Boulder County government offices are closed Thursday, July 4, and Friday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day.

Stage 1 fire restrictions, enacted for unincorporated areas of western Boulder County.

Niwot Trails
Niwot Trail

Niwot Trails

Experience the humbling beauty of the plains on the Niwot Trails. Affording a spectacular mountain view, follow historical irrigation routes through this cottonwood-lined path.

Trails

  • 95th Street
    1.0 mile – Easy
    Hiking Allowed Dogs Allowed Bikes Allowed E-bikes Allowed Horses Allowed
  • Cougar Trail
    0.8 miles – Easy
    Hiking Allowed Dogs Allowed Bikes Allowed E-bikes Allowed Horses Allowed
  • Hidden Star Trail
    1.5 miles – Easy
    Some marked sections are closed to horses
    Hiking Allowed Dogs Allowed Bikes Allowed E-bikes Allowed Horses Allowed
  • Legend Ridge Loop
    1.5 miles – Easy
    Hiking Allowed Dogs Allowed Bikes Allowed E-bikes Allowed Horses Allowed
  • Niwot Hills Trail
    0.6 miles – Easy
    Hiking Allowed Dogs Allowed Bikes Allowed E-bikes Allowed Horses Allowed
  • Overbrook Trail
    1.3 miles – Easy
    Hiking Allowed Dogs Allowed Bikes Allowed E-bikes Allowed Horses Allowed
  • Somerset Trail
    1.1 miles – Easy
    Hiking Allowed Dogs Allowed Bikes Allowed E-bikes Allowed Horses Allowed

Rules & Regulations

Pets On Leash
Bikes On Designated Trails Only
No Drones
No Hunting/Firearms
No Camping

All Parks & Open Space Rules & Regulations

Lefthand Valley Grange Trailhead

30 car parking spots
2 ADA van accessible parking spots
Restroom near trailhead
50 person group shelter

Monarch Trailhead

10 car parking spots (no designated ADA spots)
1 horse trailer parking spots

Niwot Trailhead

13 car parking spots
1 ADA van accessible parking spot

Keep in Mind

  • Niwot Trails connects with the Longmont-to-Boulder Regional Trail.
  • Regional trails and regional trail connectors are open to commuters 24 hours per day. Trailheads close at sunset and parking is not allowed between sunset and sunrise.

Mammals

  • Black-tailed prairie dog
  • Coyote
  • Mule deer
  • Racoon
  • Red fox

Birds

  • Barn swallow
  • Blue jay
  • Chickadee
  • Great horned owl
  • Kestrel
  • Killdeer
  • Northern flicker
  • Nuthatch
  • Red-winged blackbird
  • Say’s phoebe

Amphibians & Reptiles

  • Bull snake

Trees and Shrubs

  • Choke cherry (Prunus virginiana)
  • Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
  • Golden current (Ribes aureum)
  • Peach leaved willows (Salix amygdaloides)

Yellow Wildflowers

  • Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)

White Wildflowers

  • Wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota)

Western Interior Seaway

Eighty million years ago this entire area was covered with a great inland sea, the Western Interior Seaway, and evidence of this ancient sea is abundant along parts of the Niwot Trails. The sandstone formations found here were deposited in this sea and trace fossils are still here showing where marine organisms made their burrows.

The Name

Chief Niwot (c. 1825-1864) was a tribal leader of the Southern Arapaho people and played an important part in the history of Colorado. Chief Niwot and his people lived along the Front Range often wintering in Boulder Valley, site of the future city of Boulder.

The Trails

These trails follow along historic ditch routes and wind through neighborhoods of Niwot, allowing access for many residents to wild areas just steps away from home.

In April 2003, the Board of County Commissioners approved a list of 10 prioritized regional trail projects. The Longmont-Boulder Trail was among the top, consisting partly of the Niwot Loop Trail.

Contact Us

Parks & Open Space

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday-Friday

Office Location

5201 St. Vrain Road
Longmont, CO 80503
Map and Directions
Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday-Thursday
Friday by phone, email, or appointment only.

Parks are open sunrise to sunset