Open Space and Mountain Parks begins seasonal cliff-nesting raptor closures

The City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Department is temporarily closing areas in order to protect nesting and roosting raptors. The following areas and formations will be closed from Feb. 1 through July 31:

Golden eagle feeding a chick

• 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, .5 miles west of Fourth Street and Mapleton Avenue (no closures to the bouldering areas along the ridge; Mount Sanitas trail will remain open);
• Gregory Canyon Amphitheater, including the Amphitheater Express Trail and the 3rd Pinnacle (the Amphitheater Trail to Saddle Rock 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 Ridge 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 and the designated Shadow Canyon hiking trail will remain open);
• The Sphinx, accessible from the NCAR trailhead at the west end of Table Mesa Road;
• Diamond Head and SoBo Buttress, west of Shadow Canyon, accessible from South Mesa Trailhead (South Boulder Peak Trail will remain open);
• The entire Mickey Mouse wall, accessible from the Goshawk Ridge Trail.

High-quality cliff habitat and rich food resources on OSMP lands, as well as community cooperation to protect nesting sites, sustains the mountain backdrop as a regionally important area for nesting falcons and golden eagles. OSMP volunteers and staff have been monitoring raptor nesting and roosting areas since 1984 and the program is an integral part in protecting the species and adaptively managing the closures.

Trespass violations 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. Closures may be lifted early if no raptor activity is observed at these sites.

Up-to-date information on raptor closures and closure maps can be found on the Open Space and Mountain Parks’ Web site: www.osmp.org. or call 303-441-3440.