Draft Bijou Basin master plan favors limited, low‑impact access; staff recommend no dogs because of active grazing

Arapahoe County open‑spaces staff presented a draft master plan Thursday for the county—s Bijou Basin Open Space, a property of more than 3,100 acres acquired incrementally by the county that contains shortgrass prairie, riparian habitat and working grazing units.

The plan presented a preferred concept that includes roughly seven miles of natural‑surface trails arranged in several loop segments, a trailhead with a small, natural parking area (about 15 vehicle spaces and six horse‑trailer spots), a primitive restroom, a shaded picnic/shelter area and an accessible overlook near the riparian corridor. Staff said the design emphasizes low‑impact materials and placement of trails on existing maintenance roads where feasible.

Why it matters: Bijou Basin expands preserved habitat in the eastern portion of the county and sits within a roughly…