BoCo Open Space @BoulderCountyOS

This account is no longer actively monitored by Boulder County staff. For up-to-date information on services, events, and ways to connect, please visit BoulderCountyOpenSpace.org EMERGENCIES Please visit boulderodm.gov for real-time emergency updates TRAIL ALERTS Text TRAILS to 877-556-2534 to receive trail alerts or visit boco.org/TrailAlerts

The 4th of July Road/CR 130 will be closed July 28 and 29 for maintenance. The roadway will be closed in both directions between the Hessie and the Fourth of July trailheads from 6:30 a.m. on Monday, July 28 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29. Access to the Hessie Trailhead will be maintained, but there may be delays if equipment is in the area. #boco_trails bouldercounty.gov/news/4th-of-ju…

Want to get notices like this on your phone? Text TRAILS to 877-556-2534 to receive trail alerts or visit boco.org/TrailAlerts

Tree pruning at the East Twin Lakes Trail is complete and the trail is now open. Enjoy! #boco_trails

The East Twin Lakes Trail is closed July 21-23 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for tree pruning. #boco_trails

Fourth of July Road (County Road 130) will be closed in both directions between the Hessie and Fourth of July trailheads from 6:30 a.m. Monday, July 28, to 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, for roadway maintenance.

Hessie Ranger @HessieRanger

11 months ago

This is a bad picture of some good news: Fourth of July Road will be receiving some much-needed road maintenance on July 28th and 29th. The road will be closed at Hessie Trailhead during that time (to hikers, bikers, and cars.)

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The Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, July 24, at 6:30 p.m. Agenda items include: • Kestrel Property Acquisition (Recommendation to BOCC) • Gateway Property Acquisition (Recommendation to BOCC) • Limber Pine and Bristlecone Pine Conservation (Information Only) • Public Comment Period for Items Not on Agenda • POSAC Members Comment Period for Items Not on Agenda • Director's Update Learn more at boco.org/posac

Are you curious about butterflies, or have you ever wondered where monarchs go during their incredible migration? Join volunteer naturalists for a beginner’s guide to our colorful local butterflies. This slideshow program will explore the amazing life cycle of butterflies and cover basic information on behavior, host plants, identification tips, and more.  Beautiful Butterflies of Boulder County   Thursday, July 24, 6:30-8 p.m.    Ron Stewart Parks & Open Space Building, 5201 St. Vrain Rd., Longmont   All Ages Welcome      Register at: boco.org/ButterfliesofB…  #BeautifulButterflies #ButterfliesOfBoulderCounty #MonarchMigration #PollinatorPower #ButterflyLifeCycle #BoulderCountyOpenSpace #NatureEducation #FamilyFriendlyEvent #WildlifeWonder #InsectInspiration #ButterflyBasics #VolunteerNaturalists #ExploreNature

Legion Park has reopened. Parking lot resurfacing is complete. Enjoy! #boco_trails

Join our community in celebrating self-expression and moments of deep connection through poetry and nature. Participants will explore a local outdoor space — Bald Mountain — engage their senses, and use observation, mindfulness, and guided prompts to create original poetry. This program is designed to foster creativity and community, environmental awareness, and self-expression for all ages and skill levels.  Poets in Nature at Sunset  Saturday, July 19, 7-9 p.m.  Bald Mountain Scenic Area, Boulder  All Ages Welcome  Register at: boco.org/PoetsNatureSun…  #PoetsInNature #NatureAndPoetry #MindfulMoments #SunsetPoetry #CreativeCommunity #BoulderCountyOpenSpace #NatureInspires #OutdoorCreativity #PoetryWorkshop #SelfExpression #BaldMountainBoulder #EcoAwareness #AllAgesWelcome

Join us for a workshop to learn how the grassland prairie ecosystem functions and how it has transformed over time. Participants will gain practical knowledge about implementing conservation practices that promote habitat restoration and sustainable ecosystems.  Restoring the Prairie: Conservation and Habitat Part 1  Friday, July 18, 9-10:30 AM  Agricultural Heritage Center, 8348 Ute Highway 66, Longmont  Adult (13 & Older)    Register at: boco.org/RestoringthePr…  #GrasslandRestoration #PrairieEcosystem #HabitatConservation #BoulderCountyOpenSpace #RestoringThePrairie #SustainableEcosystems #ConservationInAction #LearnAndRestore #EcoStewardship #NativeHabitats #ClimateSmartConservation #OpenSpaceEducation #ColoradoNature

🏞️Caribou Ranch closes during early spring and summer to allow elk, deer, and now moose to raise their young undisturbed. It's a magical place to see a wide range of flora and fauna, and we are celebrating its reopening to two-legged mammals with a 4-mile hike to explore the property's history, geology, and plant and animal life.    The group will stop for lunch during the program — please pack a lunch!  Celebrating Caribou Ranch Monday, July 14, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Caribou Ranch, Nederland 🔗 More info: boco.org/CelebratingCar… #CaribouRanch #BoulderCounty #NatureHike #WildlifeWatching #ExploreNature #FamilyAdventure #BCPOS #NatureLovers #OpenSpaceCelebration #OutdoorFun #Hiking #WildlifeHabitat #ConservationInAction

Join us for this weeklong event as we tackle a charming — yet extremely invasive — plant: oxeye daisy. Any time you can stop by to help pull out these plants will make a big difference in giving our native wildflowers room to grow! While there, you will learn how we’re managing this species to prevent it from taking over our meadows. Join us as you hike in from the Caribou Trailhead, or take a shuttle from the Mud Lake Trailhead if you’d prefer not to walk. Shuttles will run throughout the day. This event is great for the whole family! Registration is optional, but recommended. For more information, visit boco.org/OxeyeDaisyRemo…

Caribou Ranch is now open. The annual wildlife closure has been lifted. Enjoy! #boco_trails | boco.org/CaribouRanch

Legion Park will be closed Monday through Thursday, July 7-10, for parking lot resurfacing. boco.org/LegionPark #boco_trails

🌼🐝 Pollinators play essential roles in our food supply and the health of ecosystems. While many of us think of honeybees as the primary pollinators, much of the work is done by other surprising sources — including beetles, butterflies, moths, wind, and water. Discover the many pollination strategies of plants during this family-friendly slideshow and outdoor walk. We’ll explore how plants and animals work together to create a bountiful world — and what we can do to help them thrive.  The Birds and the Bees and Beyond: The Inside Story of Pollination Saturday, July 12, 9–11 a.m. Louisville Recreation & Senior Center All ages welcome! 🔗 More info: boco.org/InsideStoryofP… #Pollinators #BoulderCounty #NatureWalk #FamilyFriendly #EcosystemHealth #BeeKind #WildlifeEducation #BCPOS #PollinationMatters #SaveTheBees #NatureWalk #PlantAndAnimalConnections #SustainableFuture

🌿 Pincushion Penstemon (Penstemon procerus var. procerus) Family: Plantaginaceae (Plantain Family) This petite but striking perennial grows just 5–13 inches tall, with leafy, often hairy stems and clusters of blue-purple flowers. Its leaves are lance-to-oblong in shape, and the flower’s white to yellow palate is bearded—a unique and beautiful detail! Look for it blooming from June to August in forest openings, mountain meadows, and near streams between 7,000 and 12,000 feet. #PincushionPenstemon #PenstemonLove #WildflowerSeason #MountainMeadows #ColoradoWildflowers #BoulderCountyNature #HighElevationBlooms #NativePlants #PlantainFamily #SummerWildflowers

🌼 Wildflowers are popping — and now’s the perfect time to get outside and start your #iNaturalist50for50 plant hunt! Celebrate 50 years of Boulder County Parks & Open Space by spotting 50 native plants on iNaturalist between now and Oct. 31. Participants who submit verified observations of at least 50 plants from our list by Oct. 31 will receive special recognition, with an exclusive award for the individual who identifies the most species. 🌿 Learn more and start exploring: boco.org/inaturalist50f…

🎨 Join us for another installment of our Art in the Parks series. We’ll use the awe-inspiring landscapes of open space as our backdrop and inspiration while exploring the rules of perspective, proportion, angles, and relative size and positioning. Build on concepts covered in the first program — or jump right in and join the fun. This program is open to all experience levels. Supplies and art instruction will be provided.  Art in the Parks: Sighting & Measuring Sunday, June 29, 2–4:30 p.m. Heil Valley Ranch – Wapiti Trailhead 🔗 More info: boco.org/SightingMeasur… #ArtInTheParks #HeilValleyRanch #BoulderCounty #NatureArt #OutdoorCreativity #ExploreNature #BCPOS #SketchingWorkshop #SightingAndMeasuring #ArtWorkshop #CreativityUnleashed #NatureLovers #OpenSpaceArt

🌈🦜 This all-ages event welcomes LGBTQIA+ participants and allies. Join us for a morning of birding as we look for nesting foothills bird species. Together, we’ll traverse approximately 1.2 miles with only 60 feet of elevation change. There are bathrooms, benches, and shade along parts of the trail, but the route includes uneven, narrow dirt trails. This free event is open to all skill levels — no prior birdwatching experience necessary. Loaner optics will be provided. Near Boulder. Location provided upon registration.  Pride in the Parks: Foothills Birding Saturday, June 28, 8–10 a.m. Near Boulder (location provided upon registration) All Ages Welcome  🔗 More info: boco.org/PrideBirdingFo… #PrideInTheParks #Birding #LGBTQIA #BoulderCounty #InclusiveOutdoors #PrideMonth #CommunityBirding #ExploreNature #BCPOS #BirdingForAll #NatureWalk