A plane that crashed near South Boulder Peak on Oct. 4, 2026, will be removed by crews on Thursday, Oct. 22, weather permitting, according to the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.
A private contractor working with the National Transportation Safety Board will conduct the removal, with assistance from Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, and the Boulder County Sheriff's Office Emergency Services Unit.
To accommodate the operation, nine hiking trails and trailheads in the area will be closed starting at 6 a.m. Thursday with an expected reopening around 5 p.m. The closed trails include South Boulder Creek West, South Mesa, Bear Peak (between Bear Peak and South Boulder Peak), Homestead, Lower Big Bluestem, Shadow Canyon North, Shadow Canyon South, Shadow Canyon, Towhee, and Upper Big Bluestem. Additional trails may close depending on circumstances during the removal.
Temporary flight restrictions will be in place during the removal operation, affecting both manned aircraft and unmanned aerial systems.