Rock barriers fuel Boulder Reservoir trail debate
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A rock at the entrance of a service road at Boulder Reservoir. Photo: Boulder Mountainbike Alliance
Makeshift rock barriers at Boulder Reservoir maintenance road have become the latest flashpoint in a growing community fight over trail access.
Why it matters: The dispute is about more than a few boulders. It exposes deepening friction between city officials and cyclists over how to balance recreation, public safety and access around one of Boulder's busiest outdoor destinations.
Driving the news: Members of the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance said in a post they recently discovered large rocks blocking access to a gravel maintenance road on the reservoir's east side.
- A sign at the gate says the road is for maintenance and is "not a designated or established recreational trail."
Friction point: The city says the barriers are meant to slow cyclists entering the crowded south shore area and to discourage people from bypassing the paid entrance.
- City spokesperson Kate Hernandez said officials have seen large groups of cyclists riding the route at high speeds.
- "We have blocked a social trail to enforce slower speeds upon entry and have bikers enter along the road," she said.
- Officials also say some people have used the road to access the reservoir facilities without paying the entry fee.
The other side: Mountain bikers argue the city is cutting off a longtime trail connector while unfairly singling out cyclists.
- Wendy Sweet, executive director of the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance, said riders and hikers have used the road as part of the area's trail network for decades.
- While she agreed people using reservoir amenities should pay to enter, she said the rock barriers target cyclists rather than addressing broader issues.
Between the lines: The dispute is bubbling up just after Boulder County abandoned a contentious alternating-use trail pilot, adding to a broader debate over who trails are for — and what restrictions are justified.
Reality check: The city and county are wrestling with different issues, but both have become proxies for a larger conflict.
What's next: Hernandez said the rocks are a temporary measure and that the city is working on new signage with requests cyclists ride slowly and in single file.
- City officials also plan to meet with mountain biking groups to look for a longer-term resolution.