Frequent sightings of a protective bear and her cubs prompted Golden officials to shut down a popular walking trail Wednesday, according to the city.
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Tucker Gulch Trail was closed between First Street and Seventh Street for “heavy bear activity in the area,” according to the city of Golden. The trail is a 1.1-mile trek along an abandoned railroad bed and the Tucker Gulch drainage, stretching from Vanover Park to Norman D. Park, according to the city.
The Golden Police Department received several reports of a sow with two cubs in the trail closure area, city officials said.
“The mother bear has become increasingly protective of her cubs, creating a potential safety concern for people using the trail,” city officials said. “…Please avoid the closed area and do not approach or attempt to interact with bears or other wildlife.”
Barricades will remain on either side of the closed section of the trail until further notice, according to the city of Golden.
The closure is roughly five miles north of Apex Park, which Jefferson County officials temporarily closed earlier this year after a bear attacked a hiker.
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Colorado’s drought has increasingly pushed bears into urban areas in search of food, Golden officials said.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed last week that wildlife officers have responded to 10 bear attacks so far this year. That’s a record high, according to the agency.
Between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31, Colorado Parks and Wildlife also received 8,672 reports of bear sightings and conflict, more than double the reports during that timeframe in 2025 and more than three times the five-year average, agency officials said.
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