Mountain Bike Trail From Eldorado To Walker Ranch Up For Approval

BOULDER, CO -- After decades of debate over mountain bike trail access in Boulder County, a newly proposed route from Eldorado Canyon State Park to the Walker Ranch Open Space area atop Flagstaff is entering its final stages of approval. Although there currently is a trail connector, county staff says it is too steep and rocky to accommodate cyclists and is showing signs of erosion.

After executing a joint trail feasibility study, Boulder County Parks & Open Space, the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife are jointly recommending their North Route option as the preferred alignment for the new trail. Full details about the other proposed options can be found on the project page on the county's website.

The county promises the new route will meet multi-use design standards to accommodate bicyclists and will improve the sustainability of the existing Eldorado Canyon Trail with fewer environmental impacts than the South Route option. The agencies involved in the feasibility study will host a public open house this Wednesday, Nov. 28 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at 2520 55th St. in Boulder. There will also be an opportunity for the public to comment on the project online from Nov. 28 through Dec. 9.

After the design proposal is finalized, it will need to be approved by the Boulder County Parks & Open Space Advisory Commission, the City of Boulder Open Space Board of Trustees, and finally the Boulder County Commissioners. The last approval is expected to happen sometime in March of 2019.

The study group also noted that there may be challenges to implementing their plan due to high visitation and capacity concerns at Eldorado Canyon State Park during peak summer months. Working through parking and access concerns will be a part of the approval and construction process.

Do you like this article? Join the Boulder Patch on Facebook! Stay in touch with the news and events that shape Boulder County. Sign up for your free Patch newsletter here.

Photo credit: Maggie Avants/Patch