A boulder that recently slid onto Barr Trail is an inconvenience, but not an imminent danger to trail users, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The U.S. Forest Service took to social media Monday, letting people know that its staff had examined the site on Barr Trail, about 1.5 miles up from the trailhead in Manitou Springs. The hiking area is frequently used by those looping back to the parking lot after completing the Manitou Incline or those hiking Pikes Peak.

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Carl Bauer, head of the Pikes Peak Rangers District, said the trail will remain open. For the time being, hikers are expected to scramble around the big rock to get back on the trail.

“It’s not dangerous to the public; it’s just an inconvenience at this point,” Bauer said.

Park Ranger Josh VonLoh said the boulder is roughly 15 feet in length and 12 feet tall.

“The trail remains open for both uphill and downhill traffic, albeit a little more constrained and requiring a short scramble at the boulder,” VonLoh said. 

According to Bauer and VonLoh, the Forest Service is actively looking for the best solution to mitigate the impacts of the rock, as park rangers believe it has not yet found its “final resting place.”

“There’s going to be a range of options — sometimes moving the trail is easier than trying to move the boulder. It (the boulder) could very likely move again, and we need to figure out our options and how we can deal with it,” Bauer said.

“As of right now, we are assessing the options to safely retain the character of this National Recreation Trail. This may include a short, sustainable reroute,” VonLoh added.

According to Friends of the Peak volunteer Brian VanValkenburg, the organization is aware of the boulder on Barr Trail. However, it’s the responsibility of the Forest Service to find a solution.

VanValkenburg  said the organization has known of the boulder since March 20 and has been in contact with the Forest Service as they look for a solution. He added that although the boulder inconveniences trail users, rock slides are standard in the area and are less dangerous than people may assume.

“People tend to be all doom and gloom when discussing boulders,” VanValkenburg said.

“We’ve found that boulders are moving all the time, off trail, rolling around and stopping. It takes a lot of effort for a boulder to continue downhill; even if it is perfectly round, the ground is not perfectly even or flat.”

Palmer Trail, one of Colorado Springs’ most popular trails and often referred to as the Section 16 loop, reopened to the public in June last year after a yearlong closure due to a rockslide and subsequent destruction of a trail bridge .

In 2021, a boulder fell onto Gold Camp Road and forced an extended road closure.

VonLoh said Barr Trail saw a similar situation just last year. 

“There are a few locations on Barr (and other local trails) where boulders have dislodged from the hillslope to come to rest in the trail bed,” VonLoh said.

“Last year we had a similar situation a little lower on the trail. Mountains are continually moving, and gravity always has the upper hand.”