The City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Department will institute seasonal closures to protect area raptors on Saturday, Feb. 1. The closures – which protect peregrine falcons, prairie falcons and golden eagles raising their young in nests located along Boulder’s mountain backdrop – will be in effect from Feb. 1 until July 31. Closures may be lifted sooner if monitoring indicates that raptors are not present.

High-quality habitat and rich food resources make cliffs on OSMP lands a regionally important area for nesting birds of prey. The following areas and formations will be closed:

• Lefthand Canyon Palisades, at the intersection of Lefthand Canyon Drive and Olde Stage Road (Buckingham picnic area remains open);
• Mount Sanitas, First Buttress, accessible from the Mount Sanitas trailhead, a half mile west of Fourth Street and Mapleton Avenue (no closures to the bouldering areas along the ridge; Mount Sanitas trail will remain open);
• Third Flatiron, including the East and West Ironing Boards, Queen Anne’s Head and Jaws, and WC Pinnacle, accessible from Chautauqua trailhead;
• Flagstaff Mountain: the north side of Flagstaff Mountain will be closed (the Boy Scout Trail will remain open);
• Skunk Canyon, including Ridges 2, 3 and 4, the Aechean Pronouncement, the Dreadnaught, the North Ridge and the entirety of Sacred Cliffs, accessible from NCAR trailhead at the west end of Table Mesa Road;
• The Back Porch and The Box, accessible from the NCAR trailhead at the west end of Table Mesa Road;
• Bear Creek Spire, accessible from the NCAR trailhead at the west end of Table Mesa Road;
• Fern Canyon, accessible from the NCAR trailhead at the west end of Table Mesa Road¡¡ (the designated Fern Canyon hiking trail will remain open);
• Shadow Canyon and the Matron, accessible from the South Mesa Trailhead (the Maiden will remain open and accessible from the east; Shadow Canyon Trail will remain open).
• The Sphinx and The Wings, accessible from the NCAR trailhead at the west end of Table Mesa Road;
• The entire Mickey Mouse wall, accessible from the Goshawk Ridge Trail.

Boulder-area volunteers and staff have been monitoring important raptor nesting and resting areas on OSMP lands since 1984. They are an integral part of efforts to protect the species and adaptively manage the closures.

Prairie falcon

Trespassing into closed areas can result in a summons with penalties up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.¡¡ OSMP relies heavily on the public to respect the closures, and the cooperation of visitors to these areas is greatly appreciated.

Please visit Open Space and Mountain Parks’ website at www.osmp.org for detailed maps and up-to-date information on raptor closures or call 303-441-3440.

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