Trails are busy, parking lots are full
When just about everything else shuttered last summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, Boulder County’s outdoor parks and trails beckoned, offering not just something to do, but a place where people could typically social distance with ease.
As restrictions have peeled back, parks and trails are seeing their usual crowds, who can now feel the mountain breeze on their maskless faces. With the popularity, though, comes issues for city and county officials who remind people of the necessity to leave no trace, to be prepared for the elements and expect parking to be limited at some popular destinations.
Vivienne Jannatpour, Boulder County Parks and Open Space spokesperson, said trails and open space areas haven’t seen the crowds they did last summer, when the pandemic drove people to get outside, but that the trails are still seeing lots of activity this year.
“The rangers are telling me that we seem to be back to normal, which means it’s busy and there are people at the trailheads, but there’s usually parking available,” she said. “Last year, it was filling up right away and people were parking all over the place.”
Jannatpour said an issue that has stemmed from the traffic is a great number of people stepping off the trail, trampling vegetation and widening paths.
“It’s really problematic for us,” Jannatpour said. “We do close trails when we feel there’s going to be a lot of damage like that.”
At the city level, Phillip Yates, city of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks spokesperson, said May and June are among the most high-traffic months for the outdoor system.
“People should be ready to encounter busy trails and full parking lots at trailheads,” Yates said. “Generally what we’re going to be seeing from Memorial Day to Labor Day is visitation at its highest peak during the course of the year.”
Both this year and last, Yates said, crowds have led to lots of illegal parking along streets and officials have been left to contend with left-behind trash, with last year seeing lots of improperly discarded take-out containers in particular.
“What we really want people to know is to ‘know before you go,’ plan ahead, be courteous on area trails and help preserve sensitive natural areas,” Yates said. “One of the key messages we sent out was not to illegally park when the trailheads are full.”
Jannatpour said that fortunately trash on county trails has been sparse, but there are continued issues with people leaving behind dog poop bags, which can start to stack up along trails edges.
In Longmont, David Bell, director of the city’s Parks and Natural Resources, said parks, trails and open space are continuing to see “heavy use,” with water areas being the most popular.
“We encourage all users to learn and abide by the rules and regulations for the areas they’re visiting, and to take precautions to stay safe around the water,” Bell wrote in an email. “Personal safety flotation devices should always be used, as weather and water conditions can change rapidly.”
Both Yates and Jannatpour also emphasized that people hiking the area should be prepared for the terrain and tell someone where they are going, when they will return and what they will be driving. Rescues have been prevalent as weather has warmed, from broken ankles and horseback injuries to lost hikers.this month, a dog was among those rescued when the pooch became exhausted from the heat while on the Royal Arch trail.
“Remember your dog’s hiking limits and ensure that your dog gets enough water and rest stops along the way,” Yates said. “Hot temperatures can cause dogs to suffer heat stroke.”
As the sun shone on Saturday afternoon, Boulder’s Chautauqua Park buzzed with hikers, picnickers and sunbathers, lounging in the grassy field near the trailhead. Many paused to capture pictures of the Flatirons. Also in the background was the neverending search for a spare parking spot, with many a hopeful driver circling.
Matt Gardner lives close to the
park and frequents the trails. Earlier this month, he hiked with his dad, Steven Gardner, who was visiting from Atlanta. The father and son duo said the park’s popularity didn’t bother them one bit — they were more focused on the views.
“I’m loving it,” Steven Gardner said. “It’s beautiful. It’s magnificent.”
“It’s not too crowded,” he added. “I feel a lot of freedom with the width of the trail.”
One benefit to living nearby the park is knowing times when the traffic thins out, Matt Gardner said, though he said those weren’t times he wanted to divulge in a newspaper.
“It was pretty busy,” hiker Ben Granlund said of the traffic.
Granlund, who lives in Boulder, said he doesn’t typically come to the park because of how crowded it is. But he wanted to bring his guests, who were visiting from Idaho and Summit County, to see the area’s crown jewel.
“It’s beautiful, the views,” Granlund said, “It’s an easy, accessible hike. It’s classic Boulder.”
Granlund’s fellow hiker and friend, Taylor Cottam, attended school at the University of Colorado Boulder. She now lives in Idaho and was visiting Boulder. As she hiked recently, she said she noticed people were being respectful of the space.
“I didn’t actually see any trash, not even dog poop bags,” she said. “It was clean.”
Yates encouraged people to know their options when it comes to park access. Several free shuttles are available, including a bus that offers park-topark service to Chautauqua Park. The shuttle runs every 15 minutes between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekends and holidays in the summer, picking riders up at New Vista High School, 700 20th St.; CU Boulder Regent Parking Lot at Regent Drive just east of Broadway, and several downtown Boulder parking garages.
People can find weekend and holiday shuttle access to the Hessie Trailhead and to get to Eldorado Canyon State Park.
Yates also encouraged people to make a backup plan in case the park or trail they pick is too crowded. Jannatpour suggested people check out the list of county trails to browse a new trail or park to explore.
“Be thoughtful about having a diverse recreational experience and not going where other people might go,” Yates said. “It’s about planning ahead and being thoughtful.”