Boulder Community Briefing: All Trails Closed West of Highway 36 Due to High Wind Conditions

Boulder Community Briefing: All Trails Closed West of Highway 36 Due to High Wind Conditions

Boulder County Parks & Open Space has closed all trails and trailheads west of Highway 36 due to sustained winds exceeding 80 mph and extreme fire danger conditions. The closure includes all mountain parks, open space properties, and county trails in the foothills. Closures will be reassessed when wind conditions subside.

Boulder County has partnered with the cities of Boulder, Longmont, Lafayette, and Louisville on this project. Combined investment across all jurisdictions totals $327,000, making it one of the largest collaborative efforts in the county’s history.

The Rabbit Mountain open space property encompasses 2,087 acres and features 11 miles of multi-use trails. Seasonal wildlife closures may apply from December 15 through July 15 to protect nesting raptors and elk calving areas.

Timeline

The Community Justice Services processed over 6,486 applications last year, with an average processing time of 11 business days. Staff are available at the Erie office Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Historical context: Boulder County was established in 1861 and covers 741 square miles of diverse terrain from the Great Plains to the Continental Divide. The county’s population of approximately 330,000 residents is served by 2196 county employees across 38 departments and offices.

Frequently Asked Questions

A community information session will be held at the Erie library on Tuesday, April 21 at 5:00 PM. Translation services in Spanish and Nepali will be available. The session will also be livestreamed on the Boulder County YouTube channel.

Safety data from the Erie area shows 36 reported incidents in the past 12 months, a 30% change from the previous year. The Sheriff’s Office has increased patrols along Arapahoe Road and added community outreach programs in response to resident feedback.