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MTB TRAIL STATS

Avg Rating:	19 trail reviews
Status: Open updated 5/13/08 by mikestahlman Closed Open Wet / Sketchy	Difficulty: Advanced
Length: 7 miles	Global Rank: 492
Tread: Doubletrack	Configuration: Loop
Ridden: 186	Wishlist: 53
Avg. Speed: 5 mph	Avg. Time: 1hr 44min

 

Hall Ranch in Lyons

 

White Ranch in Golden

 

Horsetooth Mountain Park in Fort Collins

 

Marshall Mesa Area in Boulder

 

  
reviewed by Gross_Venediger on September 20, 2009

Awesome trail! Rode it counter clockwise on an old no suspension bike so I did a lot of walking on the uphills. But the downhills are a blast, even with no suspension. Great variety, great scenery.

  
reviewed by Mikeoutdoor on July 17, 2009

Great ride! This is a fun loop with varied terrain. All but great riders will have to walk a short section of the ride. Watch out for walkers on the trail. Also, Boulder County Open Space does not give special use permits to outfitters, so watch out for rogue guide services operating without a permit....NFGA.info

* Review edited 7/17/2009

Similar Trail: Heil Ranch

  
reviewed by Natural_ on April 23, 2009

Great advanced trail! Best downhills I've ever seen. This trail has amazing views. Varried terrian for the advanced mountain biker. Visit www.nfga.info to ride this trail with a guide!

* Review edited 4/23/2009

  
reviewed by jkovaly on November 23, 2008

I parked at the Crescent Meadow lot on Gross Dam rd, closer coming from Golden. Rode the loop clockwise (recommended for better downhills) ~2.5mi (1st mile is awesome downhill) and then took the connector trail over to Meyers Homestead out-and-back (this added nearly 8mi). Then completed the loop around to the car, about 5mi. The stairs coming up from S. Boulder Creek are long and difficult (going up or down), plan to CAREFULLY carry your bike about .25mi from the bottom up to the top, no wonder this looks like a 100% incline on the GPS map! The rest of the trail has some good up-and-down sections with nothing overly technical or steep. Total distance I rode, including the side trip to Meyers Homestead, was 15.5mi. * Review edited 11/23/2008* Review edited 11/23/2008

* Review edited 11/23/2008

Similar Trail: Golden Gate Canyon

  
reviewed by kuala_tahan on October 19, 2008

Holy climbing. Trail's got some of everything, a fun ride. and a lot of climbing

  
reviewed by barrycroker on October 16, 2008

Rode Walker for the first time in 8 years last week and it was longer than I had remembered! A classic Boulder ride, with a little of everything. Be sure to bring your climbing legs. Best ridden clockwise IMHO. Glad to see things are recovering from the fire.

Similar Trail: Hall Ranch

  
reviewed by Wiseclam on August 27, 2008

Walker is a fun and challenging 7.5 mile loop. Very well maintained. Beautiful terrain, mostly wooded. Many steep climbs but nothing too unforgiving. The back side (south side) of the loop is the most enjoyable with lots of free riding up and down roler coaster sections. The hike down the stairs (or up if you head clockwise) isn't fun with a heavy bike but consider it part of the challenge and you might even enjoy it. You can always do "Super Walker" and ride from Boulder which adds a steep 7+ mile ride to the trailhead (and back, of course).

Similar Trail: Hall Ranch

  
reviewed by slimflynn on July 28, 2008

There is a lot of climbing here. Bring the legs and lungs. For the 7 mile loop that I did there is 5 of climbing and 2 of down hill. Nothing overly technical. I found the trail to be loose dirt/rock which presented traction issues on certain climbs.

  
reviewed by gcarlson on June 17, 2008

sweet ride!!! the first downhill is one of the best in the country

Similar Trail: Tsali National Park North Carolina

  
reviewed by mikestahlman on May 13, 2008

You have to be in pretty good shape to enjoy this trail. Forget the fact that you are at altitude...there is a lot of elevation change. It feels as though you are never riding on flat terrain. Extreme ups...and extreme downs. Which makes for most of the ride spent climbing. (Or in my case walking my bike up the hills)

  
reviewed by keoni111 on April 7, 2008

Rode it yesterday, nice and dry most of the way. North slope just after the top gets kind of icy and sloppy at times. Still a fun ride though.

  
reviewed by arnolda14 on June 6, 2007

This is one of the very best rides in Boulder County. What am I saying? This is one of the best rides ever. Scenic and diverse terrain. This is the consumate Boulder county mtn. biking experience.

  
reviewed by dauw on June 25, 2006

Excellent trail. Great combination of technicallity, climbing, decending, jumping. Can be loose in some areas. Very scenic. Watch for kayakers when waters up. Can be crowded. Trail well marked.

  
reviewed by itchyfeet on January 13, 2006

This was the first rail i rode in Co. after moving from Va. so the elevation was a huge obstacle. I have been on it so many times now it is like clockwork. Great views of the canyon, and stream with some fun downhills. Best ride is right around spring when the rapids pick up, beautiful ride!

  
reviewed by Rebus on December 20, 2005

Classic Boulder-style riding. Elevation is something to contend with for us flat-landers but the scenery is beautiful and the trails are fun. It's easy to spend a whole day out here. It can get a tad crowded at times though.

Similar Trail: Hall, Heil

  
reviewed by mook21 on August 1, 2005

It was difficult only because of the elevation since I ride in Northern Virginia (max elevation 2,500 ft!!!). The trail was loads of fun and rather easy technically. Even the technical section (where you go one way for more technical, another for less technical) was very easy by Virginia standards. I'd ride it again just for the great downhill when going counter-clockwise. Steady climbs and a nice spot by the river.

  
reviewed by JohnsXCbike on April 12, 2005

VERY FUN TRAIL!!!! lots of climbing on a dirt road at the end if you go clockwise, I'd recomend going clockwise. Beautiful ride, take your time and enjoy.

  
reviewed by Marlin_D/H on August 18, 2004

This course has presented itself as a bit of a challenge for me. I've ridden it w/ Pain_is_relative but have not been able to complete the loop as he has. The times that Iíve attempted this trail, I was on a p.o.s. Mongoose that presented me problems and I was not entirely in the best of shape when trying this trail. How ever, since then Iíve been riding Green Mnt. and have built up my endurance and have purchased a new bike and am excited to try this trail again. From what I have ridden, the trail provides an array of obstacles such as big rocks and rivers to plow through. All in all I would have to say that Pain_Is_Relative sums this trail up the best! see ya on the Mnt.

  
reviewed by Pain_Is_Relative on August 17, 2004

Classic Colorado and what do you expect from a Boulder trail. This is my favorite morning ride because of its drive time and the great comprehensive terrain. Downhill, technical, aerobic, and flat out fun. I have road this ride as the whole loop or as a there and back half loop ride. It is great both ways but if you are going to ride the whole loop I recommend riding it counterclockwise. I alwa**tart from the Northeast parking lot off of Flagstaff road. There is another parking lot about half way around the loop after you pass the reservoir dam on Flagstaff. Don't waste your time driving to it just start at the first parking lot. Watch out for trail runners who at times can pass you at technical uphill climbs.

Similar Trail: White Ranch and Dakota Ridge/Red Rocks Trail

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