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Teller Farm and White Rocks

Teller Farm is flat City of Boulder open space east of town, where the East Boulder Trail crosses working farmland past Teller Lake and runs north toward the White Rocks Nature Preserve, a protected Habitat Conservation Area you can walk through on trail but can't explore off it.

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Teller Farm quick facts

Trails
The East Boulder Trail runs the length of the property, linking Teller Farm South to Teller Farm North and on to the White Rocks Trailhead. Short side paths reach Teller Lake. OSMP does not publish an official mileage for these segments.
Difficulty
Easy. OSMP describes groomed trails and mild grades, and calls the Teller Farm section sport-chair accessible and mobility-friendly.
Trailheads
Teller Farm South, on the north side of Arapahoe Road between 75th and 95th streets. Teller Farm North, on the south side of Valmont Road between 75th and 95th, about two miles east of 75th. Both are open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Parking
Teller Farm South has 32 standard spaces and one ADA space. Teller Farm North has 41 standard spaces and one ADA space. Neither OSMP trailhead page lists a parking fee.
Dogs
Allowed on the Teller Farm side under OSMP rules: hand-held leash unless the dog meets the voice and sight standard and wears a City of Boulder Voice and Sight tag. Dogs are not allowed at Teller Lake No. 5, must be leashed within 100 yards of the water at Teller Lake South, and are not permitted north of Valmont Road in the White Rocks Nature Preserve.
Fishing
Yes, at Teller Lake. State fishing regulations apply, and any smallmouth or largemouth bass in possession must be 15 inches or longer. A valid Colorado Parks and Wildlife license is required for anglers 16 and over. Swimming is not allowed in any OSMP body of water.
White Rocks access
The trail is open, the preserve is not. The East Boulder White Rocks Trail passes through the White Rocks Nature Preserve, and all visitors must stay on the trail because it's a Habitat Conservation Area. Off-trail travel is not allowed anywhere in the Lower Boulder Creek HCA, and dogs are prohibited. OSMP runs a limited number of guided hikes in late summer and early fall, after the bald eagles have fledged.
Best season
Spring and fall. It's open farmland with almost no tree cover, so summer afternoons run hot, and this is a good winter and mud-season fallback when the foothill trails are closed or sloppy.

Teller Farm at a glance

Teller Farm is the flat side of Boulder's open space. Instead of climbing a foothill, you walk a wide farm road across land that's still being farmed. OSMP describes the East Boulder Teller Farm Trail as meandering north past Teller Lake and through farmland used for crop production, cattle and horse grazing, and beekeeping, with groomed trails and mild grades that suit runners, cyclists, and birdwatchers. It's a working landscape, not a manicured park, and that's most of its charm.

Because there's no forest and no ridgeline, the whole Front Range sits in view to the west the entire time. It's also open to the sun from end to end, which matters more here than it does in a canyon.

The two Teller Farm trailheads

Teller Farm South is the one most people mean. It's on the north side of Arapahoe Road between 75th and 95th streets, reached by a short gravel access road, and it gives you the south end of the East Boulder Trail. OSMP lists 32 standard parking spaces plus one ADA space, restrooms at the trailhead, and picnic tables at the trailhead and parking area, though grills and stoves are prohibited. The JUMP bus stops on Arapahoe Road right at the entry to that access road, which makes this one of the easier east-side trailheads to reach without a car.

Teller Farm North is on the south side of Valmont Road between 75th and 95th streets, about two miles east of 75th. It has 41 standard spaces and one ADA space, and no restrooms or picnic facilities at all. Both trailheads are open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Teller Lake and fishing

OSMP lists fishing access at both Teller Farm trailheads. There's a variety of waterfowl and fish at Teller Lake, and grass carp were introduced to control pond vegetation. State fishing regulations apply, and OSMP notes specifically that any smallmouth or largemouth bass in your possession has to be 15 inches or longer. Anglers 16 and over need a valid Colorado Parks and Wildlife fishing license, and it's worth reading the trailhead regulation board before you cast, since rules change seasonally and by location. Swimming isn't allowed in any OSMP lake or pond, Teller Lake included.

Can you visit White Rocks?

This is the question that brings most people to the page, and the answer has two halves. The East Boulder White Rocks Trail is open, and OSMP describes it as a lightly trafficked trail good for all skill levels that winds through farmland and creek habitat. But every visitor has to stay on the trail inside the White Rocks Nature Preserve, because it's a Habitat Conservation Area, and dogs are prohibited there entirely.

The protection runs deeper than a suggestion. Off-trail travel is not allowed anywhere in the Lower Boulder Creek Habitat Conservation Area, in part to protect nesting bald eagles, and there's no off-trail permit available for it the way there is for some other OSMP conservation areas. OSMP does conduct a limited number of staff-guided hikes in that area in late summer and early fall, after the eagles have fledged. If you want to get closer to the rocks than the trail allows, a guided hike is the route, and details show up on OSMP's nature hikes and programs page.

The preserve is worth the restraint. OSMP notes bald eagles, northern harriers, belted kingfishers, and great blue herons that nest in a protected rookery just east of the conservation area, plus the only occurrence on OSMP of the six-lined race runner lizard. The preserve also supports raptors, waterfowl, songbirds, white-tail deer, bats, coyotes, foxes, snapping turtles, and snakes.

Dogs at Teller Farm

Dogs are welcome on the Teller Farm side under standard OSMP rules: a hand-held leash at all times unless the 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's a dog station at the trailheads.

Three exceptions matter here. Dogs aren't allowed at Teller Lake No. 5. They have to be leashed within 100 yards of the water at Teller Lake South. And they aren't permitted north of Valmont Road in the White Rocks Nature Preserve, so if you're walking a dog, Valmont is your turnaround.

Biking, horses, and accessibility

Bikes are allowed on the entire East Boulder Trail, and Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are allowed along its full length, which is unusual enough on OSMP to be worth knowing. Equestrians are allowed throughout the trail too, though off-trail riding isn't allowed in the Lower Boulder Creek Habitat Conservation Area and is discouraged elsewhere to protect rare plants and wildlife habitat.

On accessibility, OSMP identifies the Teller Farm section as sport-chair accessible and mobility-friendly, and flags both Teller Farm trailheads as popular with people using wheelchairs. Between that and the flat surface, it's one of the more welcoming stretches of Boulder open space for strollers, new hikers, and anyone who'd rather not climb a foothill before breakfast.

Best season and what to bring

Spring and fall are the sweet spot. Open farmland means almost no shade anywhere along the route, so midsummer afternoons get hot and exposed, and an early start plus real sun protection and more water than you think you need is the difference between a pleasant walk and a slog. Winter is quietly one of the best times to come, since this is flat prairie that stays walkable when the foothill trails are muddy or closed. Check OSMP's closures page before you drive out, and remember that afternoon thunderstorms on the plains leave you with nowhere to hide.

Nearby trails and guides

Teller Farm and White Rocks FAQ

Can you visit White Rocks in Boulder?

You can walk the trail through it, but you can't wander into it. The East Boulder White Rocks Trail passes through the White Rocks Nature Preserve, and OSMP requires every visitor to stay on the trail there because it's a Habitat Conservation Area. Off-trail travel isn't allowed anywhere in the Lower Boulder Creek Habitat Conservation Area, partly to protect nesting bald eagles, and dogs are prohibited. OSMP does run a limited number of staff-guided hikes in late summer and early fall, once the eagles have fledged.

Where is the Teller Farm trailhead?

There are two. Teller Farm South sits on the north side of Arapahoe Road between 75th and 95th streets, at the end of a short gravel access road. Teller Farm North is on the south side of Valmont Road between 75th and 95th, roughly two miles east of 75th. Both trailheads are open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Are dogs allowed at Teller Farm?

Yes on the Teller Farm side, with limits. Dogs need a hand-held leash unless they meet OSMP's voice and sight control standard and wear a City of Boulder Voice and Sight tag. Dogs aren't allowed at Teller Lake No. 5, have to be leashed within 100 yards of the water at Teller Lake South, and aren't permitted north of Valmont Road in the White Rocks Nature Preserve.

Can you fish at Teller Lake?

Yes. Teller Farm South and Teller Farm North are both listed by OSMP as fishing-access trailheads. State fishing regulations apply, any smallmouth or largemouth bass you keep has to be 15 inches or longer, and anglers 16 and over need a valid Colorado Parks and Wildlife license. Swimming isn't allowed in any OSMP lake or pond.

Is the Teller Farm trail good for biking or a stroller?

It's one of the better flat options in east Boulder. Bikes are allowed on the entire East Boulder Trail, and Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are allowed along its full length. OSMP describes the Teller Farm section as sport-chair accessible with groomed surfaces and mild grades, and lists both trailheads as popular with people using wheelchairs. Horses are allowed throughout as well.

Sources

Facts on this page are drawn from these authoritative sources:

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