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Boulder County Parks & Open Space has been analyzing possible trail connections between Hall Ranch, Heil Valley Ranch, and the town of Lyons. This process is intended to result in an implementation plan for connections between the town and the open space properties.
During 2005 the County defined a number of possible alternative trail alignments to make the connections and held public meetings to gather comments and to review the plan. The staff has made recommendations about their preferred alignments. The Boulder County website has the planning documents, meeting results, and maps at Boulder County Parks and Open Space Heil Valley Trails.
BATCO was pleased to see the County taking action on these long awaited regional trail connections. We were particularly interested in the Heil Valley Ranch to Lyons connection because it completes a critical portion of a Boulder to Lyons foothills trail alignment. We were also extremely interested in seeing a second loop trail created within the property as called for in the County's North Foothill's Open Space Management Plan.
A map of the Heil Valley Ranch to Lyons trail alternatives is available at Heil to Lyons Trail Alternatives Map. The County Parks and Open Space analysis of the pros and cons of the trail alignments is available at Trail Alternatives Pros & Cons.
BATCO's recommended alignments are available at BATCO Preferred Trail Alternatives.
The staff's final recommended trail map is available at Heil to Lyons Trail Staff Recommendations.
BATCO supported the majority of the staff's final recommendations and appreciates their efforts in developing the trail plan. There was one remaining significant issue to be resolved, the fate of a proposed new loop trail. The alternatives were to build no trail, a small, or a longer trail. The staff recommended the smaller trail option.
BATCO believes the longer trail option is the most appropriate. We support providing a balance between visitor access and environmental protection. In this case, we believe the trail plan should emphasize the quality of the recreational experience. Creating a longer loop trail that extends from the overlook to the junction of the Wapiti and Ponderosa Loop trails will reduce user conflict by dispersing users while providing a high quality recreation experience. With much of the Heil Valley Ranch closed to the public and the new trails sited in areas that are already open to the public, we believe the effects of the longer loop trail will be minimal.
After the Boulder Off-Road Alliance (BOA) organized a dramatic turnout of recreational visitors, primarily from the mountain biking community, the County's Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee (POSAC) voted to support BOA's and BATCO's recommendations, including the larger loop option. The County Comissioners subsequently adopted POSAC's recommendations.
Construction of the new trails is planned for 2006 and 2007. The new loop trail at Heil Valley Ranch is to be built in 2006 and the connection from Heil Valley Ranch to Lyons is set for 2007.