Hall Ranch

Trail

Hall Ranch

Location: Colorado, United States, North America

Lat/Lon: 40.21192°N / 105.28891°W

Trail Type: Cross Country

Technical Difficulty: Medium

Aerobic Difficulty: Medium

Layout: Lollipop

Length: 9.6 Mi / 15.5 Km

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Page By: Chris

Created/Edited: Oct 4, 2007 / Oct 5, 2007

Object ID: 261810

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Table of Contents

Overview

Hall Ranch is part of Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks portfolio of property. It lies just west of Lyons, Colorado at the edge of the foothills. The mountain bike trail is a 9.6 mile lollipop that features a tough, technical climb to up to a beautiful loop around a high meadow that was once the homestead of the Nelson family.

Hall Ranch is a very popular trail, especially on weekends. Be sure to yield to other trail users.

Trail Description

From the lower parking area, follow the spur trail to the upper parking area. From here take the Bitterbrush trail west from the upper parking area. At 0.4 miles you'll reach a hiking-only trail, continue right on the Bitterbrush Trail. At 1 mile you'll cross a jeep road/emergency access road and start downhill and cross a small valley. At the bottom of this valley the climb begins. This is the most technical section of the trail and climbs moderately though a lot of exposed granite until just over 2 miles. At the top of the climb the technical difficulties end and you enter a nice meadow with beautiful views. There is a bench here were one can rest. Continue on the Bitterbrush Trail until it's end at 3.75 miles. Here the trail T's into the Nelson Loop. Take a left or a right to complete the loop, these directions are for taking a left (right gives you a longer but more gradual climb).

Once on the Nelson Trail, make a climb up to a large meadow where the old Nelson homestead is, crossing a bridge on the way. From the homestead, it's downhill back to the T intersection with the Bitterbrush trail (approx 6 miles). On the way down, you'll pass the Nighthawk Trail at mile 4.7 (which is hiking only, but makes an excellent trail run and brings you back to the parking lots). From the interection, return to the parking lot via the Bitterbrush trail or make additional circuits of the Nelson Loop.

Mileages:
0.0 - Lower Parking Lot
1.0 - Emergency Access road just before the climb
2.1 - Top of the technical climb, near the bench
3.7 - End of the Bitterbrush Tr/start of Nelson Loop
4.5 - Nelson Homestead (assuming clockwise loop)
4.7 - Nighthawk Trail (hiking only)
6.0 - Bitterbrush Trail/end of Nelson Loop
7.6 - Bench/start of technical downhill
8.6 - Emergency access road
9.6 - Lower Parking Lot

Getting There

From Boulder:
Take US 36 (28th Street) north out of Boulder. From the North end of town (US36 / Broadway intersection, start checking mileage here... mile 0.0), continue on US36 for 10.75 miles to the intersection of CO66 and US36 (stoplight). Take a left here and drive to mile 12.3 in Lyons and take a left on CO7 (intersection, stoplight). Follow Hwy 7 out of Lyons for about 1.5 miles. At mile 13.7 make a right into the parking area for Hall Ranch.

When to Bike

Hall Ranch is open year-round and is ridable year-round. Summers can be very hot during the day here. The park is closed daily from sunset to sunrise.

Red Tape

Fees:
There are no fees to park, ride, or hike at Hall Ranch

Animals:
Rattlesnakes and Mountain Lions are both common here.

Where to eat in Lyons:
Oskar Blues - good food, music, and beer! They are a strong supporter of the Boulder Mountain Bike Alliance, which works very hard to keep Boulder trails open to mountain biking (which is no easy task in Boulder).