Reminder: Seasonal Wildlife Closures at OS Parks Begins Feb 1

Great Blue Heron at Crown Hill OS Park, In Plein Sight 2016

We all love our Jeffco Open Space parks, but we can’t forget that these places are home for any number of wild critters. And, during certain times of the year, parts of the parks have to be off-limits to humans, so that these furred, feathered and finned colleagues can carry on with their life activities.

Jeffco OS posted a full listing of upcoming closures for 2020 at https://www.jeffco.us/civicalerts.aspx?AID=395. But, as a reminder:

Centennial Cone Park  
Elk Range Trail at Centennial Cone Park, including the interior of the park, is closed from February 1 through mid-June to protect elk during their calving season.

Clear Creek Canyon Park 
Portions of Clear Creek Canyon Park near Mile Marker 270 are closed to all public use uphill of US Highway 6 from February 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory. This closure includes the following rock climbing sites: Bumbling Stock, Stumbling Block, Skinny Legs, Blonde Formation, and Ghost Crag. The Fault Caves are also included in this closure.

Portions of Clear Creek Canyon Park, near Tunnel 2, are closed to all public use uphill of US Highway 6 from February 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory. This closure includes the following rock climbing sites: Highlander, Evil Area, and Tetanus Garden.

Deer Creek Canyon Park/Hildebrand Ranch Park
The entirety of Black Bear Trail, which connects Deer Creek Canyon Park and Hildebrand Ranch Park, is closed from February 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory.

North Table Mountain Park
Rim Rock Trail at North Table Mountain Park is closed from February 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory and ground-nesting bird habitat.

South Table Mountain Park
Lava Loop Trail at South Table Mountain Park is closed from February 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory and ground-nesting bird habitat.

Cathedral Spires Park
The entirety of Cathedral Spires Park is closed from March 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory.

Crown Hill Park
The Crown Hill Park Wildlife Sanctuary is closed from March 1 through June 30 to protect nesting and brooding waterfowl.

For more information on these closures and restrictions, plus what a violation might cost you in fines, etc, go to the Jeffco Civic Alerts page.

Bottom line, if your favorite trail/hike/area will be closed after 1 February, hike/bike/visit it NOW. Then kick back and chill until it’s open again.

Happy hiking/biking/riding!!!