Type: Trail, Loop
Difficulty: 1 / 10
Altitude: 5,340 ft
Elev. Gain/Loss: 52 ft / 52 ft
Dog Friendly: Yes, with leash
Jog-Stroller Friendly: Yes
Filed Under: Running
The future of this great little area is quite unknown to the public. It is owned by the University of Colorado. So far the only development on the acerage are a few tennis courts (being built as of this writing). Other than the basic 2 mile loop, you have several options to make the run longer. 1) On the south end of the field you can take a small road for approximately .2 miles to the South Boulder Creek Trail. 2) Tantra Park and it's paved bike paths lie just to the west, and 3) this trailhead also serves as the start/finish line for the University of Colorado Cross Country Course.
For the main 2 mile loop, I will give directions for a clockwise circuit. At the Buffalo Ranch Trailhead run through the opening in the fence and go east towards a small pond on a narrow singletrack trail. At the pond, turn south and follow the trail around the edge of the large field. At some point the trail will ascend a small hill and top out on a doubletrack dirt path/road. Take this the rest of the way around the field running on top of a levee. At the southwest corner of the field, turn right (north) and run this dirt/gravel road back to the trailhead.
If you are looking for an easy flat trail, this is the place. As a matter of fact it is probably one of the flatest trail runs in the Boulder area.
Directions from the Denver Area and South: To get to Boulder from the Denver area, go west on U.S. 36 (from I-25 or I-270). Exit U.S. 36 at Table Mesa Road/Foothills Parkway. Bear right at the immediate fork in the road. At the light, take a left on to Table Mesa Road. At the second light, take a left into the Buffalo Ranch entrance, also marked Rich's Tennis School. Turn here and drive approximately .25 miles to the end of the road and the trailhead.
Directions from the North: From the north, take U.S. 287 south to Highway 119 (Diagonal Highway). Highway 119 becomes Highway 157 (Foothills Parkway) just north of Boulder. From Foothills Parkway, exit just before you reach U.S. 36 at the Table Mesa Road/South Boulder Road exit. After you exit, take a right at the light (Table Mesa). At the second light, take a left into the Buffalo Ranch entrance, also marked Rich's Tennis School. Turn here and drive approximately .25 miles to the end of the road and the trailhead.
Directions from the West: Take I-70 east to U.S. 6. Go east on U.S. 6 to CO. 58. Turn right (east) on CO.58 to CO. 93. Make a left (north) onto CO. 93 towards Boulder. CO. 93 will turn into Broadway. Once on Broadway take a right on Table Mesa Road. At the third light take a right into the Buffalo Ranch entrance, also marked Rich's Tennis School. Turn here and drive approximately .25 miles to the end of the road and the trailhead. If you get to the US36 entrance, you have just passed the course.
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