Park-to-Park Shuttle to Chautauqua

Free Summer Weekend Shuttle
Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day

Headed to the Chautauqua Trailhead to hike among the Flatirons in the summertime? Parking is extremely limited on weekends. We strongly recommend riding the free weekend shuttle to get there stress-free and to avoid parking fees. 

COVID-19 Safety Steps

The Park-to-Park shuttle is taking extra steps to keep you safe and help prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

• This year, the program will use larger, full-sized buses with a normal capacity of 27.
• Only 10 riders will be on the bus at a time.
• All passengers will enter at the rear door.
• Face coverings are required for all passengers.
• Dogs, strollers and gear are still welcome aboard.

How the Shuttle Works

The Park-to-Park weekend shuttle runs during summer only. This year, it will begin Saturday, May 23, 2020, and run through Monday, Sept. 7, 2020. 

Simply park for free at downtown parking garages, the Regent lot at the University of Colorado-Boulder, or New Vista High School, and then hop on the shuttle. The Park-to-Park map, showing parking garages and shuttle stops, is below. 

• Free
• Every 15 minutes
• Saturdays and Sundays, 8am–8pm
  (plus Memorial Day and Labor Day, 8am–8pm)
• Dogs welcome (but please be mindful—for before or after your hike—that dogs are not allowed on the Pearl Street Mall)
• Short, 10-minute-or-so ride

Where the shuttle picks up downtown: The downtown shuttle stops next to Salt's patio on 11th Street (at Pearl Street). There are also several stops on Walnut Street and another at Spruce and Broadway (see map below). Plus, all the parking garages downtown are free on weekends. 

Shuttle Route and Stops

More Options

Paid Parking: Paid parking ($2.50/hr) is very limited (you've been warned!) but is available in designated areas in and around Chautauqua. Download the Parkmobile app or the WaytoPark app to pay, or use the kiosks on Baseline, at the Ranger Cottage and near the Dining Hall to pay using your license plate.

Tip: Use the Parkmobile app to avoid having to touch the parking kiosks.

Lyft Rides: Another option is to take Lyft to/from Chautauqua. Receive $2.50 off (each way) summer Saturdays and Sundays 8am-8pm with promo code: RIDE2HIKE.

Free Lyft rides are available on weekends 6am–8am and 8pm–11pm between New Vista/CU Regent lots and Chautauqua from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Use code: PARK2PARK.

Additional Tips

• Ranger Cottage The Ranger Cottage at the Chautauqua Trailhead is currently closed, but there are rangers outside the cottage offering advice. 
• Bathrooms The bathrooms at the Ranger Cottage are still open. Plus there are more porta-potties this year. The bathrooms beneath the Chautauqua Dining Hall are also open.
• Face Coverings Anyone over 12 years old is required to wear face coverings anytime they cannot maintain six feet of distance at OSMP trailheads and when passing others on trails. If visitors are at least 6 feet away from others, they do not need to wear a face-covering over their nose and mouth. However, if visitors reach 6 feet distance to someone else on the trail, they should put the covering back over their nose and mouth.
• Stay on trail and walk through mud. If needed, step off the trail to maintain distance. Please avoid stepping on vegetation. If possible, step onto a rock or a bare spot to let others pass, then step back on the trail.
• Real-Time Trail Map This OSMP map is great for checking for real-time closures due to wildlife nesting or for other reasons. You can also see how busy your trail is rated with the colored dots. Zoom in to see specific trails more closely.