2 new trails in Boulder's Open Space Department near completion | Trail Trax

The highly anticipated North Sky Trail in Boulder County has a new bridge nearing completion as construction of the trail pushes forward, Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks Department (OSMP) announced Tuesday.

The two new trails — Vesper Trail being the other — are part of an extensive trail repair, construction and maintenance program OSMP has implemented in 2024 to help community members enjoy Boulder open space.

The North Sky Trail is a 3.5-mile long trail connecting the city’s Foothills Trail to the Joder Ranch Trail north of Boulder and slated to open in mid-July. The Vesper Trail is a new 1.5-mile long trail on Gunbarrel Hill near the intersection of 75th Street and Lookout Road and is slated to be open in late June, with both trail openings weather dependent, which could delay opening days.

The department is planning to host an opening celebration event later in July.

The OSMP is also busy conducting other trail construction, repair and maintenance projects to help fulfill past trail planning processes and the department’s long-term strategic plan.

"The other projects have had extensive design work and environmental permitting, requiring OSMP trail and trailhead specialists, ecologists and landscape architects to coordinate project plans to protect wildlife, plants and water resources," the OSMP said.

Upcoming trail and trailhead improvement projects include:

• Sawhill Ponds Trailhead: OSMP will implement several trailhead improvements, including constructing a new fishing pier, enhancing bus parking and upgrading a “bird blind” to help visitors observe wildlife. OSMP plans to complete this work in the fall.

• Shale and western Eagle trails: OSMP will construct the new Shale Trail, connecting Boulder Valley Ranch Trailhead to city-managed open space, on a mesa north of Boulder. The trail will be open to horses and hikers. Additionally, OSMP will reroute a steep, erosive section of the western part of Eagle Trail to improve the trail experience for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. OSMP anticipates beginning this work late this year and lasting into 2025.

• Cobalt Trail: OSMP will reroute the trail to improve drainage, avoid rare and sensitive plants, and create a better visitor experience. Work is expected to start in the fall.

• Mount Sanitas Trail: OSMP will continue repair and maintenance efforts on the Mount Sanitas Trail this summer. This work will include replacing old trail infrastructure, installing new steps and conducting repairs to reduce soil erosion. OSMP reminds visitors to help protect vegetation in the area by staying on trail and walking through mud to help minimize “trail braiding” caused by visitors walking off trail, which widens the trail and damages drainage and infrastructure.

• Royal Arch Trail: OSMP will continue ongoing work to improve the trail by installing additional timber stairs near the end of the trail. The department anticipates implementing closures from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, to help complete this work. Trail work is expected to occur this summer.

• Chapman Drive Trailhead: Trailhead improvements will include a new pedestrian bridge connecting Boulder Canyon Trail to the Chapman Drive Trailhead across Boulder Creek. OSMP also will improve parking at the trailhead. Additional visitor amenities will include more bike racks and a new picnic table. This work is expected to occur in the fall.

• New bridge over South Boulder Creek: OSMP plans to install a new bridge over South Boulder Creek and will build a new, small trail to connect community members living near South Boulder Road and Cherryvale Road to the new bridge. The department also will remove invasive species as part of ongoing work to help protect rare and federally threatened wildlife and plant species in the area. The department plans to begin work this fall.

• Cragmoor-Shanahan Connector: OSMP will design and designate the trail connection between Cragmoor Connector and North Fork Shanahan Trail on Shanahan Ridge in south Boulder. OSMP plans to conduct trail construction work this summer. The current undesignated trail alignment will be restored after the new alignment is completed.

• Eagle and Sage trails: OSMP recently completed extensive maintenance work on the eastern sections of Eagle and Sage trails north of the city. These trails provide important connections into Boulder from neighboring communities and areas north of the city.

The department will conduct several other trail repair projects and trail reroute efforts in the following areas:

• Buckingham Park
• Baseline Meadow
• East Boulder – Gunbarrel Trail
• Greenbelt Plateau
• LeHigh Connector North
• The Peoples’ Crossing
• Saddle Rock Trail

Best Places to Camp Regional Awards

The Dyrt, the No. 1 app for camping availability, photos and reviews, has announced the 2024 Best Places To Camp Regional Awards based on reviews and ratings from its vast community of campers. These destinations include some of the hottest and trendiest campgrounds of the past year, popular picks from The Dyrt campers, and well-established, sought-after properties that make their way onto this list every year.

"Camping is more of a year-round activity now than it's ever been, but I still love May because it's the traditional beginning of the camping season, and we get to unveil our annual lists of the Best Places to Camp in each region of the country," says Sarah Smith, founder of The Dyrt. "On this year's lists we see private campgrounds that are working harder than ever to provide the amenities that campers desire these days, while also remaining true to the essence of providing an experience in nature."

Top 10 in the Mountain Region:

• Saddle Mountain — Kaibab National Forest — Arizona
• Sacred White Shell Mountain — Colorado
• BLM Middle Fork Shafer Canyon Dispersed — Utah
• Belle Fourche Campground at Devils Tower — Wyoming
• Cauldron Linn BLM Dispersed — Idaho
• Oliver Lee Memorial State Park — New Mexico
• Lost Dutchman State Park — Arizona
• Makoshika State Park — Montana
• Prospector Campground — Colorado
• Upper Teton View Dispersed — Wyoming

"Stunning views and amazing sunset," says The Dyrt camper Amy C. about Sacred White Shell Mountain, No. 2 on the list.

"Not to mention that at night you could see every star in the sky. I stargazed until it was time to go to sleep. Also a couple kangaroo rats were running around my campsite and it made me so happy, since I was really hoping to see one while I was in this area."

"There's no concrete, one-size-fits-all definition as to what makes for a great camping experience," The Dyrt CEO Kevin Long said. "There's something for everyone in every region in the Best Places to Camp Regional Awards. These lists can also be an invitation to explore a new region."