Eldorado Canyon to Walker Ranch Trail Feasibility Study and Agency Recommendation Released

Open House Wednesday, Nov. 28

Boulder County Parks & Open Space, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife have announced the findings of a feasibility study and preliminary agency recommendation for a multi-use trail connection between Walker Ranch and Eldorado Canyon State Park.

The study found significant differences in impacts between the North and South routes and the “no action” alternative. Based on these differences, the agency partners are recommending the North Route as it achieves the desired objective of completing the multi-use trail connection in a way that best balances the conservation and recreation needs of the area. There also is agreement among the project partners that current capacity and parking challenges facing Eldorado Canyon State Park must be addressed as part of future planning, design, and implementation phases.

The feasibility study and preliminary agency recommendation for a multi-use trail connection between Walker Ranch and Eldorado Canyon State Park are both now available for public review on the project web site. The partner agencies will host an open house to present the findings of the feasibility study and the preliminary recommendations.

What: Eldorado Canyon to Walker Ranch Trail Connection Open House
When: Wednesday, Nov. 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m. - presentation at 6 p.m.
Where: City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, 2520 55th St., Boulder

While there is an existing pedestrian/equestrian link, the trail does not currently accommodate bicyclists. The feasibility study examined the environmental and cultural resources, visitor experience, construction costs, trail management requirements, and state park interface for two corridors and a “no action” alternative. From the east end in the state park, the proposed 4.8-mile North Route would generally follow the existing Eldorado Canyon Trail and connect into the Walker Ranch loop near South Boulder Creek. The new 6.5-mile South Route would be accessed via the existing Rattlesnake Gulch Trail, an additional 1.3 miles, and would connect to the Crescent Meadows Trailhead.

Laptops at the open house will be available for members of the public to submit comments on site at the open house, or they can be submitted via an online form beginning Wednesday, Nov. 28, through Sunday, Dec. 9.

For more information about the project and to sign up for regular email updates, please visit www.bouldercounty.org/eldo-walker-connection or contact Jeff Moline, Boulder County Parks & Open Space Resource Planner, at jmoline@bouldercounty.org or 303-678-6270.