Trail Regulations

Town of Eagle Open Space areas are managed under the objectives set forth in the town’s open space plan titled, Eagle Area Open Lands Conservation Plan:

  • Objectives For Managing Open Space:
    • Conserve Natural Characteristics
    • Protect Critical Wildlife Habitat
    • Maintain Scenic Qualities
    • Provide Appropriate Recreational Opportunities
    • Minimize Adverse Impacts to the Natural Environment

1. USE OF OPEN SPACE AREAS
A. Access for approved motor vehicles and bicycles is restricted to designated roads and trails. See Exhibit 1: Town of Eagle 2011 Trails Map

B. Signs indicating designated trails & travel routes will be posted at the start of a route and along the route in town open space areas.


C. Generally pedestrian and equestrian users will not be restricted to designated trails, but the town requests they voluntarily use designated trails. There is no pedestrian, equestrian or bicycle use in or around the town’s water tanks.

The Spud Cellar property, located behind the pool/ice-rink complex, has a specific restriction that all use

must be on the designated trail.

The Hernage Gulch area is closed to horses and in addition, horses are not allowed on the crusher fine

trail that parallels Brush Creek from Sylvan Lake Road to the end of Eagle Ranch Road due to the damage

the horse’s hooves create in the crusher fine surface.

The Town reserves the right to close any areas that are showing signs of resource damage.


D. If resource damage is detected on Town of Eagle open space lands, or adjoining BLM land, that was or is being caused by off route use, the Town may take any or all of the following actions:

1) Close the damaged area

2) Close the damaged area to specific user group(s)

3) Close the general area to specific user group(s)

4) Close access to the offending user group(s)

5) Close access to all user groups


E. The town reserves the right to close any areas that are showing signs of resource damage whether caused by a user group or not.


F. Government agencies, conducting bona fide administrative duties, are permitted access and the use of appropriate motor vehicles with the approval of the Town Administrator.


G. All users will use open space areas at their own risk


2. MOTORIZED USE IN OPEN SPACE AREAS
A. Motorized vehicles less than 48 inches in width are allowed access to the Hardscrabble road via the trail going up Second Gulch. Access to this trail is obtained by following the Second Gulch Trail signs from the parking area at the bottom of Arroyo Drive, see map Exhibit 1.


B. Motorized users must stay on designated routes and not travel off them, or create any new or additional roads or trails, see map Exhibit 1.


3. MOUNTAIN BIKE USE IN OPEN SPACE AREAS
A. Bicycle users must stay on designated routes, trails, roads &/or paths, and not travel off them or create any new or additional roads or trails, see map Exhibit 1.


B. Designated access points for bicycles, equestrians and pedestrians are: (see Exhibit 1- attached map)

Horton St. Trail off Horton St.,

Abrams Creek Trail, off of Silver Spur,

Arroyo Drive parking area that provides access to the Third Gulch, Second Gulch, Turniphead and Bailey

Trails.

East Haystacker Drive (just southeast of intersection of Harvester Court) provides access for the Mayer

Gulch Trail and the Turniphead Trail.

Pool/ice-rink complex, the Spud Cellar trailhead is located behind the northwest corner of the swimming

pool.

Kill Bill Trail, located off the asphalt path to the northwest of West Dewey Park cul-de-sac.

South end of Eagle Ranch Road-trailhead that accesses 2 short bike/pedestrian trails that access Filing

25. North trail referred to as the Wall Trail and the southerly trail referred to as the Avalanche Trail

Riddle Trail, which accesses off of Avalanche Trail just northeast of the cul-de-sac on Avalanche Peak

Way.


C. No bicycle use is allowed in Hernage Gulch.


D. There is no pedestrian, equestrian or bicycle use in or around the town’s water tanks.


E. Bicyclist must yield to pedestrian and equestrian users.


4. EQUESTRIAN USE IN OPEN SPACE AREAS
A. A large parking area with room for horse trailers is located at the bottom of Arroyo Drive that accesses the following trails: Third Gulch, Second Gulch, Turniphead and Bailey.


B. No equestrian use is allowed in Hernage Gulch, on the Haymaker Trail, nor the Lov Connection Trail. 


C. Horses are not allowed on the crusher fine trail that parallels Brush Creek from Sylvan Lake Road southeast to the end of Eagle Ranch Road due to the damage the horse’s hooves create in the crusher fine surface.


D. There is no equestrian use in or around the town’s water tanks.


E. Generally, equestrian users will not be restricted to designated trails, but should voluntarily use designated trails. The town reserves the right to close any areas that are showing signs of resource damage.


5. PEDESTRIAN USE IN OPEN SPACE AREAS
A. There is no pedestrian use in or around the town’s water tanks.


B. Generally, pedestrian users will not be restricted to designated trails, but should voluntarily use designated trails. The town reserves the right to close any areas that are showing signs of resource damage.


6. HERNAGE GULCH RECREATIONAL USE
During the Eagle Ranch development process it was mutually agreed upon by the developers, the Town of Eagle, Colorado Division of Wildlife and town residents that the Hernage Gulch area should be managed to retain its natural and pristine condition. The area contains valuable and diverse wildlife habitat, in a relatively untrammeled condition. Currently the area is being managed to protect and preserve these significant features.

A. Pedestrian or foot travel is the only allowable public use in Hernage Gulch.


B. No motor vehicle, bicycle, or equestrian use is allowed in Hernage Gulch, with the exception of governmental agencies, conducting bona fide administrative duties. Bike use is permitted only on the LOV Connection Trail with no access to Hernage Trail. 


7. EMERGENCY ACCESS THROUGH TOWN OPEN SPACE
A. The existing 2-track roads accessing Third Gulch will remain and can be used for emergency government access purposes.


9. SEASONAL USE RESTRICTIONS IN OPEN SPACE AREAS
A. Open space lands along the southern and western portions of the Eagle Ranch development have a Seasonal Use Restriction in place from Dec. 1 to April 15. Recreational and general maintenance activity on open space lands containing native habitats will be prohibited from Dec. 1 to April 15 in order to protect wintering wildlife and to avoid damage to roads or trails caused by use in wet conditions.


B. Government agencies conducting bona fide duties are allowed access during this period with the approval of the Town Administrator.


C. Current town policy allows the Town Administrator, after consulting with the CDOW, to open the critical wildlife areas earlier if the areas dry out and the majority of the deer and elk move up in elevation. Physical damage to roads or trails caused by use in wet conditions will also be given consideration when contemplating an early opening.


10. EASEMENT CLOSURE
A. The 15’ wide, non-motorized, pedestrian easement, located at the end of Abrams Creek Road, shall be closed to the public until such time that a legal access is obtained to travel on the private land the easement accesses.


CLARIFICATION OF PROMULGATED REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO TRAVEL ACESS AND SEASONAL USE OF TOWN OWNED &/OR CONTROLLED OPEN SPACE
A. Minor modifications to these regulations, e.g. grammar, spelling, enhanced description or explanation, improved maps (Exhibit 1), etc. can be authorized by the Town Administrator. Any changes would be for clarification purposes only and would in no way alter the intent of these regulations.