The park is experiencing heavy usage and frequently reaches capacity.
Eldorado Canyon State Park reaches parking capacity on weekends and holidays throughout the year from about 9 am to 3 pm.
- Due to high visitation, Timed Vehicle Reservations are required for vehicle access into Eldorado Canyon from May 15 - Sept 15 on Saturdays, Sundays and summer holidays from 5:30 am-5:30 pm. Visit CPWshop.com to make your reservation.
- Vehicle entry will be denied when parking capacity is reached.
- No public parking exists nearby.
Ride the Eldo Shuttle into the Park Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day WeekendShuttle runs Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 8 am to 7 pm
Boulder County, Colorado Parks & Wildlife and the City of Boulder offer a shuttle bus service on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays during the summer to carry passengers from US 36 & McCaslin and Boulder to Eldorado Canyon State Park. The shuttle is free; however, anyone entering the state park is required to have a valid state park pass. Passes can be purchased on the shuttle (cash only) or at the Visitor Center (cash or credit card)
- If driving from Denver, park and catch the shuttle at the RTD Park-n-Ride on the south side of US 36 at US 36 & McCaslin Blvd in Superior.
- The shuttle runs approximately every 20 minutes from 8 am to 7 pm.
- For a map of routes, stops, and more info, visit EldoShuttle.com.
Maps
Directions
From Boulder
Eldorado
Canyon State Park is located about five miles southwest of Boulder. Take
Broadway/State Highway 93 south from Boulder, turn west (right) onto Colorado
170 and then continue about three miles to the town of Eldorado Springs. Highway
170 dead-ends at the town, and a dirt road continues. The park is located at the
end of the dirt road on the left.
(Updated: 10/17/2019 4:38 PM)
From Denver
Eldorado
Canyon State Park is about thirty miles from Denver. Take I-25 north to State
Highway 36, go west towards Boulder. Exit at "Louisville-Superior" (you will
also see signs for Eldorado Springs and Highway 170) and turn south (left) at
the light. Follow signs to Eldorado Springs/Highway 170 (turning right on
Marshall Road/Highway 170). You will turn into the Superior Marketplace, as
Highway 170 travels around the marketplace and eventually leads you 7.4 miles to
Eldorado Canyon. Highway 170 dead-ends at the town of Eldorado Springs, and the
road continues as a dirt road. The park is located at the end of the dirt road
on the left.
(Updated: 10/17/2019 4:40 PM)
From Golden
Eldorado
Canyon State Park is about 17 miles from Golden. Take State Highway 93
north towards Boulder. Just south of Boulder, take State Highway 170 west (left)
towards Eldorado Springs. Highway 170 dead-ends at the town, and a dirt road
continues. The park is located at the end of the dirt road on the left.
(Updated: 10/17/2019 4:41 PM)
To Crescent Meadows
Crescent
Meadows is a separate, undeveloped part of the park located west of the inner
canyon area. To reach Crescent Meadows you can hike on the Eldorado Canyon Trail
& Walker Ranch Loop (approx. 4.5 miles), or you can drive from the junction
of Hwy 93 and Hwy 72 between Golden and Boulder. Travel west on Hwy 72 for about
7 miles through Coal Creek Canyon. Go through a small town where you'll see a
Sinclair Gas Station on the left. Turn Right on Crescent Park Dr, and travel one
mile, always staying to your left, until you come to a T junction. Take a right
and proceed a couple more miles. Cross a railroad track. A few hundred feet
from the tracks you'll see the trail head marked "Crescent Meadows Trail".
You can also reach the trailhead by traveling west of Boulder on Flagstaff Road to Gross Dam Road. Go South on Gross Dam Road to the Crescent Meadows Parking Lot on the left.
(Updated: 10/17/2019 4:44 PM)