Floyd Hill Open Space

In 2017 MALT facilitated a major land purchase and permanently conserved a 108-acre parcel of land on Floyd Hill Open Space – a highly visible meadow and forested area north of I-70 located in Clear Creek County. MALT brokered the deal with its partners the Trust for Public Land, Clear Creek County, Jefferson County and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO). This area has given outdoor enthusiasts access to over 12,000 acres of previously inaccessible public land from I-70, and completes a contiguous network of open space securing the continued protection of wildlife habitat and additional recreational opportunities. The partners in this project recognize that the property is the final piece of a decades-long protection effort for one of the last remaining conservation and new recreational trails along the I-70 corridor between Golden and Idaho Springs.

Floyd Hill Open Space contains outstanding scenic values and provides a gateway into an undeveloped network of open parcels along the ridge of Clear Creek Canyon. The forest and meadow ecosystem provides critical habitat for elk, bighorn sheep, mountain lion, black bear, mule deer and a number of bird species.
MALT has raised funds and partnered with multiple organizations to help build over seven miles of brand new hiking and biking trails on the property.

Floyd Hill Updates

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2022: Improvements and Bike Repair Station Planning

Various improvements including the installation of restrooms adjacent to the parking lot. Bike Repair Station planning begins with Eagle Scout.

2019: Downhill Bike Trail Opens

With over 100 mountain bikers, hikers, community members and MALT staff in attendance at Floyd Hill Open Space, “The Sluice” officially opened on August 21, 2019.

2019: Youth Corps Builds Trails

Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA), with the help of a Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant, spends 3 weeks building trails in the Floyd Hill Open Space Area. Read more about their work.

2018: MALT Receives GOCO Grant

Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) have chosen MALT’s project at Floyd Hill Open Space to receive three weeks of work from the Mile High Youth Corps! The project will be completed in 2019. Funds for this project were awarded by Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), which receives a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds, to the Colorado Youth Corps Association for use by accredited youth corps.

2018: Trail Building

A “Women Only” trail building day with over 80 Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) carved 1,900 feet of trail out of the side of a mountain in Floyd Hill Open Space. Read more about this project.

2017: Connector Trail Completed

Thanks to the generosity of MALT donors and the community, work began on the first of several trails at Floyd Hill Open Space in September 2017. Clear Creek County Open Space (CCCOS) and Jefferson County Open Space completed the construction phase of the connector trail in September.

2017: Connecting Youth Hikes

Through a “Connecting Youth” grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, MALT led hikes for underserved middle school aged children from the Denver metro area to provide opportunities for youth and families to visit farms, ranches, and other protected properties that provide wildlife habitat, open space, and scenic views. Learn more.

2017: Property Purchased

On March 21, 2017 the purchase of this property was completed. The land was conveyed to Clear Creek and Jefferson Counties and will be directly managed as public open space by Clear Creek County. The Conservation Easement, ensuring its permanent protection, is held by MALT.

2016: GOCO Grant Awarded

Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) awarded MALT, The Trust for Public Land, and its partners a $545,000 GOCO grant to complete the $1,057,500 purchase for this 108 acre property.

Hiking & Biking Opportunities

Located 30 minutes from downtown Denver just north of I-70 on Floyd Hill, this property is highly visible from I-70 and provides easy access to over 7 plus miles of trails for hikers and cyclists.

Downhill Bike Trail

With over 100 mountain bikers, hikers, community members and MALT staff in attendance at Floyd Hill Open Space, “The Sluice” officially opened on August 21, 2019. MALT secured a $75,000 grant from the Gates Family Foundation for Floyd Hill Open Space trails. $10,000 was designated for a matching fund campaign to construct the purpose-built downhill bike only trail along the Front Range. Colorado Mountain Bike Association along with other partners raised the additional funds to construct the 1.7 mile trail. The Sluice’s main trail is rated blue square/black diamond and drops 700 vertical feet.

Experience The Sluice!
Hiking & Biking

Over 7.5 Miles of public trails are now open!
Take exit 248 Floyd Hill/BeaverBrook and then head west on US-40. At the top of the hill, continue west at the stop sign then turn right into the parking area at Floyd Hill Open Space (FHOS).