November Update: On November 20, Boulder County will move to Colorado’s COVID Dial “Red Level: Severe Risk”. Both Boulder County Parks & Open Space (BCPOS) and City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks remind visitors:

STRONGLY recommend that you only recreate with members of your own household.
Stay home if you are sick or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.
Stay 6 feet away from non-household visitors.
Always bring a face covering to wear at the trailhead and when passing by others on the trail.

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent public health order is not something to be taken lightly. Getting exercise and getting outside is extremely important for our well-being and mental health, but we must keep open spaces safe and uncrowded. Here’s what BMA is doing, and our recommendations for safe trail use during this time.

SOME BMA EVENTS ARE CANCELED

All BMA Group Rides, parties and other social events are canceled or postponed until such time as group activities are deemed safe again.

SAFE RIDING OPTIONS

STAY AT HOME

The safest option is to stay at home. Hop on your trainer, there have been zero cases of COVID-19 in Watopia. There are also many online workout programs and BMA business partner Revo PT & Sports Performance is offering Zoom no-equipment-needed classes as well as free workouts on YouTube.

RIDE FROM HOME TO GRAVEL ROADS AND PATHS

Our trails have been very busy since COVID-19 was first detected, now is a great time to explore Boulder County’s extensive network of gravel roads. No special bike required, just turn off your suspension and have a sense of adventure.

TRAIL RIDING

WHAT’S AT STAKE

If people are not using our open spaces safely, it is entirely possible that the local governments will close access. The Manitou Incline remain; closed due to COVID-19 health concerns. At an April 7 Boulder City Council meeting, Boulder officials discussed a city open space system closure as a potential step to ensure compliance with social distancing requirements, but less stringent measures are going to be tried first. The City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks partnered with Boulder County Parks & Open Space, Jeffco Open Space and Denver Parks and Recreation on a joint news release to remind open space visitors to practice responsible recreation . But more importantly, the health and lives of our community is at stake. If you choose to ride trails during this time, please follow these guidelines.

KEEP OPEN SPACE UNCROWDED

Pick off-peak times to ride, or less used trail areas. If there is no available parking at a trailhead, it is too crowded!
Consider night rides where allowed (see BMA’s Where to Ride page for night ride suggestions).
Ride fewer times a week.

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Don’t carpool, unless with household members.
Don’t do shuttle rides.
Consider riding solo. If you do ride with others, keep group size to 10 or less members and maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance at all times.
For passing on singletrack, “If the trail isn’t wide enough for proper spacing, step gingerly off the trail at a 90 degree angle, being careful not to tread on plants if at all possible. Once you’re six feet off, wait for the approaching party to clear the area before delicately retracing your footsteps. If you’re a mountain biker, lay your bike down by the side of the trail first. Whether you’re on foot or on wheels, don’t cut a new trail parallel to the existing track—that’s called braiding, and it’s a long-term problem because your sucker tracks attract other users.” – The New Rules of Social Distancing for Trail Users
Check out the City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks interactive map, now updated to show historic data of high and low use and which trails are wider than 6 feet.

AVOID CONTAMINATION

Don’t ride if you are sick.
Avoid touching other’s bikes, racks or other equipment like pumps and tools.
Don’t share drinks, food, or anything else that goes in your mouth and can be inhaled.
Be mindful of your snot rockets and loogies.
Use the bathroom before you leave the house. Some trailhead restrooms are open but aren’t being maintained, others are closed.

KEEP RIDES SHORT AND CONSERVATIVE

Ride within your limits and don’t take risks. Now is not the time to send it, our healthcare system has enough to do without setting your broken collar bone. Backcountry rescue groups and first responders can’t attend to an emergency while maintaining social distancing, putting everyone at risk.
Yielding to other users on the trail is always required and now clear communication about how to safely pass with at least 6 feet distance is paramount.
Your immune system is temporarily suppressed while you recover from a hard bike ride. Back off the intensity and duration of your ride to stay healthy. Read more guidelines on exercising during the COVID-19 outbreak.
When going out for any outdoor activity, let a friend or family member know exactly where you are going and when you plan to return. If something happens and you don’t return on time, this saves first responders from wasting time checking different trailheads for your vehicle.
Check the weather forecast and be prepared for your ride with appropriate clothing, layers, water and food.

RESPECT TRAIL CLOSURES

See all closures and conditions on BMA’s Trail Conditions page

BRING A FACE COVERING

Beginning May 9, every person older than 10 years old will be required to wear a face covering when in public anywhere in Boulder County where social distancing of 6 feet cannot be maintained. City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks and Boulder County Parks & Open Space are requiring users to bring face coverings when on Open Space trails. While the masks are most effective in indoor spaces like grocery stores and pharmacies where social distancing is hard to maintain, when worn outside they send a social cue that we are all doing our part. Bring a mask, neck gaiter or other face covering with you and wear it in the parking lot, at the trailhead and pull it up over your nose and mouth when you see people on the trail (even if those people are further than 6′ away!).

GO WITH THE FLOW

Several trails in Boulder County are temporarily suggested directional for all users to reduce encounters. Please ride the suggested direction!

Nelson at Hall
Eagle Wind at Rabbit Mountain
Bald Mountain loop

BE SAFE AND BE SMART

We want to ride with you when this is over, please take this pandemic seriously!

BMA’s COVID-19 Recommendations for Safe Mountain Biking