V&S Trails

Below is a list of V&S Trails in Boulder.  Each is addressed in detail on the OSMP website, though the links change frequently so we provide some basic information on his page.

See comprehensive City of Boulder trail information here.

The Trailhead Leash Program requires dog guardians to leash their dogs upon exiting their vehicle at all OSMP trailheads, and in the area of the trailheads. See the trailhead leashing policy.

If you would like to contact a FIDOS member who uses these trails regualry to discuss issues there is  contact information beside the trails.

THIS IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH OSMP OR IN ANY WAY FORMAL

  • Bobolink  – Contact Regular User
    • Trailhead – Near corner of Baseline and Cherry Vale, space for about 20 cars
    • Summer Water – Usually a small stream accessible at the height of the summer
    • Inside Info – Prepared path along stream – bikes not permitted – Popular weekends – Extensive work in progress
    • Possible Wildlife Viewing – Heron, owls, coyote, used to be lots of nests and  deer but less now as OSMP clears their cover
  • Dry Creek –  Contact Regular User
    • Trailhead – Off Baseline near Dry Creek Reservoir, space for about 20 cars
    • Summer Water – Probability  of no summer water.
    • Inside Info – Quite at weekdays and mid morning and afternoon.  The Zebra Mussel closures are a cover as OSMP closed off the stream before finding the mussels but they are big fences.
    • Possible Wildlife Viewing – Great early morning viewing, Various eagles and hawk hunting the nearby Prairie Dog colonies, coyote,
  • Gregory Canyon
  • Chapman Drive
    • Trailhead – Off the top of Flagstaff Rd at the entry to Flagstaff area
    • Summer Water – None, but a lot of shade, carry water
    • Inside Info –
    • Possible Wildlife Viewing – Deer in the morning and evenings.
  • Twin Lake West (County)
  • Ranger
  • Royal Arch
      • Trailhead – From the ranger cottage at Chatauqua
      • Summer Water – Some seeps off the side of the trail if you dog can find it but much better to carry water
      • Inside Info – Steep and rocky in parts
      • Possible Wildlife Viewing – Snakes
  • Boy Scout
    • Trailhead – Of the top of Flagstaff – Closed to V&S visitors in the winter
    • Summer Water – None, but its a short trail.
    • Inside Info – Loop round the top of Flagstaff
    • Possible Wildlife Viewing – Deer in the morning and evenings.
  • Flagstaff  – Contact Regular User
    • Trailhead – Off Flagstaff Summit – Closed in winter – space for about 30 cars
    • Summer Water – None at the height of the summer, must carry water
    • Inside Info – Nice walk through pines with surrounding views.  Closely monitored by OSMP staff.  Links to Chapman and other trails in the area
    • Possible Wildlife Viewing – Deer and lion reported in the area.
  • Saddlerock/Amphitheatre
    • Trailhead – Off the Gregory Canyon Trail Head
    • Summer Water – Few seeps survive in the summer, but better to carry water
    • Inside Info – The Amphitheatre climbing areas are closed during the hawk breeding season.
    • Possible Wildlife Viewing – Hawks circling and nesting on the climbing rocks.
  • CragMoor
  • Doudy Draw  – Contact Regular User
    • Trailhead – Near Eldorado Canyon – space for about 20 cars
    • Summer Water – Ditch which dries at high summer.
    • Inside Info – Out and back for V&S visitors. Historic farmhouse site and old road at the picnic area which is being destroyed and allowed to as part of OSMP effort to minimize the presence of humans in the Open Space, even the history.
    • Possible Wildlife Viewing – Deer and coyote in the evenings, fishing in spring.  Signs of bear.
  • Homestead
    • Trailhead – Near Eldorado Canyon – space for about 20 cars
    • Summer Water – Crosses creek by parking but carry water for the rest of the trail
    • Inside Info – Recently rerouted away from the river.  Old stone dam has been hidden by the rerouting.
    • Possible Wildlife Viewing – High possibility of RATTLERS early in the summers day near the stream crossing, but they move away fro the trail as more people pass by.
  • Marshall Mesa  – Contact Regular User
    • Trailhead – Corner of RT93 and and Marshall Drive – space for about 30 cars
    • Summer Water – None at the height of the summer though it runs along a couple of ditches
    • Inside Info – Huge – Huge history in this area, Pick up the guide “Walking Through History on Marshall Mesa” by Joann Sampson from the trail head or buy it, great read.  Most of the interesting stuff is hidden and obscured by OSMP pretending it “pristine” to return it to nature though it was heavily mined.
    • Possible Wildlife Viewing – Coyotes frequent the hill side in the morning and evening as their dens are close by.  Prairies dogs of course and trout in the spring before everything dries up.
  • Enchanted Vista
  • Range View
  • Mesa Trail
    • Trailhead – North at the Chatauqua parking lot and South at the Mesa Trail head off Eldorado Road
    • Summer Water – None at the height of the summer, must carry water
    • Inside Info – Nice walk along the foot of the FlatIrons.
    • Possible Wildlife Viewing – Deer, snakes in the morning
  • Prairie Vista
    • Trailhead -On the Golden Road and – space for about 30 cars
    • Summer Water – None at the height of the summer, must carry water
    • Inside Info – Nice walk through pines with views of the FlatIrons. Popular with Mountain Bikes but as the area is flat they are usually slower and under control.  Connects to the Doudy Draw trail, but no loop back.
    • Possible Wildlife Viewing – Used to be deer but rarer these days as a lot of the tree cover has been cut back, let us know if you see anything