Walker Ranch Loop Trail Reroute
Feasibility Study
Vicinity Map
(1.8MB pdf)
2007 summary natural
resources inventory
report (372KB pdf)
Walker Ranch Loop
Trail Re-Route Feasibility Study (52KB pdf)
Figure 1 (2.2MB pdf)
Figure 2 (2.3MB pdf)
Figure 3 (8.4MB pdf)
POSAC staff memo
(8.6MB pdf)
Walker Ranch Open Space consists of more than 2500 acres located
southwest of Boulder. This open space preserves a rich mosaic of
mountain habitats, including ponderosa pines and Douglas-fir forest,
open meadows, and aspen groves. Intermittent streams and South Boulder
Creek provide water sources for wildlife such as coyote, deer, elk,
black bear, mountain lion and wild turkey.
During 2007, a feasibility study took place for a potential reroute
of a portion of the Walker Ranch Loop Trail, a 7.8-mile, multi-use trail
that forms the core of the Walker Ranch trail system. There is a steep
section of the trail located in the southeast quadrant of the loop,
often called "The Wall", where bike riders must dismount and equestrians
must turn around, due to the steep terrain and safety concerns. In the
spring of 2007, Parks and Open Space initiated a two-pronged approach to
investigate whether a reroute of the Wall area is possible in order to
accommodate equestrians, bikers, and hikers. This exploratory study was
partially funded by a grant from the Boulder Area Trails Coalition.
These efforts were focused on the Wall area; potential connections to
the City of Boulder and Eldorado Canyon State Park properties are not
being studied at this time.
During the summer of 2007, a natural resources inventory of the Wall
area was completed by Dave Hallock of Earthwork Conservation Planning. A
summary report from this inventory can be found above. The complete
report will be available in late 2008, after a natural resource
inventory of all of Walker Ranch is completed.
IMBA Trail Solutions was chosen via a public bid process to assess
the topographic, soil, and trail-building constraints of a potential
reroute in the area. The objective of this study was to determine if any
safe and sustainable multi-use alternative alignments exist in the
vicinity of the Wall. The results of this study, conducted by Pete
Webber, can be found above.
POS staff has reviewed the natural resources summary report from Mr.
Hallock and the trail reroute feasibility report from Mr. Webber. In
addition, POS staff visited the Wall area with Mr. Webber after he
flagged the potential corridors. Based on the analyses presented in both
reports, and the professional experience of staff members, POS staff has
concluded that there is not a reasonable approach for a trail reroute in
the vicinity of the Wall at this time. Please see the staff memo to the
Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee, posted above, which discusses
this conclusion.
For more information, contact:
Larissa Read
Natural Resources Planner, Project Manager
303-678-6273
lread@co.boulder.co.us
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