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BATCO has identified over forty candidates for trail connections throughout the entire county. From those forty candidates we have also selected ten highest priority connections that we feel most urgently require attention.Most of the proposed trail connections are not particularly long:
However, their impact is collectively quite impressive in moving toward a trail system. The proposed new connectors would constitute 160 new miles of trail, yielding a network of 770 miles of trails. The biggest impact is how the connectors increase the length of trails, as shown in the following table. The "before" column shows the percent of trails in each distance category at this time. "After" shows the impact trail connections will have on cumulative trail length: e.g. there will be four times as many trails which are at least 16 miles long as there are now.
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Trail Lengths |
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|
Distance (miles) |
Before |
After |
|
5 or less |
50% |
9% |
|
6-10 |
30% |
25% |
|
11 - 15 |
5% |
22% |
|
16 and longer |
10% |
44% |
|
Forty Candidate Trail Connections |
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Estimated mileage shown in ( ) for connector distance and trail miles in each "to" and "from" area. Total trail miles are when connection is made. Documents: 1=Boulder County Comprehensive Plan, 2=State Recreation Trails Master Plan(priority), 3=Recreation and Public Purposes Act; a=Conceptual Trail Alignment, b=Conceptual Trail Corridor, c=County Bikeway Land ownership: COBOS=City of Boulder Open Space, BCPOS=Boulder County Parks and Open Space, BLM=Bureau of Land Management Selection Criteria: A=At risk, B=Good ROI, C=High Leverage, D=Minimal environmental impact, E=User safety, F= Relieve pressure on other trails |
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|
|
Connector |
From |
To |
Total |
Comments (references) |
Document |
Criteria |
|
1 |
Rock Creek (0.1) |
Rock Creek farm (3) |
Lac Amora ( 2) |
5.1 |
Traverse a RR crossing. |
1a |
B C F |
|
2 |
B-D Turnpike at Superior (0.1) |
Coal Creek Drive, Marshall Road, McCaslin (6) |
Coal Creek Drive, Rock Creek Coal Creek Trail, Rock Creek farm (8) |
14.1 |
Use existing underpass . Acquire ~100 acres Boulder County Parks and Open Space West of Highway 36 |
1a&c, 2(1, 2) |
A B C D E |
|
3 |
B-D turnpike underpass (0.1) |
Davidson Mesa east of turnpike (1) |
Davidson Mesa west of turnpike to Marshall (1) |
2.1 |
Clean out existing underpass; designate existing social trail as an official trail. |
|
B C D E |
|
4 |
Marshall road gate |
Marshall Road (1) |
South 66th Street (1.5) |
3.5 |
Designate existing social trail. |
|
B D |
|
5 |
Coal Creek (2) |
Coal Creek Drive, South 66th Street, Marshall Mesa (4) |
Coalton Drive (3) |
9 |
Use existing gravel quarry roads. |
1a&c, 2(2) |
B C D |
|
6 |
C-93 underpass (0.1) |
Coal Creek Greenbelt Plat Marshall (4) |
Doudy Draw (4) |
8.1 |
Use existing underpass. Important off-road trail connection. |
1a |
B C D E F |
|
7 |
C-128 underpass (0.1) |
Greenbelt Plateau, Marshall Mesa (5) |
Flatirons Vista Trail head, Doudy Draw (4) |
9.1 |
Use existing underpass. |
|
B C D E |
|
8 |
Denver water aqueduct (1) |
Eldorado Canyon Mesa Trail (10) |
Fairmount ParkTrail, Golden (15) |
26 |
Part of the Front Range Trail; link to Jefferson County Open Space and trails |
|
B C D |
|
9 |
South Eldorado Canyon (2) |
Rattlesnake gulch Mesa Trail (5) |
Walker Ranch, Crescent Meadows (10) |
17 |
Important connector for mountain bikes: would get people off Flagstaff Road and reduce parking at Walker Ranch; mostly Boulder County Parks and Open Space land; steep; improve the "wall" |
1b |
C E
|
|
10 |
Bear Canyon (2) or Gregory Canyon |
NCAR, Boulder (5) |
Flagstaff Road - Walker Ranch (10) |
17 |
Fire access road; allow bikes. |
|
E |
|
11 |
County Road 68J (2) |
Walker Ranch Crescent Meadows (10) |
Gross Reservoir -Magnolia area (5) |
17 |
Take down "private" signs on a public road. |
1b |
B C D |
|
12 |
Tram Hill (2) |
Walker Ranch - Crescent Meadows (10) |
Betasso (4) |
16 |
Use power line, aqueduct; mountain lions possible issue. |
|
C |
|
13 |
Aqueduct trail (10) |
Walker Ranch, Gross Reservoir (10) |
Nederland (5) |
25 |
80% in place. Reduce pressure on Boulder Valley Ranch, get users off road |
1a |
B C E |
|
14 |
Lost Gulch (1) |
Boulder Creek Trail extension (9), Tram Hill (2) |
Flagstaff Road @ Red Lion Inn (5) |
17 |
Existing gravel roads; open to mountain bikes; acquire a small amount of additional acreage or trail easement. |
|
C E |
|
15 |
Switzerland Trail @ Caribou Ranch (3) |
Switzerland Trail to Gold Hill (10) |
Caribou (10) |
23 |
Railroad grade in place. |
|
B C F |
|
16 |
Dry Creek #1 (1) |
Cherryvale, South Boulder Creek (5) |
Baseline |
6 |
Important connection. |
1b, 2(2) |
C E F |
|
17 |
Dry Creek #2 (2) |
Baseline |
Arapahoe, Teller Trail (5) |
7 |
Crossing 75th. |
1b, 2(1) |
C E F |
|
18 |
Broomfield Rail Trail (3) |
Broomfield- Lac Amora (5) |
Rock Creek-Coal Creek (5) |
13 |
|
1b, 2(1) |
A B C D E F |
|
19 |
Rock Creek (3) |
Rock Creek-Coal Creek Trail (5) |
Erie-County Line |
8 |
trail in progress to West |
1a&c, 2(1) |
A C |
|
20 |
Erie Rail Trail (10) |
Walden- Sawhill Ponds (5) |
Erie County line |
15 |
|
1a |
A B C D E |
|
21 |
Boulder Creek (10) |
Walden-Sawhill Ponds (5) |
Erie County line |
15 |
COBOS and BCPOS land |
1b |
A |
|
22 |
Power line (2) |
Gunbarrel Hill (6) |
Niwot, Boulder Reservoir, Boulder Valley Ranch (10) |
18 |
COBOS land |
1a&c |
B C D E F |
|
23 |
Homestead Trail (2) |
Gunbarrel-Twin Lakes (2) |
Niwot, Boulder Reservoir, Boulder Valley Ranch (10) |
14 |
Along ditches between 71st, Lookout & Diagonal. |
1b |
A B C D E |
|
24 |
IBM (.5) |
Gunbarrel (3) |
Niwot, Boulder Reservoir, Boulder Valley Ranch (10) |
13.5 |
Under 119, COBOS land. |
1a, 2(1,2) |
B C D E |
|
25 |
N 51st Street (2) |
Jay Road, Cottonwood Trail (3) |
Boulder Valley Ranch (5) |
10 |
COBOS, Important as a North-South connection |
|
A B C E |
|
26 |
Bald Mountain South (2) |
Bald Mountain (1) |
Batasso (4) |
7 |
Important North-South connection. BLM land to BCPOS via 3 |
1b |
A C F |
|
27 |
Bald Mountain North (1) |
Bald Mountain (1) |
Anne U. White (3) |
5 |
|
|
A C |
|
28 |
Melvina (5) |
Sunshine (4) |
Fourmile Canyon (10) |
19 |
BLM land in Melvina area to BCPOS (3) |
3 |
A C E |
|
29 |
Ward (3) |
Ward community, Spring Gulch, Gold Lake (5) |
BCPOS land North of Ward, CR 100J (2) |
10 |
Transfer BLM land west of Ward: area to BCPOS via 3 |
3 |
A C |
|
30 |
West Beech (5) |
Boulder Valley Ranch, Wonderland Lake (10) |
Buckingham, Heil-Hall (20) |
35 |
Front Range Trail; utilizes existing RR grade and roads. |
1b |
A C D E |
|
31 |
Buckingham (3) |
Bouder Valley Ranch, West Beech (15) |
Heil- Hall (20) |
38 |
Front Range Trail; utilizes existing RR grade and roads. |
1b |
A C E |
|
32 |
Axelson (1) |
N 55th Street, Boulder Valley Ranch (5) |
North Rim, Boulder Valley Ranch (10) |
16 |
Neighborhood access and a trail loop |
|
B C D E |
|
33 |
Boulder Feeder Canal (15) |
Boulder Reservoir, Boulder Valley Ranch (12) |
Lyons, Heil-Hall, St. Vrain (23) |
50 |
Canal trail |
1b |
B C D E F |
|
34 |
Mineral (5) |
Niwot (5) |
Panama Reservoir, Erie, County Line (5) |
15 |
lots of COBOS land in this area |
1b, 2(1) |
C D |
|
35 |
Dry Creek (6) |
Niwot (5) |
Standstone (3) County line |
14 |
N-E and S-W trail, Longmont to Niwot |
1a |
A B C E |
|
36 |
Sandstone Ranch (3) |
Longmont (10) |
County Line, Dry Creek (6) |
19 |
City of Longmont Open Space project |
1a 2(2) |
B C E F |
|
37 |
Lagerman East (3) |
Lagerman BCPOS (2) |
Longmont (5) |
10 |
East-West corridor |
1a |
A C E F |
|
38 |
Lyons Rail Trail (10) |
Lyons, Boulder Feeder Canal, St. Vrain (25) |
Longmont, St. Vrain (10) |
45 |
Use existing rail corridors |
1b |
B C D E |
|
39 |
St. Vrain Greenway (10) |
Lyons, Boulder Feeder Canal, St. Vrain (25) |
Longmont, St. Vrain (10) |
45 |
BCPOS corridor |
1c, 2(1) |
A C E |
|
40 |
Hall-Heil (3) |
Heil Ranch (10) |
Hall Ranch (14) |
27 |
Town of Lyons & regional trail connection |
|
A C D E |
|
41 |
St. Vrain Supply Canal (15) |
Lyons, Boulder Feeder Canal, St. Vrain (25) |
Rabbit Mountain (8) |
48 |
Canal trail |
1b |
B C D E F |
|
42 |
East Rabbit (2) |
N. 75th, McIntosh Lake (5) |
Rabbit Mountain (8) |
15 |
East-West connection on BCPOS land |
1b |
B C E F |
|
43 |
McIntosh Lake (3) |
St. Vrain, Lyons Rail Trail (20) |
Rabbit Mountain, Longmont (18) |
41 |
North-South connection |
1a, 1b |
A B C E |
|
44 |
Rough and Ready (4) |
Sandstone (3) |
East Longmont (2) |
9 |
North-South connector |
1b |
A B C D E F |
|
BATCO Top Ten Trail Connections |
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|
Estimated mileage shown in ( ) for connector distance and trail miles in each "to" and "from" area. Total trail miles are when connection is made. Documents: 1=Boulder County Comprehensive Plan, 2=State Recreation Trails Master Plan(priority), 3=Recreation and Public Purposes Act; a=Conceptual Trail Alignment, b=Conceptual Trail Corridor, c=County Bikeway Land ownership: COBOS=City of Boulder Open Space, BCPOS=Boulder County Parks and Open Space, BLM=Bureau of Land Management Selection Criteria: A=At risk, B=Good ROI, C=High Leverage, D=Minimal environmental impact, E=User safety, F= Relieve pressure on other trails |
|||||||
|
|
Connector |
From |
To |
Total |
Comments (references) |
Document |
Criteria |
|
1 |
West Beech (5) |
Boulder Valley Ranch, Wonderland Lake (10) |
Buckingham, Heil-Hall (20) |
35 |
Front Range Trail; utilizes existing RR grade and roads. Reduce pressure on Boulder Valley Ranch, get users off road |
1b |
A C D E |
|
2 |
Buckingham (3) |
Bouder Valley Ranch, West Beech (15) |
Heil- Hall (20) |
38 |
Front Range Trail; utilizes existing RR grade and roads. |
1b |
A C E |
|
3 |
Hall-Heil (3) |
Heil Ranch (10) |
Hall Ranch (14) |
27 |
Provides access from the Town of Lyons & regional trail connection |
|
A C D E |
|
4 |
St. Vrain Greenway (10) |
Lyons, Boulder Feeder Canal, St. Vrain (25) |
Longmont, St. Vrain (10) |
45 |
BCPOS corridor |
1c, 2(1) |
A C E |
|
5 |
Aqueduct trail (10) |
Walker Ranch, Gross Reservoir (10) |
Nederland (5) |
25 |
80% in place. |
1a |
B C E |
|
6 |
Switzerland Trail @ Caribou Ranch (3) |
Switzerland Trail to Gold Hill (10) |
Caribou (10) |
23 |
Railroad grade in place. |
|
B C D |
|
7 |
B-D Turnpike at Superior (0.1) |
Coal Creek Drive, Marshall Road, McCaslin (6) |
Coal Creek Drive, Rock Creek Coal Creek Trail, Rock Creek farm (8) |
14.1 |
Use existing underpass . Acquire ~100 acres Boulder County Parks and Open Space West of Highway 36 |
1a&c, 2(1, 2) |
A B C D E |
|
8 |
Denver water aqueduct (1) |
Eldorado Canyon Mesa Trail (10) |
Fairmount ParkTrail, Golden (15) |
26 |
Part of the Front Range Trail; link to Jefferson County Open Space and trails |
|
B C D |
|
9 |
South Eldorado Canyon (2) |
Rattlesnake gulch Mesa Trail (5) |
Walker Ranch, Crescent Meadows (10) |
17 |
Important connector for mountain bikes: would get people off Flagstaff Road and reduce parking at Walker Ranch; mostly BCPOS land; steep; improve the "wall" |
1b |
C E
|
|
10 |
Erie Rail Trail (10) |
Walden- Sawhill Ponds (5) |
Erie County line |
15 |
Important east-west trail, not real expensive to do. |
1a |
B C DE |
Mailing Address: BATCO, 1705 14th Street, Suite 201, Boulder, CO. 80302
Telephone Contact: Suzanne Webel (303) 499-0786