South Boulder · Flat ditch-side miles

Community Ditch Trail

Community Ditch Trail is a gentle south Boulder open space trail that follows the historic Community Ditch between the Marshall Mesa, Greenbelt Plateau and Doudy Draw areas. OSMP rates it Easy/Medium with 393 feet of elevation gain, and it's open to hikers, bikes and horses.

Outdoor Boulder › Destinations › Community Ditch Trail

Community Ditch quick facts

Distance: OSMP's trail data lists 3.90 miles, and OSMP's written description calls it a 3.5-mile trail. Most people ride or run it as an out-and-back, or link it into a longer loop.
Elevation gain: OSMP lists 393 feet of elevation gain across the trail, so it's gently rolling rather than perfectly level.
Difficulty: OSMP rates it Easy/Medium and says it's good for all skill levels.
Trailheads: Marshall Mesa Trailhead to the east (just east of the Highway 93 and Marshall Road intersection) and Doudy Draw Trailhead to the west (1.8 miles west of Highway 93 on Eldorado Springs Drive, Highway 170). Both are open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Parking: Both trailheads charge an OSMP parking fee. A daily permit is $5 and is valid at all OSMP trailheads for the date purchased; an annual permit is $25. Marshall Mesa has 75 standard spaces, 4 ADA spaces and 4 horse-trailer spaces; Doudy Draw has 40 standard, 2 ADA and 3 horse-trailer spaces.
Bikes: Bikes are allowed. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are allowed on Community Ditch east of Highway 93. OSMP lists the trail's uses as hikers, bikers, dogs and horses, and the tread is 6+ feet wide.
Dogs: OSMP's Community Ditch trail page says dogs must be kept on leash. The Marshall Mesa and Doudy Draw trailhead pages state the general OSMP rule: a hand-held leash unless the dog meets the voice and sight standard and displays a City of Boulder Voice and Sight tag. Check OSMP's dog regulations map for the section you're on.
Best season: Any season it isn't muddy. OSMP closes this trail when conditions are too muddy, so check the muddy trail closures page after rain or snowmelt. Summer and early fall are the most reliable, and winter is often fine on a dry, frozen morning.

Community Ditch Trail at a glance

Community Ditch is the trail people in south Boulder use when they want miles without a climb. It runs alongside a working irrigation ditch across city open space, linking the Marshall Mesa and Greenbelt Plateau areas east of Highway 93 to the Doudy Draw area west of it, with an underpass carrying the trail beneath the highway. OSMP calls it a moderately trafficked trail with panoramic views that's good for all skill levels, and rates it Easy/Medium. The Flatirons sit in front of you for most of the western half, which is a big part of why runners and riders keep coming back.

How long is it, and how flat is it really?

OSMP publishes two figures, and it's worth knowing both. The trail data panel lists Community Ditch at 3.90 miles, while the written description on the same page calls it a 3.5-mile trail. OSMP lists 393 feet of elevation gain, so "flat" is a little generous: the grade is gentle and ditch-side, but there are rises, especially where the trail climbs away from the ditch near the highway. The tread is 6+ feet wide, which is wide enough for bikes, runners and horses to pass each other without anyone stepping into the grass.

Trailheads and parking

There are two obvious ways in. Marshall Mesa Trailhead sits just east of the Highway 93 and Marshall Road intersection and is the bigger lot, with 75 standard spaces, 4 ADA spaces and 4 horse-trailer spaces, plus a restroom and picnic shelter. Doudy Draw Trailhead is 1.8 miles west of Highway 93 on Eldorado Springs Drive (Highway 170), with 40 standard spaces, 2 ADA spaces and 3 horse-trailer spaces. Parking is not allowed along Highway 170, so don't plan on a shoulder spot when the lot fills. Both trailheads are open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Both lots charge an OSMP parking fee. A daily permit is $5 and is valid at all OSMP trailheads for the date you buy it, so one payment covers a trailhead-hopping day. An annual permit is $25 and covers Marshall Mesa, Doudy Draw, Flatirons Vista, Greenbelt Plateau, South Mesa, South Boulder Creek West and the Flagstaff Mountain and Gregory Canyon stations. You can pay at the station or in advance through ParkMobile: the zone number is 24400 for Marshall Mesa and 24100 for Doudy Draw. Paying ahead doesn't reserve you a space.

Biking Community Ditch

Bikes are allowed, and this is one of the friendliest dirt rides near Boulder for someone who isn't looking to suffer. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are allowed on the section east of Highway 93. From Doudy Draw you can pick up Community Ditch and reach the Marshall Mesa area through the Highway 93 underpass, or connect toward Flatirons Vista and the Greenbelt Plateau and High Plains trails. Community Ditch is also one of the segments in OSMP's 22.1-mile Super Loop, the big south-Boulder circuit that mixes OSMP and Boulder County trails.

Mud is the thing that will ruin your day

This trail gets very muddy after rain or snow, and OSMP closes it when conditions are too muddy. When it's open but soft, OSMP asks you to walk or ride straight through the mud rather than around it, because going around is what widens the trail and kills the vegetation beside it. Check OSMP's trail map or the muddy trail closures page before you drive out, particularly in spring and during a winter thaw.

Dogs, horses, and sharing the trail

OSMP lists the trail's uses as hikers, bikers, dogs and horses, so expect all four. On dogs, read carefully: OSMP's Community Ditch trail page says dogs must be kept on leash, while the Marshall Mesa and Doudy Draw trailhead pages state the general OSMP rule of a hand-held leash unless your dog meets the voice and sight control standard and wears a City of Boulder Voice and Sight tag. Rules change section by section here, so check OSMP's dog regulations map and the signs at the trailhead. Picking up after your dog is required by law, and both trailheads have dog stations. Horses are allowed on most trails in this area, and both lots have horse-trailer parking.

The ditch itself

Community Ditch was constructed in the early 1900s and was one of the last water diversion projects along South Boulder Creek. It's still doing its job, moving water to hay fields and pasture in a dry landscape where irrigation is the only reason any of it is green. Treat it as infrastructure, not a water feature: swimming is not allowed in any of OSMP's bodies of water, and an active irrigation canal with moving water and steep banks is a poor place to cool off. Keep kids and dogs out of it.

What to expect out there

This is open ditch-side country rather than forest, so there's very little tree cover and the sun and wind are constant companions. Bring a hat, water, and something for the wind that funnels off the foothills. Birds of prey are frequently sighted in the Marshall Mesa area, and coyotes and mule deer are common, so early morning and evening are the good hours for wildlife and for light on the Flatirons.

Nearby trails and guides

Marshall Mesa: the eastern trailhead and the coal-country loops that start from the same lot.
Flatirons Vista: the big open meadow trail just south, easy to link in from the west end.
Eldorado Canyon: a few minutes further west on Eldorado Springs Drive, if you want walls instead of grassland.
Best mountain biking near Boulder: where Community Ditch fits among the rest of the rides.
Boulder trailhead parking guide: how OSMP permits and fees work across the whole system.
All hikes in Boulder: the full hiking hub, sorted by difficulty.

Community Ditch Trail FAQ

How long is the Community Ditch Trail?

OSMP's trail data panel lists Community Ditch at 3.90 miles, while OSMP's written trail description calls it a 3.5-mile trail. Either way it's a short, gentle trail: OSMP lists 393 feet of elevation gain and rates it Easy/Medium, good for all skill levels.

Can you bike the Community Ditch Trail?

Yes. Bikes are allowed on Community Ditch, and OSMP lists the trail's uses as hikers, bikers, dogs and horses. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are allowed on the section east of Highway 93. The tread is 6+ feet wide, and the trail is part of OSMP's Super Loop bike route in south Boulder.

Where do you park for the Community Ditch Trail?

Marshall Mesa Trailhead for the eastern end and Doudy Draw Trailhead for the western end. Both charge an OSMP parking fee. A daily permit is $5 and works at any OSMP trailhead that day; an annual permit is $25. Marshall Mesa is the bigger lot at 75 standard spaces, Doudy Draw has 40. Parking is not allowed along Highway 170 at Doudy Draw.

Are dogs allowed on the Community Ditch Trail?

Yes, but read the signs. OSMP's Community Ditch trail page says dogs must be kept on leash. The Marshall Mesa and Doudy Draw trailhead pages give the general OSMP rule, which is a hand-held leash unless your dog meets the voice and sight control standard and wears a City of Boulder Voice and Sight tag. Picking up after your dog is required by law, and there are dog stations at both trailheads.

Can you swim or wade in the Community Ditch?

No. Swimming is not allowed in any of OSMP's bodies of water, and Community Ditch is a working irrigation canal, not a swimming hole. It was built in the early 1900s as one of the last water diversion projects along South Boulder Creek, and it still moves water to hay fields and pasture.

Sources

Facts on this page are drawn from these authoritative sources:

Last checked July 25, 2026. We verify trail facts against the managing agency, and we say so when a figure isn't published.