Walker Ranch Loop is a 7.5 mile loop trail located near Boulder, Colorado, and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking, mountain biking and trail running and is accessible from March until November.
Walker Ranch is a fantastic loop, that can be taken both Clockwise and Counter. Going counter clockwise starts you off on a fantastic downhill, just be careful for walkers & dogs. Once at the bottom, you will start a moderate but tiring climb that eventually opens up at the top into an area with a parking lot, which is where the real fun starts! From this point you will experience what some would argue is 2 miles of the best downhill you will ever ride. This is followed by a short portage down some very steep steps, followed by another moderate climb back to the trail head. If you still need more, just turn around and start again, going the opposite direction, because by now you know the climb you did through the forest at the end of the ride back is gonna be some great downhill.
Trailhead parking with toilet no water
Karissa Smith (169)
10 months ago
N/A:
10 Completed 7 Reviews
Relaxing. See columbines. Eat lunch on ponderosa pine bench overlooking Boulder canyon
Joel Chitwood (488)
10 months ago
N/A:
19 Completed 7 Reviews
Enjoyable hike but traffic was heavy on the trail. Beautiful scenery.
Rip3d Trails (4470)
almost 2 years ago
N/A:
25 Completed 25 Reviews
My Experience
This ride did not take too much planning, because I had done this trail last year. I was really looking forward to my second chance on the Walker Ranch, and actually riding the whole trail.
Walker Ranch is a fantastic loop, that can be taken both Clockwise and Counter. I prefer to ride it counter, which starts you off on a fantastic downhill, just be careful for walkers & dogs, once at the bottom, you will start a moderate but tiring climb. Once at the top, you enter an open spot, with a parking lot, this is where the real fun starts!!.. 2 miles of the best downhill you will ever ride!.. you are gonna want to ride this trail again just for this downhill section. This is followed by a short portage down some very steep steps, followed by another moderate climb back to the trail head.
If you are still buzzing from the ride, and need more, just turn around and start again, going the opposite direction, because by now you know the climb you did through the forest at the end is gonna be one hell of a downhill!!
Other Info:
Traffic on Trail : two hikers with unleashed dogs, a crazy biking dude without a helmet, and Two other mountain bikers
Wild Life : None ( but this is Big Cat country)
Scenery : Open Trail with great scenery
Other : Be VERY careful not to colide with hikers or on coming bikers, the trail is very narrow, and some places have very limited vision of the trail
My Trail Rating : 8.5 / 10
Kevin Purdy (274)
7 months ago
1 Completed 4 Reviews
Holy cow, I forgot how difficult this trail was. Sometimes I find it difficult to determine whether a trail is easy, moderate or difficult. This one is an easy decision. It's incredibly difficult.
Be forewarned, no matter how good of a mountain biker you are, you will have to put your bike on your shoulder and carry it up/down an incredibly steep slope. The good news: If you haven't ridden this trail in a few years, that slope now has better "stairs" so you don't actually have to use your hands to pull yourself up the slope/cliff. But the bad news: I swear that ultra-steep part gets longer every year.
I'm not kidding when I say, "Make sure you have good tires on your bike." Otherwise, you'll be skidding all over the place. (He says with the voice of experience.)
BTW - The trailsnet link that comes with this takes you to a page with a map to help you find the trailhead and then stay on the trail. But the trailsnet site is under construction during the week of Oct. 20 - 27, 2011.