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Heil/Hall Ranch

Ride Details
Region: 
Boulder
Ride Type: 
mountain
Date: 
Oct 2 2010 - 10:00am - 2:00pm
Fitness Rating: 
Capable/Moderate
Technical Difficulty: 
Blue/Medium
Distance: 
20 Miles
Ride Leader
Ride Leader: 
Helen Dohrman
Phone: 
(720) 470-0445
Email: 
helendohrman@comcast.net
Meet-up
Meet-up Location and Directions: 
Meet at Hall Ranch Trailhead in Lyons. Allow yourself an additional 30 min from North Boulder to get there. When you arrive to Boulder, drive to the northern edge of town (the intersection of Broadway and 36, either from Broadway or north on 28th Street which turns into 36 and intersects at Broadway). From here, take US 36 north to Lyons about 12 miles. Once in downtown Lyons, reduce your speed as you drive through town and turn left at the intersection of 36 and Colorado 7 (towards Allenspark). The trailhead is about 1 mile on the right. Meet at 9:45 for a 10 AM start time.
Departure: 
All rides will depart promptly at the time noted in each of the ride descriptions. Please arrive 15 minutes early to allow time to sign in and get ready to ride.
Cancellation: 
Rides will be canceled when temperatures are below 40 degrees and/or trail conditions are obviously too wet. When conditions are questionable, call the Ride Leader for a last-minute check. If you have any questions concerning the route, please contact the ride leader.
Helmets: 
Helmets are required on all Team Evergreen Bicycle Club rides.

Description:

There are many ways to approach this fun and challenging combination ride from Heil Ranch to Hall Ranch (and vice versa).

This year we will begin in Lyons at the Hall Ranch trailhead. We'll begin riding  the first mile on the Bitterbrush Trail, gently rolling singletrack with a steady uphill approach towards the infamous rock garden.  This technical section is only 1 mile, but gives you a run for your money. At the top of the rock garden (2.1) we will traverse the hillside and ride down a short ways before a more gentle climb up to the Nelson Loop (3.9). This loop can be ridden in either direction; clockwise, off to the left, is a nice climb through trees up to the top. The trail tops out at 4.5 miles with a view of Long's Peak in the distance. The way back to the parking lot is a fast downhill (but slowing once in the rock garden).

At this point, we will cross the road and ride a short distance south on Hwy 7 to Red Gulch Road to regroup at the Picture Rock Trailhead. This newer gem of Boulder County singletrack (opened Sept. 2008) slowly climbs 5.2 miles through twisting subalpine desert terrain, small rocky obstacles and red dirt mini-canyons to Heil Ranch in Boulder. This multi-use trail branches off the existing Wild Turkey trail at Heil and provides dramatic views, dense woods and open meadows. Once at Heil, we can either ride the 2.6 mile Ponderosa Loop back to Picture Rock or just turn around and travel back towards Lyons.

Lunch will be at Oskar Blues, home of Colorado's first canned microbrew: Dale's Pale Ale.

Allow yourself an additional 30 min to get to the trailhead once you reach Boulder.

If you have not ridden either trail before or are doing this combo for the first time, please call/email me so I know who is coming.

Maps:

http://bma-mtb.org/resources/Hall.pdf

http://bma-mtb.org/resources/HeilMap.jpg

http://bma-mtb.org/resources/picturerocktopo.jpg

http://bma-mtb.org/resources/picturerockprofile.jpg