NEWS RELEASE
BOULDER COUNTY
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Beginning on Saturday, May 27, Boulder County, Colorado Parks & Wildlife and City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks will offer a free shuttle bus 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 shuttle will help address increased parking and traffic congestion-related impacts in Eldorado Springs, within the state park and along CO 170.
Free Shuttle Service
The Eldo Shuttle service will begin Saturday, May 27, and will run Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays until Monday, Sept. 4. Holidays with shuttle service include Monday, May 29 (Memorial Day), Tuesday, July 4 (Independence Day) and Monday, Sept. 4 (Labor Day). Shuttles run from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day of service. Shuttles will run approximately every 20 minutes. View a map of the route and shuttle stops.
The shuttle route includes the following stops:
- 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.
- Table Mesa Dr & 39th St
- Parking available in the RTD Park-n-Ride.
- Shuttle stops at the RTD stops on Table Mesa Dr.
- US 36 & Table Mesa Station
- Parking available in the RTD Park-n-Ride.
- Shuttle stops at the eastbound US 36 on-ramp (same stop as the Denver-bound FF1).
- From the parking garage, passengers will need to cross US 36 using the pedestrian bridge to walk to the Eldo Shuttle stop.
- 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
- CO 93 & CO 170 - Marshall Mesa Trailhead
- Parking available in the dirt lot on the east side of CO 93.
- Shuttle stops in front of the dirt lot (no shuttle parking available in the gas station lot or in the Marshall Mesa Trailhead parking 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 Springs Resort
- Shuttle stops in front of the Eldorado Springs Resort & Pool, near the pedestrian bridge.
- Westbound, the shuttle stop at Eldorado Springs Resort is drop-off only.
- View Eldorado Springs Swimming Pool for the pool’s opening date.
- 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)
- Eldorado Canyon State Park entrance station
- Access to the Streamside 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. Shuttle riders headed to the Eldorado Artesian Resort & Pool will need to pay an entrance fee.
Accessible Hiking
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
- Backpacks, crashpads and other climbing gear are welcome.
- Leashed, well-behaved dogs 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.
Timed Entry Reservations Not Required to Ride the Free Shuttle
In 2022, Colorado Parks & Wildlife approved a pilot timed entry reservation system for visitors driving to Eldorado Canyon State Park. From May 15 to Sept. 15, 2023, visitors accessing the park via private vehicle on weekends and holidays need to have a timed entry reservation.
Reservations are not required for shuttle parking, or to ride the shuttle. There is no public parking near the entrance to Eldorado Canyon State Park, and parking is limited at the Doudy Draw and South Mesa Trailheads. 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.
More Information
For more information, visit www.EldoShuttle.com or contact Alex Hyde-Wright at [email protected] or 303-441-4910.
For information about all recreation shuttles operating in Boulder County in 2023, visit www.boco.org/shuttles.
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