4 miles.
OSBT recommended that council designate this portion of property as a Habitat Conservation Area (HCA). The guidance from OSBT included the following uses by visitors:
- Mountain bike travel up and down, on trail, from Boulder Canyon to Flagstaff Road;
- Dogs allowed, on leash and on trail, from Boulder Canyon to the junction with the Tenderfoot Trail; and
- Voice and sight control for dogs permitted from the Tenderfoot junction to Flagstaff Road.
Staff is currently in the process of working with the City Attorney’s Office to finalize these proposed uses. Once finalized, there will be a 15-day comment period for public feedback. Unless significant changes are necessary after the input process, access is expected to begin, pursuant to these guidelines, around April 24.
Please check the OSMP.org web site for updates about this process and watch for signage at the trailhead soon. For more information about these changes, contact Jean Koszalka at 303-413-7622.
City of Boulder Press Release
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–CITY–
Boulder OSMP to Open Lower Chapman Drive Trail
Jan 5th
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) will open the new Chapman Drive Trail and Trailhead to the public on Jan. 7, 2013. This trail is an extension of the current Chapman Drive Trail that begins at Realization Point on Flagstaff Drive. Visitors will be able to travel from Boulder Canyon Drive (SH 119) at the Red Lion Inn all the way to Flagstaff Drive.
The new trail was made possible by the recent purchase of the Schnell property. The 2005 Visitor Master Plan proposed the use of Chapman Drive as a multi-use trail and the new section was included in the recent West Trail Study Area Plan. There is a small trailhead with parking at the northern end of the trail along SH 119.
“At this time, we are opening the trail to pedestrians, equestrians, telemark skiers and snow shoers,” said Annie McFarland, OSMP Visitor Access Coordinator. “Bikes will also be allowed, going uphill only. Cyclists not able to complete the 2.5 mile ride uphill, must dismount and walk bicycles downhill if they wish to return to the trailhead at SH 119. Cyclists completing the trail have the option of riding down Flagstaff Drive to Canyon back to the trailhead.”
All users must remain on the trail and no dogs are permitted north of the Tenderfoot Trail intersection.
Throughout January OSMP will meet with key stakeholder groups and interested parties to seek feedback on how best to manage visitor use – in particular bike and dog access on the lower part of Chapman Drive. OSMP will conduct an analysis of each alternative and then develop a matrix of possible management options. The department will host a mid-February open house for public feedback. Individuals may also submit comments regarding visitor use by email. Go to www.osmp.org and click on ‘Contact us’ on the bottom right of the home page. In your email, specify ‘Chapman Drive Trail’.
More information including a map of the area can be found at:
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For additional trail updates on OSMP properties, please call 303-441-3440 or visit www.osmp.org.
AT LAST: A solution to Hessie mess
Jun 1st
Parking limited near trailhead
Boulder County, Colo. – A free shuttle service will begin carrying passengers from Nederland High School to the Hessie Trailhead this Saturday, June 2 at 8 a.m.
The shuttle runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on summer weekends and holidays, including Independence Day (July 4) and Labor Day (Sept. 3). Free shuttle details:
- Park at Nederland High School/Middle School
- Shuttle arrives every 15 minutes
- Shuttle does not stop at the Eldora townsite
- Leashed dogs are welcome
- Parking is for day use only; overnight users should make other arrangements
No car needed
To access the trailhead area without a car, combine the shuttle service with RTD’s N route from Boulder to Nederland. During summer months, the N bus stops at the school and provides a direct link to the shuttle service.
Parking and road improvements
The Boulder County Commissioners approved a staff proposal to begin operating the shuttle and make road improvements to address concerns about safety and emergency access to the Hessie Trailhead area.
Enhancements will be made between the junction of Hessie Road and the end-of-pavement at the west end of the Eldora townsite (map) and include road improvements, adding designated road shoulder parking, new regulatory parking signage and increased parking enforcement.
Road construction is underway and parking will be very limited near the trailhead this weekend, June 2-3. Users are encouraged to take the shuttle from Nederland. Intermittent road closures are likely until June 8. When construction is complete, limited parking will be available between designated signs. Violators will be fined $50 or towed for blocking traffic.
For more details and project overview and history, visit www.HessieTrailhead.com.
The Hessie Trailhead is operated by the U.S. Forest Services and is a popular access point to the Indian Peaks Wilderness and several lakes and trails. Visit the USFS Hessie Trailhead webpage for more information.