Flowy Trails
Feb 13th 2008
1. Betasso Preserve: This little loop up Sugarloaf Road often gets rated as an “easy trail” by experienced riders, but I’ve learned the hard way (by taking novices who hated it) that it’s not easy to most beginners. But for those of us not intimidated by the fairly narrow trail and it’s drop-away edge, we can pump and flow like water over its undulating surface. And if you want a more technical and aerobic challenge along with it, ride the Connector Trail up from Boulder Canyon.
2. West Mag: These twisty, turny, fun trails never fail to please. The forested setting feels like the chase scene on Endor in The Return of the Jedi. Rad! The surface has a few rocks and roots, but mostly it’s fast and furious.
3. Hall Ranch – Antelope: The “backside” of Hall Ranch in Lyons is as mellow as the front is rocky. A few switchbacks keep you alert, but mostly you flow and glide your way to the junction that takes you up to the equally tranquil top loop. This trail is more open and quasi-desert-like than most other trails around the area.
4. Walker Ranch: This trail, located on Flagstaff Mountain, has a few technical and aerobically-challenging areas, but also has plenty of places to get your smooth on. It’s pretty and forested, with only the blackened carcasses of old trees to remind you that the area burned a few years ago. Just be forewarned that there’s also a staircase hike-a-bike section. And the place gets super crowded on the weekends.
5. Buffalo Creek: This trail isn’t in Boulder County, so I didn’t include it at first, but one of my readers was absolutely right to suggest I get it up here….it rocks the free world. It’s located near Bailey off of U.S. 285, and even though it takes about an hour to get there, it is more than worth it. Miles and miles of swoopy, twisty singletrack wind through both pine and aspen trees, through an old burn area, and across camping areas, where you can bed down for the night and do it all again tomorrow. Both novices and experts alike can enjoy the riding there, since the fun is all about eye bonking.
Share your thoughts about the trails in the comments section below.
5 Comments »
Mike on 28 Feb 2008 at 10:45 am #
Where’s West Mag?
marty on 29 Feb 2008 at 4:27 pm #
Ah, sorry! West Magnolia trails are in Nederland.
Robby McCollough on 14 Apr 2008 at 10:54 pm #
we need to get a little r-e-s-p-e-c-t for buffalo creek on here. sockit2me, sockit2me, sockit2me.
Jamie on 27 Aug 2009 at 6:53 pm #
Do you have directions to the BC trailhead? Thanks!!!
marty on 03 Sep 2009 at 8:31 am #
Hey Jamie, just go through Golden to C470, then take Highway 285 to Pine Junction. You have to pay close attention, because Pine Junction is nothing more than a couple of storefronts, so it’s easy to blow through there. Turn left there on Pine Valley Rd (also known as Hwy 126). Drive through this pretty valley, through the little hamlet of Pine, to Forest Road 550. You’ll take a right on that and then park immediately on the right. Have fun!