City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks

Foothills Trail from Foothills Trailhead west to the North Sky Trail junction will be closed during the week, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting tomorrow.

The trail will reopen on evenings and weekends through the month of September.

Thank you for your flexibility while we re-route the North Foothills trail to a more sustainable path that follows the natural contours of the land, that are less prone to erosion and trail widening. The new design will support long-term trail conditions and enjoyable, accessible visitor use.

Learn more about this project at bldr.fyi/foothills-reroute
Visit the link in our bio for a trail closure map.

Youth Volunteer Opportunity!

Get a glimpse into the world of Junior Rangers by participating in a morning of wildfire mitigation work to help protect our community and the landscapes we all enjoy.

After the project, talk with an OSMP Ranger about what it's like to serve the community and respond to wildfires in Boulder.

When: Saturday, Sept. 12 from 8 to 11:30 a.m.
Register to attend: https://ow.ly/KXOz50ZC552

Wildfires are increasingly threatening both our ecosystems and our communities. But what happens to an ecosystem after the fire and what role might our firefighting tools play?

Working with land managers and researchers across the Front Range, Trevor is studying whether the nutrients in fire retardants can encourage non-native species and create additional challenges for post-fire w**d management.

Learn more about his work at the free virtual symposium on Nov. 4. Register to attend at bldr.fyi/fr-symposium

There is so much to learn and enjoy in the outdoors with FREE nature programs for all ages and abilities.

Find even more programs at NatureHikes.org.

What have rangers been up to for the last two months? (Yes, two… Rangers have been BEAR-y busy!!).

Below are report generating calls for OSMP Rangers:
-Snakes removed from closets: 1- Daydream or nightmare depending on which ranger you ask.
-Dispatched rabbits: 1
-Deceased bears found: 1
-Dogs biting humans: 1
-Aggressive dogs that did not bite: 1
-Passed away pets: 1
-People missing: 1. Found. Dementia is so challenging.
-People stuck in barbed wire fencing: 1
-Inebriated people: 2. While beer does have liquid and carbs in one can, it’s not a good hiking companion.
-Reports of kidnappings: 1
-Deceased people: 1. Our sincere condolences to those who knew them.
-Injured/ill hikers: 11
-Injured climbers: 1
-Stuck climbers: 3
-Stuck raccoons: 1, between a fence and another fence.
-Stuck trucks on Flagstaff: 1
-Crashed cyclists: 7, three of which involved motor vehicles.
-Crashed/injured paragliders: 3, two of which involved plummeting from the sky.
-Crashed cars: 1
-Cars chilling in ponds: 1. Double check your parking breaks.
-Menacing in a home: 1
-Damaged fences: 5
-Found game cameras: 1
-Found owlets: 1
-Found purses: 1
-Injury car crashes in Boulder Canyon: 1
-Non-injury car crashes also in Boulder Canyon, same day: 1
-Wildland fires: 3. Both on and off OSMP property.
-People jumping into traffic: 1
-Cars broken into: 6
-Trespassers: 2
-Shell casings found on Flagstaff Road: 2
-False reports of a bomb: 1
-Ma*****na disposals: 2. Kids and adults- no smoking please. It’s too crispy out here.

Let’s see, what else have rangers been up to as of late? We dodged thunderstorms, celebrated World Ranger Day with our besties from local ranger agencies with a speed hiking competition, and chased cows hither and thither. Rangers held Night Sky programs, lead Junior Rangers in forestry projects, and we perfected the AC angles in our trucks to blow cold air through our vests. Oh, and bears. They are everywhere in town. Please secure trash, remove attractants such as pet food, bird feeders, apples, and report bad bear/human behavior so that we can try to correct it before it’s too late. Thanks for reading.

Stay hydrated and call us when you need us

Join us for a screening of the award-winning PBS documentary Peaks to Prairie: A Holistic Regenerative Approach!

The film follows an innovative restoration project that uses materials from forest mitigation projects to help rebuild soil health and restore degraded grasslands – piloted on OSMP lands! After the screening, join the filmmaker, researchers, forest and grassland stewards, and OSMP agricultural staff for a panel discussion.

When: Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Canyon Theater, Boulder Public Library
Register to attend: givepul.se/46dc2m

We are so grateful for our 2026 Junior Rangers!

While Junior Rangers do physically hard work removing invasive species, maintaining trails and participating in wildfire mitigation efforts, they also learn directly from Rangers, expert field staff and world-renowned organizations about environmental stewardship.

The Junior Ranger Program has become a living classroom for understanding how a city and its natural environment depend on one another.

This program shows young people that they have a direct stake in the places they are inheriting. They are learning that stewardship is not an abstract idea, but a responsibility we practice with our hands, our hearts and our time.

Thank you, Junior Rangers 💚

Wondering what the construction is all about along the trail you love? Or, what those cows are doing near your backyard?

Find out on the list or webmap of major projects OSMP is doing this year.

bldr.fyi/osmp-projects

Flagstaff Summit Road will be closed at the Realization Point parking lot gate to the top near Sunrise Amphitheater and all the way to Artist Point.

We are repairing dangerous cracks in the asphalt.

The road will fully reopen on Thursday, Aug. 20. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

OSMPtrails.org

Bear season is here. And on some trails, your dog needs to be on a leash.

Seasonal leash requirements are in effect on portions of:
- Gregory Canyon, Saddle Rock, Amphitheater and Bluebell-Baird
- Skunk Canyon
- Shadow Canyon South
- Upper Doudy Draw

Even if you have a Voice and Sight Tag, dogs must be on a handheld leash in these areas through Dec. 1.

Why? Bears are entering an important fall feeding period, and we want to help prevent dog-bear encounters in areas where trails pass through good bear habitat.

You can help: Consider keeping your dog leashed on all trails during active bear season. And make sure your trash is secured at home. Bears that find food in town are more likely to stick around, putting them in great risk.

Check the interactive map for exact leash areas: OSMPWildlifeClosures.org