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Marshall Mesa

Marshall Mesa is a gentle open-space area southeast of Boulder, managed by City of Boulder OSMP, with wide Front Range and Flatirons views, easy mesa-top trails, and some of the friendliest mountain biking on OSMP. The Marshall Mesa Trailhead reopened in March 2026.

Outdoor Boulder › Destinations › Marshall Mesa

Marshall Mesa quick facts

Distance
The classic hike is a 2.7-mile loop combining the Marshall Valley, Marshall Mesa, and Coal Seam trails. The wider network (Community Ditch, Cowdrey Draw, Greenbelt Plateau) links into longer routes, including the popular Dirty Bismark mountain-bike loop.
Elevation gain
Mild. The City describes Marshall Mesa as open valley views with gentle elevation gain across the mesa.
Difficulty
Easy to moderate. Mostly gentle and open, with a few short rocky or stepped sections, notably on Coal Seam past the Davidson bridge.
Bikes
Yes, one of the better mountain-biking areas on OSMP. Bikes, and Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, are allowed on the Marshall Valley, Coal Seam, Cowdrey Draw, Greenbelt Plateau, and Community Ditch trails. The one exception is the Marshall Mesa Trail itself, which is hiker and horse only.
Dog policy
Allowed. Dogs must be on a hand-held leash at all times unless they carry a City of Boulder Voice and Sight tag and are under voice and sight control. Leash up at the trailhead, and pick up waste; it's required by law.
Fee
Parking requires an OSMP permit: $5 per day through ParkMobile (zone 24400) or $25 per year. A daily permit is valid at all OSMP trailheads for that date.
Parking
Marshall Mesa Trailhead, just east of the Highway 93 and Marshall Road intersection, with 75 standard spaces, 4 ADA spaces, and 4 horse-trailer spaces, plus a restroom and picnic shelter. Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Best season
Year-round. The open, sunny mesa dries out faster than shaded foothill trails, which makes it a strong winter and shoulder-season choice, but it closes when too muddy after rain or snow, so check the muddy trail closures page first.

Marshall Mesa at a glance

Marshall Mesa sits on the open grasslands southeast of Boulder, between Highway 93 and the town of Superior, and it's a different kind of outing from the steep foothill climbs. The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks trails here roll gently across an open mesa with wide views back to the Flatirons and the Front Range. It's a favorite for runners, casual hikers, and, above all, mountain bikers looking for mellow, flowy dirt rather than a grind. The land is working ranch country too, so don't be surprised to share the trail with grazing cattle.

The trails and the classic loop

The signature outing is a 2.7-mile loop that stitches together the Marshall Valley, Marshall Mesa, and Coal Seam trails from the Marshall Mesa Trailhead. Marshall Valley starts out gently heading east, with one short rocky stretch before it smooths out and meets the Community Ditch Trail. The Marshall Mesa Trail links Marshall Valley and Community Ditch with open valley views and mild elevation gain. Coal Seam runs flat out of the trailhead, then gets rockier past the Davidson bridge as it parallels Highway 93. From there the network opens up: Community Ditch, Cowdrey Draw, and Greenbelt Plateau all connect, which is how riders build the longer Dirty Bismark loop.

Mountain biking at Marshall Mesa

This is one of the better places to ride on OSMP, and a genuinely good spot to learn. Bikes are allowed on the Marshall Valley, Coal Seam, Cowdrey Draw, Greenbelt Plateau, and Community Ditch trails, and Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are permitted on those same trails (Community Ditch east of Highway 93). The one catch worth remembering: the Marshall Mesa Trail itself is the single segment in the area that does not allow bikes, so it's hikers and horses only. Ride the surrounding trails, walk that one, and you can still link a full loop.

Parking, fees, and the trailhead

Access is from the Marshall Mesa Trailhead, just east of the Highway 93 and Marshall Road intersection. It has 75 standard parking spaces, 4 ADA spaces, and 4 horse-trailer spaces, plus a restroom, a picnic shelter, and ADA-accessible paths, and it's open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Parking is not free: the trailhead is an OSMP fee location, so you'll need a $5 daily permit (ParkMobile zone 24400, or pay at the trailhead) or a $25 annual OSMP permit. A daily permit is valid at all OSMP trailheads for that date. If you'd rather skip the fee, an RTD Parks and Ride crosswalk connects the trailhead to a parking area at the Highway 93 and Marshall Road intersection.

Dogs at Marshall Mesa

Dogs are welcome, with rules. They must be on a hand-held leash at all times unless they carry a current City of Boulder Voice and Sight tag and stay under voice and sight control, and you always leash up when you leave your car at the trailhead. There's a dog waste station at the trailhead, and picking up after your dog is required by law. Because OSMP regulations vary by trail and season, it's worth a look at the OSMP dog regulations map before you go.

The Marshall Fire and current status

The December 2021 Marshall Fire swept across this area, and OSMP closed the trails afterward to repair fire damage, reopening most of them through 2022. Then, in late October 2024, the Marshall Mesa Trailhead closed again, this time to support a state project to put out a coal-seam fire that had smoldered underground for more than a century, along with a full trailhead rebuild. The trailhead reopened on March 27, 2026, and the area trails are open now. The land has changed since the fire, so signage and conditions can shift; the mesa also closes when it's too muddy to protect the trail tread.

Best time to go

Marshall Mesa is a year-round destination and one of the better cold-season picks around Boulder. Because it's open and sunny, it dries out faster than the shaded foothill trails, so it's often rideable and walkable in winter and the shoulder seasons when higher trails are snowbound. The flip side is mud: after rain or snow the City closes the area to keep the trail from getting chewed up, so check the muddy trail closures page before you drive out. Summer mornings are lovely and open, though there's little shade, so bring water and sun cover.

Nearby trails and guides

Recommended nearby

A few local spots we'd point a Marshall Mesa day toward.

Bike shop / rental

[CLIENT SLOT: featured bike shop near Marshall Mesa]

[One honest line: where to rent or tune a mountain bike before a Marshall Mesa ride.]

Cafe

[CLIENT SLOT: featured cafe near Marshall Mesa]

[One honest line: coffee or a bite in south Boulder or Superior on the way in or out.]

Retail

[CLIENT SLOT: featured outdoor shop near Marshall Mesa]

[One honest line: layers, tubes, or trail snacks before you head out.]

Marshall Mesa FAQ

Can you mountain bike at Marshall Mesa?

Yes, it's one of the better mountain-biking areas on Boulder OSMP. Bikes, including Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, are allowed on the Marshall Valley, Coal Seam, Cowdrey Draw, Greenbelt Plateau, and Community Ditch trails, which together make the well-known Dirty Bismark loop. The one exception is the Marshall Mesa Trail itself, which is open to hikers and horses only.

How long is the Marshall Mesa loop and how hard is it?

The classic loop is about 2.7 miles, combining the Marshall Valley, Marshall Mesa, and Coal Seam trails, with mild elevation gain. It's an easy-to-moderate outing: mostly gentle and open, with a few short rocky or stepped sections, especially on Coal Seam past the Davidson bridge.

Are dogs allowed at Marshall Mesa?

Yes. Dogs must be on a hand-held leash at all times unless they carry a current City of Boulder Voice and Sight tag and stay under voice and sight control. You must leash up when you leave your vehicle at the trailhead, and picking up after your dog is required by law. Check the OSMP dog regulations map, since rules can vary by trail and season.

How much does it cost to park at Marshall Mesa Trailhead?

The Marshall Mesa Trailhead is an OSMP fee location. A daily permit is $5 through ParkMobile (zone 24400) or at the trailhead pay station, and it's valid at all OSMP trailheads for that date. An annual OSMP permit is $25. There's also an RTD Parks and Ride crosswalk linking the trailhead to a parking area at the Highway 93 and Marshall Road intersection.

Did the Marshall Fire affect Marshall Mesa, and is it open now?

Yes. The December 2021 Marshall Fire burned through the area, and OSMP closed the trails to repair fire damage; most reopened through 2022. Separately, the Marshall Mesa Trailhead closed in late October 2024 for state coal-seam fire mitigation and a full trailhead rebuild. It reopened on March 27, 2026, and the trailhead and area trails are open now, with the usual muddy-conditions closures.

Sources

Facts on this page are drawn from these authoritative sources: