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Eldo Shuttle service has ended for the 2023 season. For other transit to trails options visit www.boco.org/shuttles

Eldo Shuttle

Climber at Eldorado State Park, Eldorado Springs, Colorado.

Boulder County, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, and the City of Boulder offer a FREE shuttle bus service on weekends and holidays during the summer and fall to carry passengers from US 36 & McCaslin or and Boulder to Eldorado Canyon State Park and the Marshall Mesa, Doudy Draw, and South Mesa trailheads, which are popular hiking, sightseeing, climbing, and biking destinations south of Boulder. The shuttle, operated by Via Mobility Services, helps address increased parking and traffic congestion-related impacts  in Eldorado Springs, within the state park which connects to Walker Ranch, and along CO 170.

More Information

Email Alex Hyde-Wright or call 303-441-4910 for more information.

View or Download a Map of the Route and Stops

Eldo Shuttle Schedule (2023 season)

The Eldo Shuttle runs from Saturday, May 27 to Labor Day, Sept 4, 2023. Shuttles run every 20 minutes on the following schedule:

Saturdays 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sundays 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Holidays
Monday, May 29, Monday, June 19 (Juneteenth), Tuesday, July 4, and Monday, Sept. 4
8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Shuttle Route and Stops

  • Regent Drive & Broadway (Boulder)
    • Shuttle stop and parking in the CU Regent Lot #306, just east of Broadway.
  • Broadway & Baseline Rd.
    • Shuttle stops at the RTD stops on Broadway.
  • Broadway & 27th Way
    • Parking available in the RTD Park-n-Ride.
    • Shuttle stops at the RTD stops on Broadway.
  • Broadway & Rayleigh Rd.
    • Shuttle stops at the RTD stops on Broadway.
  • Broadway & Dartmouth Avenue
    • Parking available in the RTD Park-n-Ride.
    • Shuttle stops at the RTD stops on Broadway.
  • Table Mesa Dr & 39th St Modified from 2022
    • Parking available in the RTD Park-n-Ride.
    • Shuttle stops at the RTD stops on Table Mesa Dr.
  • US 36 & Table Mesa Station New stop in 2023
    • 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 Park-n-Ride (Superior)
    • Shuttle stops at the Superior FlexRide stop in the parking lot next to pedestrian bridge (Gate C).
  • CO 170 & CO 93 – Access to Marshall Mesa Trailhead Modified from 2022
    • 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 (Access to South Mesa Trailhead)
    • Westbound and eastbound shuttles stop in the Doudy Draw Trailhead parking lot.
    • To access South Mesa Trailhead, visitors will need to cross CO 170.
    • Westbound, the shuttle stop at Doudy Draw is drop-off only.
  • Eldorado Springs Resort New stop in 2023
    • 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 pools opening date.
  • Eldorado Canyon State Park Visitor Center
    • Shuttle stops in front of the visitor center.
    • Exit here for the Fowler, Rattlesnake, or Eldorado Canyon trails and the picnic area.
  • Eldorado Canyon State Park entrance station
    • Shuttle stops in front of the entrance station bathrooms.
    • Exit here to access the Streamside trail.

Example screen from Transit app

Track Your Bus in Real Time

Transit App logo

Track your bus’s arrival time and location in real-time using Transit App, available for iOS and Android. Look for the Eldorado Park route.

State Parks Pass

All shuttle passengers will be required to have a valid state parks pass to ride the shuttle into 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 (exact change). If paying by credit card, shuttle riders will need to exit the shuttle at the Visitor Center at the end of the route. No passes or fees are required to ride to the Marshall Mesa, Doudy Draw, South Mesa trailheads or the Eldorado Springs Resort. If you have an annual pass or purchased the KCW pass as part of your vehicle registration, it covers the entrance fee for the passholder and up to three other adults who are riding the shuttle with you into the State Park. If you purchased the KCW pass, either bring your vehicle registration or picture of it.

Timed Entry Reservations are Not Required

Timed entry reservations are not required for shuttle parking or to ride the Shuttle, including to visit Eldorado Canyon State Park.

Elso Shuttle bus rider dog

Accessible Hiking

  • All shuttles and shuttle stops are ADA accessible.
  • The Eldo Shuttle provides access to the Fowler Trail, a wheelchair accessible trail.

Outdoor Gear and Pets

  • Crashpads and other climbing gear are welcome.
  • Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome.
  • Each shuttle has a bike rack that can hold two bikes.

Take the Bus to the Shuttle!

Rather than driving directly to the state park or one of the shuttle parking lots, visitors are encouraged to take the RTD SKIP, DASH, Flatiron Flyer or any other RTD bus route that stops along Broadway to connect to the Eldo Shuttle.

Parking is extremely limited inside Eldorado Canyon State Park, and there is no public parking nearby outside of the park. When parking inside the state park is full, you will be not be allowed in. Illegal parking could result in fines and/or towed vehicles.

COVID-19 Procedures

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.

Additional Recreation Shuttles

Find out more information about all of the recreation shuttles operating in Boulder County here: boco.org/shuttles.

Contact Us

Alex Hyde-Wright, Principal Transportation Planner

Contact Us

Community Planning & Permitting (formerly the Land Use Dept.)

Email: Ask a Planner Form
Main: 303-441-3930

Courthouse Annex Building

2045 13th St.
Boulder, CO 80302

Hours

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday
Map and Directions

Mailing Address

Community Planning & Permitting
PO Box 471
Boulder, CO 80306
Community Planning & Permitting website