The Boulder Open Space Board of Trustees approved two possible mountain bike trails on the open space land west of the city Wednesday night, though both proposals would require cooperation from other landowners.
The board did not approve any of the three other mountain biking options that were on the table in the West Trail Study Area, the open space west of Broadway from Linden Avenue south to Eldorado Springs. The Boulder City Council will make the final call on mountain bike access in March.
The two mountain bike trail opportunities that the board approved were the ones originally recommended by Open Space and Mountain Parks staffers. One would connect Eldorado Canyon with Walker Ranch, and one would connect Boulder Canyon to Flagstaff Mountain via Chapman Drive. For either to become a reality, other landowners, including the state park, would have to agree.
At the board’s direction, Open Space and Mountain Parks staffers worked over the last two weeks to analyze the pros and cons of allowing mountain bikes in three additional areas in the study area: on the proposed Anemone Loop Trail south of Sanitas; on a north-south trail east of the National Center for Atmospheric Research; and on a connector trail from Shanahan Ridge to Eldorado Springs Drive.
The closest decision for the board was whether to approve the connector from Shanahan Ridge, which would likely begin at Greebriar, to the South Mesa Trailhead via South Boulder Creek Trail. Ultimately, the board voted 3-2 against the trail.
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