No parking along Highway 170 near Doudy Draw and South Mesa Trailheads
Please remember that parking is not allowed on Highway 170 at any time.
Social Trail Restoration
Efforts are underway in the
Eldorado/Doudy Draw and
Marshall Mesa/Southern Grassland areas to restore social trails. Please observe the "Keep off the trail" signs and avoid traveling on these social trails and eroded sites that are being restored. "Social trails" are often unsustainable and result in the trampling of fragile vegetation, soil compaction and erosion and disturbance to wildlife.
Wildland Restoration Volunteers working in Eldorado/Doudy Draw
Click here to see more photos of the project!
Seasonal leash restrictions
Dogs must be on leash from August 15 through November 1 on the following trails:
Dogs must be on leash at
Lower Big Bluestem May 15 through July 15 for seasonal grassland ground nesting birds.
Seasonal Grassland ground nesting bird closures in effect May 1 through July 31
Dogs must be on leash at Lower Big Bluestem May 15 through July 15.
The following areas will be closed for the protection of grassland ground nesting birds from May 1 to July 31:
-
both sides of the Greenbelt Plateau Trail from Community Ditch trail to Highway 128. Dogs will be allowed on the Greenbelt Plateau Trail only if they are on-leash (area is normally voice and sight control);
-
Community Ditch Trail west of Highway 93 and north of Community Ditch Trail;
-
west of Highway 93 and north of Doudy Draw Trail.
Grasshopper sparrow nestlings
Map grassland bird closures 2.16 Mb
Seasonal Bat roosting site closures in effect April 1
OSMP closes Mallory and Harmon Caves, accessible from NCAR trailhead at the end of Table Mesa Road from April 1 to October 1 of every year. They are closed to protect Townsend's Big Eared bats. OSMP also closes the east face of Der Zerkle rock formation, accessible from the NCAR trailhead from April 1 to September 1 to protect the roosting sites of Fringed Myotis bats.
Female bats locate roosting sites in caves and rock crevices along the foothills, where the pups are raised in maternity colonies. The pups suffer high mortality rates even under normal conditions, so these seasonal closures help ensure they will remain undisturbed by humans during roosting season.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Mallory Cave - closed April 1 - Oct. 1
Harmon Cave - closed April 1 - Oct. 1
Der Zerkle East Face - closed April 1 - Sept. 1
Seasonal Raptor closures:
Please help us protect wildlife by:
Respecting all area closures.
Immediately leaving any closure area should you accidentally enter one.
Urging cooperative respect for closures from fellow park users.
Municipal fines are up to $1,000 and jail time up to 90 days.
Follow this link to meet some of the animals protected by these closures.
Bald Eagle nesting closures run from Nov. 1 until July 31.
Cliff Nesting Raptors are protected from Feb. 1 through July 31.
Burrowing Owls are protected March 15 through Oct. 31.
are protected March 15 through Sept. 10.
Bald Eagles:
Kolb and Coal Creek Property Closure:
OSMP closes the Kolb property in the White Rocks area (near 75th and Valmont) and the Coal Creek Property (east of Hwy 93 and near Marshall Lake) temporarily between Nov. 1 and July 31 to protect bald eagle nesting and roosting activity.
Kolb Property Closure
Cliff Nesting Raptors:
Overview Map of OSMP: This map shows all of the cliff nesting raptor closures.
The following areas are closed every year from
Feb. 1 - July 31 to protect cliff nesting raptors:
Back Porch-Skunk Canyon.
Lefthand Canyon Palisades.
Flagstaff North: The north side of the Flagstaff Mountain Summit.
Mt. Sanitas Ridge --1st Buttress Only.
Gregory Canyon Amphitheater: Amphitheater Express Trail and the 3rd Pinnacle are closed. The 4th and 5th Pinnacles and the Amphitheater Trail to Saddle Rock remain open.
Skunk Canyon and Sacred Cliffs: Skunk Canyon, Ridge 2 and all areas west of Ridge 2; Sacred Cliffs, south rib of Green Mountain are closed.
North side of Fern Canyon: (Fern Canyon Trail is open): East Ridge, Nebel Horn Ridge, The Goose, Goose Eggs are closed.
The entire Third Flatiron: all routes, including: The Descent Trail, Queen Anne's Head, W.C. Field's Pinnacle, 1911 Gully, The Ghetto, The East and West Ironing Boards, The Fin, Green Thumb, and Jaws are closed.
Shadow Canyon: The Matron: all areas within 1/4 mile radius, the entire Devil's Thumb Ridge, Towers of the Moon, Elephant Rock, Jamcrack Spire and Diamond Head are closed. The Maiden is OPEN to climbing with access from the EAST side only.
Mickey Mouse Wall: all routes are closed.
Burrowing Owls:
These areas are closed to protect nesting burrowing owls every year from March 15 - Oct. 31:
Aweida Burrowing Owl - closure lifted May 27, 2009 - Burrowing owls are not using this area this year.
Axelson Burrowing Owl - closure lifted May 27, 2009 - Burrowing owls are not using this area this year.
Osprey:
The Axelson area near the Boulder Reservoir is closed to protect nesting Osprey every year from March 15 - Sept. 10:
Axelson Osprey
New Zealand Mudsnails:
Boulder Creek closure to all access for New Zealand Mudsnails
More Wildlife Links
»Wildlife Watching Ethics
»Mammals
»Birds
»Insects
»Bears & Mountain Lions
»Rare and Sensitive Species
»Prairie Dogs
»Wildlife Protected by Area Closures
»Reptiles / Amphibians
Open Space & Mtn Parks 
