Type: Road/Trail, Loop
Difficulty: 3 / 10
Altitude: 5,226 ft
Elev. Gain/Loss: 376 ft / 376 ft
Dog Friendly: Yes, with leash
Jog-Stroller Friendly: Some
Filed Under: Cycling, Hiking, Running
This great loop in North Boulder mixes a little bit of fire roads, singletrack, and paved road with many options to make the run longer or shorter.
Start at the Eagle Trailhead and run towards the mountains (west) on a dirt/gravel road for approximately 1 mile, take a right here on a smaller path that leads toward a subdivision (north). At the back of the subdivision, the trail gets narrow and counter-clockwise parallels the neighborhood and golf course. At times the trail can be slightly overgrown. You can't get lost as the trail is paralleled on both sides by an Boulder Open Space fence.
Eventually this will dump you out on a road near the entrance of the subdivision. Take this road north a few hundred yeard until it comes to a T.
Turn left here (Neva Road.) and run .9 miles on this road generally heading west. At roughly 4 miles into the run, just after a downhill, turn left thru a gate and on to a narrow singletrack trail. If you pass the gate, just a hundred yards farther is the Lefthand Trailhead and parking lot.
Continue on the narrow trail around Lefthand Resevoir. Now (running south) continue through several Open Space gates to another trailhead. This is the Boulder Valley Ranch Trailhead. It is 1.9 miles inbetween the Lefthand and Boulder Valley Ranch Trailheads.
Go through the parking lot and continue on the gravel path (Sage - Eagle Trail) around the base of a small mesa and pond. After passing the pond and at the top of a small hill, turn right and run another .5 miles back to the Eagle Trailhead parking lot.
For a longer run you can add another 5.5 miles (14.5 miles total) by running around the Boulder Resevoir.
There are several ways to get to Eagle Trailhead and the Boulder Reservoir. One way from Boulder is to take Foothills Parkway (Hwy 119) to Jay Road. Take a left (northwest) on Jay Road. Almost immediately take a right of 51st Street just past a Fire Station. Dive north on 51st Street. When the pavement ends continue for approximately another .9 miles. The trailhead and parking lot will be on your left.
Comments
Dave said ...
Sean and I ran this loop early this morning. I found Sean's description quite accurate. We saw lots of rabbits and prairie dogs and several light airplanes but few runners or bikers except near the start/end.
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