OTHER CLOSURES
Here is our best current information on closures not related to seasonal wildlife protection, including parking restrictions, timed-entry permits and other restrictions.
Brainard Lake
Entrance beyond the seasonal gate on Route 102 (which is roughly two miles East of Brainard Lake) requires a reservation from approximately June 10 to mid-October (precise dates depend on road conditions). Reservations are made available on a rolling basis for 15 days later. You may park before reaching the gate and proceed through the gate on foot or by bike without a reservation.
Chautauqua area
There are additional parking restrictions in the Chautauqua area from Memorial Day through Labor Day. There is some limited paid parking in the Chautauqua area and on neighboring streets. For free parking, your choices are park at least one block north of Baseline Road or use the free shuttle.
Clear Creek Canyon
Little Eiger- The route “Is Our Children Learning” is closed due to base area erosion that threatens the highway below.
The US 6 Resurfacing & Safety Improvements project will be restarting after the 3-month winter shutdown on Monday, March 14. Please expect up to 10-minute traffic holds and up to 20-minute delays through the project zone during working hours.
Shoulder parking is prohibited on US 6 throughout the project zone, including between tunnels 5 and 6 at all times. We ask that everyone please keep the cones in place. It is unsafe for anyone outside of the project teams to move the cones around. Cars are at risk of being ticketed or towed if parked in the "No Parking Area"
Walking through the tunnels is prohibited. This is not safe as there isn't a designated place for people to walk in the tunnels.
For the Tunnel Lighting & ITS project, please visit the project webpage for closure information and further details.
CDOT staff and Colorado State Patrol will be present throughout the day as a resource to help responsible recreation enforcement.
The area West of Tunnel 5 on the north side of Clear Creek, from the Doghouse to the Dyke Boulders (including the Armory, the Primo Wall, and many others), is private property, owned by Martin Marietta, the owners of the quarry. Martin Marietta currently allows climbing on their property. The BCC has had extensive discussions with Martin Marietta and its predecessor, the Frei Family, and their lawyer, as we work to secure long-term access to these many crags. Martin Marietta and the Frei Family have shown a very generous attitude toward climbing on their property. Please be respectful of this private landowner whenever you are climbing on their property.
Eldorado Canyon State Park
Weekends and Holidays May 1st – October 1st, 5:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
The quiet beauty of the park is best experienced on weekdays. To help manage high visitation, timed vehicle reservations are required for vehicle access from 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and summer holidays between May 1st and October 1st. Reservations can be made 30 days in advance. Reservations are available from 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and will be accepted in a two-hour entry window. This reservation system is for vehicle entry only, reservations are not required if you are accessing the park using the free shuttle service or walking in.Eldorado Mountain (crags immediately to the south)
In 2018 Boulder OSMP and Jefferson County Open Space jointly acquired property that includes the Secret Crag and Ridge 5, and also would provide an approach (from the East) to crags from Ridge 4 to Buoux Montana. That property is currently closed to all access, including climbing on crags on the property as well as hiking through the property to reach crags to the west.
The two landowners have stated that they will have a public process in the future to address public access, including climbing. In the meantime, please respect this closure as it may affect our ability to obtain climbing access in a future public process.
Map of the jointly acquired property
The Musical Boulders
These boulders – located West off the Eldorado Canyon Trail – are on private property and are closed.
Flagstaff Mountain
Parking is banned along Flagstaff Road between 9pm and 5am. OSMP has ended its program that allowed climbers to obtain a permit to park from 9-11pm. You can continue to boulder on Flagstaff after 9pm, but would need to get there without parking along Flagstaff Road, such as by hiking up from Chautauqua, riding a bike, or catching a ride.
Mount Blue Sky (formerly Mount Evans)
The road above Echo Lake is closed to both motorized and non-motorized (foot, bike, etc.) traffic for repaving and is expected to reopen for Memorial Day 2026. The climbing remains open, but you will need to approach via hiking trails from Echo Lake.
Ralston Buttes (Coors Crag)
This area, also known as Coors Crag, is owned by Jefferson County Open Space and is closed to all public access. The landowner has stated that they intend to have a public process several years from now to decide what, if any, public access to allow.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Entrance by car (but not by bike) to RMNP from May 23 - October 13, 2025, requires a timed-entry reservation in addition to the park entrance fee. For entry to Bear Lake Road (including the Glacier Gorge and Bear Lake trailheads) reservations are required for entry from 5 a.m. - 6 pm May 23-October 19th, 2024. For elsewhere in the park (including Longs Peak, Lumpy Ridge, and Lily Lake) reservations are required for entry from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. There is a shuttle (known as the Hiker Shuttle) that departs from the Estes Park Visitor Center, but it still requires a reservation and entry fee. RMNP also has detailed rules on camping and bivouac permits for climbing areas within RMNP, including Longs Peak.
Day before reservations can be made starting at 7PM.
South St. Vrain Canyon
Road construction has been completed. There have been changes to the location and size of the pullouts used to access climbing areas.
Big Thompson Canyon
The Monastery climbing area closures have been lifted. For further information CLICK HERE
If you have any questions about the closures listed on this page please reach out to aaron@boulderclimbers.org