There’s been a lot of noise lately about the proposed Alternating Trail Use Pilot at Heil. We’ve heard from a lot of you. Some are frustrated, some are confused, and some are just plain angry.

The County is looking at separating users by day to reduce conflict. We get the intent. No one likes sketchy interactions on trail. But if we’re being honest, when a trail feels tense or awkward, that’s usually a design issue, not a user group issue. Steep grades, poor sightlines, awkward alignments, everyone getting funneled into the same space… that’s what creates conflict. You can’t really schedule your way out of that.

If you look at how modern trail systems are built, the approach is pretty consistent. You fix the alignment, manage speed through design, improve sightlines, and in some cases use directional flow or separate experiences where it actually makes sense. It’s pretty straightforward, and it works. It makes the experience better for everyone out there.

We’ve been looking closely at Heil and there are some really clear opportunities to do exactly that. Clean up sections of trail that are forcing awkward interactions. Reroute spots where the current alignment just isn’t working. Improve connections so people aren’t stuck grinding up steep access roads or dropping into blind corners.

A good example is Wapiti. Right now a third of it is a steep service road. It’s not especially fun on a bike and it’s not a great hiking experience either. We’ve sketched out a switchbacked trail option that would stay within the existing disturbed corridor and dramatically improve that climb. It’s a relatively low-impact change that would make a noticeable difference for a lot of people.

That’s really the heart of it. Before we start restricting access, we should make sure we’ve tried the tools that actually improve the trail itself. Because the goal isn’t just fewer complaints, it’s a better experience when you’re out there.

BMA is ready to help with that. We can work with County staff on design and construction and be part of building something that works better on the ground. That’s been our role here for a long time.

Modern trail systems include downhill bike-only trails like the Beavers Loop Trail at Arapahoe Basin. Meanwhile, in Boulder County, there are zero miles of bike-only trails.

Boulder County’s proposed "Alternating” Trail Use Pilot Project is attempting to respond to alleged concerns about safety and comfort on our trails, but it is focused on the wrong solution.

While the county’s own data shows low conflict rates, perception matters. People need to feel comfortable on the trail, and that’s worth addressing. The question is how.

If we want to improve both real and perceived safety, we should start with what actually works.

The Real Solutions

There are well-established, modern, and widely used strategies that improve the visitor experience for everyone and reduce conflict without restricting access to anyone.

Directional trail systems
When everyone is traveling in the same direction, visitor interactions drop dramatically. Fewer head-on encounters means fewer surprises and a smoother experience for everyone.

Matching trail use to speed
Multi-use trails work best when users are moving at similar speeds. Separating uses where speeds differ, especially for downhill bike travel, creates a better experience for all users.

Designated trails for specific experiences
Not every trail needs to serve every use. Systems that include a mix of multi-use trails and designated trails, including bike-only and bike-optimized trails, give people options and reduce pressure on any single trail.

Reroutes that improve sightlines and flow
Modern trail design can address blind corners, steep legacy ranch road sections, and other features that contribute to conflict. Small changes in trail design can have a big impact on safety and experience.

Expanding trail networks
When use is concentrated on a limited number of trails, conflict increases. Adding mileage and creating loop options spreads people out and reduces crowding.

What Needs to Improve

Right now, many of our trail systems are being asked to do too much with too little intention.

We have trails where uphill riders, downhill riders, hikers, runners, equestrians, and dogs are all sharing the same space, often with different speeds and expectations. We have limited trail mileage in high-demand areas, which concentrates use. And we have trail alignments that were not designed with today’s volume or mix of users in mind.

This is not a user problem. It is a design problem.

Trails are one of the most effective tools we have for both conservation and recreation. With thoughtful planning, trails can protect sensitive habitats while also creating great experiences for people. But that only works when the system is designed for how people actually use it.

Why This Works

These approaches are not theoretical. They are used across the country in high-use trail systems to manage exactly the same challenges Boulder County is facing.

They work because they address the root cause of conflict. It is not who is on the trail, it is how the trail is designed and how people move  through it.

Instead of forcing different users into the same space and asking them to figure it out, good design reduces the number of conflict points in the first place.

A Better Way Forward

Instead of seeing the popularity of mountain biking as something to restrict, we should recognize it as something to plan for.

People are choosing to ride here. That is not a problem to solve, it is a demand to meet with better and more trails..

Bike-only directional trails are one example of how other open space systems are improving experiences while reducing conflict. At the same time, well-designed multi-use trails continue to serve a wide range of users.

Boulder County currently has zero miles of bike-only trail and roughly 100 miles of trail closed to bikes. That imbalance limits options and concentrates use in ways that make conflict more likely, not less.

Let’s Build Something Better

We all want the same thing: a trail system that protects our natural resources and creates great experiences for everyone. Numerous public surveys show that residents want a balance of conservation and recreation on their public lands. Banning a whole group of visitors is not a balance.

Prohibiting people riding bicycles does not fix the underlying problem. Better trail design and more trails does.

If we focus on proven strategies and build a system that matches how people actually use it, we can reduce conflict, improve safety, and create a better experience for everyone on the trail.

Contact the Boulder County Commissioners

If you agree with BMA that modern trail design and new trails are the solution, let the commissioners know at commissioners@bouldercounty.org, 303-441-3500.

Dear Commissioners,

We appreciate the work of Boulder County Parks & Open Space staff and their long-standing partnership with the community. Our concern is not with staff, but with the direction they have been given.

In a March 23 memo, staff state:

“The pilot would include hiking only days on Wapiti Trail at Heil Valley Ranch in consideration with other alternative uses either at Heil Valley Ranch or other locations.”

This sentence is important because it reveals that the core premise of this pilot has already been decided. While the memo and public materials describe this as a community-informed process, the reality is that the foundation of the pilot is not up for discussion. The question is not whether alternating use days are appropriate. The question being asked of the community is much narrower: which trails should be closed, to which users, and when.

That is not a community-led pilot. A truly community-driven process would start with a broader question: what tools should we use to improve the visitor experience at Heil Valley Ranch? Instead, this process begins with a predetermined solution and asks the public to help refine its implementation.

We also have concerns about the specific focus on Wapiti Trail. Wapiti is a steep service road that does not provide a particularly good experience for hikers, bikers or equestrians. The challenges on that trail are a function of its design. Alternating use days will not address those underlying issues, including bi-directional bike traffic and the overall feel of the trail itself. If the trail is not working well for users, changing who is allowed on it each day does not fix the problem. We would also like to remind you that Wapiti is a regional connection between Lyons and Boulder with no alternative.

More broadly, the available data does not suggest a level of conflict that would justify restricting access. The county’s own findings show that conflict rates are low and consistent with typical shared-use trail systems. At the same time, a majority of visitors support shared-use trails.

There are also well-established, modern approaches to managing trail experiences that have not been meaningfully explored here. Other Front Range agencies, including Jefferson County Open Space, are investing in directional trails and purpose-built experiences that reduce conflict while maintaining access. These approaches improve the experience for all users without requiring closures. We believe those tools should be tried first.

This is not about bikes versus hikers. It is about using the best available tools to create a high-quality experience for everyone who visits our open space.

We are ready to be part of the solution. Boulder Mountainbike Alliance has decades of experience partnering with land managers on trail design, construction, and stewardship. We stand ready to help implement solutions that improve the visitor experience without limiting access.

We respectfully ask the Board of County Commissioners to pause and reconsider the current direction of this pilot. Specifically, we ask that you reopen the foundational question of whether alternating use days are the right tool at all, before moving forward with decisions about where and when to restrict access.

Let’s make sure we are solving the right problem, in the right way, with the full range of options on the table.

-Wendy Sweet
Executive Director, Boulder Mountainbike Alliance