Hessie Trailhead service begins Friday, May 28, Eldo Shuttle service begins Saturday, May 29

Boulder County, Colo. - Two free shuttle bus services to popular recreation and open space areas in Boulder County return for the season on Memorial Day weekend.

The Hessie Trailhead Shuttle and the Eldorado Canyon State Park Shuttle are free shuttle buses that offer public lands visitors a convenient way to travel to recreate.

Full for recreation shuttle information, routes and maps, visit boco.org/shuttles.

2021 Free Hessie Trailhead Friday and weekend shuttle service begins Friday, May 28

Boulder County is again providing free Hessie Trailheads shuttle service on weekends and holidays this summer and fall to carry passengers from Nederland High School to the Hessie Trailhead, a popular entry point for accessing the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area off of Fourth of July Road. New for 2021, Hessie Trailhead shuttle service will also be provided on Fridays during the summer season.

The Hessie Trailhead shuttle program began in the summer of 2012 to address the issue of increased automobile parking and traffic congestion on the way to the trailhead. The first nine years of the program have been successful and shuttle ridership has increased almost every year. Last year, just under half of weekend and holiday visitors used the shuttle to access the Hessie Trailhead!

View more at HessieTrailhead.com.

Hessie Trailhead shuttle service:

The seasonal Hessie Trailhead shuttle service will begin Friday, May 28, 2021. The last day of shuttle service will be Sunday, Oct 10, 2021. The schedule will be as follows:

• Fridays: 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (No Friday service after Aug. 6)
• Saturdays: 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Starting Sept. 11, Saturday service ends at 6 p.m.)
• Sundays: 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Holiday exceptions and additions to the schedule include:

• Sunday, May 30: 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Day before Memorial Day)
• Monday, May 31: 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Memorial Day)
• Sunday, July 4: 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Independence Day)
• Monday, July 5: 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Independence Day Observed)
• Sunday, Sept. 5: 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Day before Labor Day)
• Monday, Sept. 6: 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Labor Day)

Hessie Trailhead shuttle details:

• Park and catch the free Hessie Trailhead Shuttle at Nederland High School at 597 County Road 130 (just west of the Peak to Peak Highway).
• Shuttles depart approximately every 15 minutes.
• Leashed dogs are welcome onboard the shuttle.
• Bikes are not allowed on the Hessie Trailhead shuttle due to a lack of bike racks.

Take the Bus to the Hessie Trailhead shuttle!

Rather than driving directly to Nederland, visitors are encouraged to take the RTD ‘NB’ bus to Nederland High School from Downtown Boulder Station. For more information on RTD services, visit www.rtd-denver.com.

Parking near the trailhead and on nearby roads such as 4th of July Road is extremely limited, and Boulder County Parks & Open Space rangers will be enforcing strict parking regulations in the area. Illegal parking will result in monetary penalties and/or towed vehicles.

2021 Eldorado Canyon State Park weekend shuttle begins Saturday, May 29

Beginning on Saturday, May 29, 2021, Boulder County and Colorado Parks & Wildlife will offer the free Eldo Shuttle service on weekends and holidays this summer and fall to carry passengers from Boulder, Marshall and Superior to Eldorado Canyon State Park, a popular hiking, sightseeing, and climbing destination.

The Eldo Shuttle will help address increased automobile parking and traffic congestion-related impacts in Eldorado Springs and within the state park, which connects to Walker Ranch. View more at at EldoShuttle.org.

Eldo Shuttle Service:

The Eldo shuttle service will begin Saturday, May 29, and will run Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays until Monday, Sept. 6, 2021. Holidays with shuttle service include Monday, May 31 (Memorial Day), Monday, July 5 (Independence Day Observed) and Monday, Sept. 6 (Labor Day).

Shuttles run from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day of service. From Boulder, shuttles will run approximately every 20 minutes. From Superior, shuttles will run approximately every 30 minutes. Passengers riding from Superior will need to transfer buses at CO 93 & CO 170 to reach the state park.

Eldo Shuttle route stops (view map):

• Regent Drive & Broadway
• Broadway & 27th Way
• Broadway & Dartmouth Avenue
• Broadway & Table Mesa Drive
• CO 93 & CO 170
• US 36 & McCaslin Park-n-Ride in Superior
• Eldorado Canyon State Park entrance station
• Eldorado Canyon State Park Visitor Center

State Park Pass Required:

All shuttle passengers age 16 and older will be required to have a valid state parks pass to ride the shuttle into the state park. Shuttle riders can bring an annual pass, purchase a day pass online at www.cpwshop.com or bring $4 cash per adult (exact change required).

Eldo Shuttle details:

• All shuttles and shuttle stops are ADA accessible. The Eldo Shuttle provides access to the Fowler Trail, a wheelchair accessible trail.
• Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome.
• Backpacks, crashpads and other climbing gear are welcome.

Take the Bus to the Eldo Shuttle!

Rather than driving directly to the state park or one of the shuttle parking lots, visitors are encouraged to take the RTD SKIP, DASH, Flatiron Flyer or any other RTD bus route that stops along Broadway or at US 36 & McCaslin to connect to the Eldo Shuttle.

Parking is extremely limited inside Eldorado Canyon State Park, and there is no public parking nearby outside of the park. When parking inside the state park is full, you will be not be allowed in. Don’t chance it - park at one of the shuttle lots and ride the shuttle instead! Illegal parking could result in fines and/or towed vehicles.

COVID-19 Procedures

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, these policies are currently in place on both the Hessie Trailhead Shuttle and the Eldo Shuttle:

• If you have recently experienced any symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough, or sore throat, please do not ride the shuttle.
• A mask or face covering is required to ride the shuttle for passengers 3 and older.
• Shuttle capacity is limited to available seats (no standing).
• Shuttles are disinfected once per day, and high touch surfaces are wiped down after each trip.

For information about all recreation shuttles operating in Boulder County in 2021, visit boco.org/shuttles.