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May 19, 2022

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Vivienne Jannatpour, (303) 678-6277

Free Eldorado Canyon State Park weekend shuttle begins Saturday, May 28

Free shuttle service to the State Park and the Marshall Mesa, Doudy Draw and South Mesa trailheads is available from the US 36 & McCaslin Park-n-Ride in Superior and from Boulder


Boulder County, Colo. - Beginning on Saturday, May 28, Boulder County, Colorado Parks & Wildlife and City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks will offer a free shuttle service on weekends and holidays this summer and fall to carry passengers from Superior, Boulder, and Marshall to Eldorado Canyon State Park, a popular hiking, sightseeing, and climbing destination, and to the Marshall Mesa, Doudy Draw and South Mesa trailheads. The Eldo Shuttle helps to mitigate increased automobile parking and car traffic congestion-related impacts in Eldorado Springs, within the state park and along CO 170.

Free Shuttle Service

The shuttle service will begin Saturday, May 28, and will run Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays until Monday, Sept. 5. Holidays with shuttle service include Monday, May 30 (Memorial Day), Monday, July 4 (Independence Day) and Monday, Sept. 5 (Labor Day). Shuttles run from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day of service. Shuttles will run approximately every 20 minutes. Passengers riding from Boulder will need to transfer buses at CO 93 and CO 170 to reach the state park or the Doudy Draw and South Mesa trailheads; transfer wait time will be less than 5 minutes each way.

The shuttle route includes the following stops:

  • US 36 & McCaslin RTD Park-n-Ride in Superior
    • Shuttle stops at the Superior FlexRide stop in the parking lot next to the pedestrian bridge
  • Regent Drive & Broadway
    • Shuttle stop and parking in the CU Regent Lot #306, just east of Broadway
  • Broadway & Baseline
    • Shuttle stops on Broadway
  • Broadway & 27th Way
    • Shuttle stops on Broadway; parking available in the RTD Park-n-Ride.
  • Broadway & Rayleigh Rd
    • Shuttle stops on Broadway
  • Broadway & Dartmouth Avenue
    • Shuttle stops on Broadway; parking available in the RTD Park-n-Ride.
  • Broadway & Table Mesa Drive
    • Shuttle stops at the RTD stops on Broadway.
  • CO 93 & CO 170- Marshall Mesa Trailhead
    • Shuttle parking available in the dirt lot on the east side of CO 93.
    • No shuttle parking available in the Marshall Mesa Trailhead parking lot.
    • Shuttle stops in front of the gas station (no shuttle parking available in the gas station lot).
  • Doudy Draw Trailhead
    • Shuttle stops in the trailhead parking lot
    • To access to South Mesa Trailhead, visitors will need to cross CO 170
    • For westbound shuttles, the Doudy Draw stop is drop-off only
  • Eldorado Canyon State Park entrance station
    • Access to the Streamside trail.
  • Eldorado Canyon State Park Visitor Center
    • Access to Fowler, Rattlesnake, or Eldorado Canyon trails and the picnic area.
    • Access to Boulder County Walker Ranch Open Space via Eldorado Canyon Trail (no bikes on Eldorado Canyon Trail)

State Parks Pass

All shuttle passengers age 16 and older will be required to purchase a valid state parks pass to enter 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 to pay onboard the shuttle (exact change only, drivers carry no change). Shuttle riders paying by credit card will need to deboard and purchase a day pass at the Visitor Center. Shuttle riders headed to the Marshall Mesa, Doudy Draw or South Mesa trailheads do not need any pass or fare.

Accessibility

  • All shuttles and shuttle stops are ADA accessible.
  • The Eldo Shuttle provides access to the Fowler Trail, a wheelchair accessible trail.

Gear and bikes are welcome

  • Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome.
  • Backpacks, crashpads and other climbing gear are welcome.
  • Each shuttle has a bike rack that can hold three bikes.

Masks or facial coverings not required to ride

Masks or facial coverings are not required to ride the shuttle, but passengers who would feel more comfortable wearing a mask are welcome to do so.

Take the bus to the shuttle

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

Parking is extremely limited inside Eldorado Canyon State Park and at the Doudy Draw and South Mesa trailheads. When parking inside the state park is full, you will be not be allowed in, and there is no public parking nearby. 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.

Timed entry reservations not required to ride the free shuttle

Colorado Parks & Wildlife recently approved a pilot timed entry reservation system for visitors driving to Eldorado Canyon State Park. This program will begin later this summer, and require visitors accessing the park via private vehicle to make a reservation for access between 5:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Reservations are not required for shuttle parking, or to ride the shuttle.

If you would like more information, visit www.EldoShuttle.com or contact Alex Hyde-Wright at ahyde-wright@bouldercounty.org or 303-441-4910.

For information about all recreation shuttles operating in Boulder County in 2022, visit www.boco.org/shuttles.