Type: Trail, Loop
Difficulty: 6 / 10
Altitude: 7,227 ft
Elev. Gain/Loss: 1,851 ft / 1,851 ft
Dog Friendly: Yes
Jog-Stroller Friendly: No
Filed Under: Cycling, Hiking, Running
Originally located on the homestead of James Walker in 1873, this piece of Boulder Open Space has a fantastic moderately difficult loop on it that is one of my favorites.
You can go either clockwise or counter-clockwise on this loop. I prefer running counter-clockwise as you can enjoy a great view of Eldorado Springs and the plains on your way down Crescent Meadows. However, if you are biking, I find the preferable way is clockwise.
Start by heading downhill on a old dirt road (south) to the bottom of Tom Davis Gulch where you will reach South Boulder Creek (1 mile). Cross a creek over a bridge and run parallel to S. Boulder Creek for a while.
After approximately .5 miles, the road goes back uphill. Follow this to a trailhead/parking area just off of Gross Dam Road. Follow the trail (now mostly singletrack) east and down through Crescent Meadows towards Eldorado Canyon. Follow this section for approximately 2 miles until you reach the South Boulder Creek again.
Here turn and go up Martin Gulch (gravel road) for 1.2 miles. Do not turn right on the trail marked for Eldorado Canyon.
Once near the top of the hill, look for a trail that turns left (west) called Columbine Gulch. Take this further uphill for 1.6 miles back to the Walker Ranch Trailhead and your car.
The trailhead is located 7.4 miles from Baseline Road. To get there, take Baseline Road to Flagstaff Road. At 7.4 miles up Flagstaff, look for a gravel road and overflow parking lot in a right-hand turn of the road. If empty, drive a few hundred yards past the overflow parking to the main parking lot.
Comments
sean said ...
Before doing the Walker Ranch loop, run about .5 miles back on Flagstaff Road to the Myers Gulch Trailhead. Run Myers Gulch for a nice warmup, and then Walker Ranch for a nice hilly workout. This option is about 13 miles.
sean said ...
Start running on The Walker Ranch loop, and halfway thru take the Eldorado Canyon Trail up over a big hill then down into Eldorado Canyon. You can end here for a distance of 8 miles.
Or you can continue past Eldorado Springs (on the road) and add the Mesa Trail, Dowdy Draw or Fowler Trails to make a really nice long run.
Note - this option obviously requires two cars or a shuttle of some type.
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