Thanks to the recently-built Picture Rock connector trail, Heil Valley Ranch and Hall Ranch—once two isolated trail systems outside Boulder—can now be combined for a wealth of route options. Ride the 26-mile route from the southern trailhead of Heil Valley Ranch to the Nelson Loop of Hall Ranch, or create different variations using the mid-point trailhead at the north end of Picture Rock and the alternate access Antelope Trailhead of Hall Ranch.
Despite their proximity, these three trail systems—Heil Valley, Hall Ranch, and Picture Rock (technically part of Heil)—have distinctly different identities. On the narrow tree-covered singletrack of Heil Valley Ranch, you’ll find yourself picking tight lines on a narrow rocky trail. The Hall Ranch trails, in contrast, climb through open meadows in the shadow of Rocky Mountain National Park before U-turning for a ripping, sometimes technical descent. Picture Rock, the most recent addition, combines the feel of both Hall and Heil. From south to north, the trail starts out in the trees, picking its way through narrow, rock-studded singletrack before transitioning into open fields on smooth singletrack that zips back and forth with slalom-style flow.
Note: Connecting Picture Rock and Hall Ranch requires a 1-mile paved stretch on the shoulder of CO 7. See map for details.
-Mapped by Mark Harrison
TO TRAILHEAD: Heil Valley South: Head north on US 36 and turn left on Lefthand Canyon. Continue 0.7 mile and turn right on Geer Canyon Dr. Go 1.2 miles to trailhead parking.
Heil Valley North (Picture Rock): Take US 36 W to Lyons, CO, and turn left onto CO 7/St. Vrain Dr. In 0.5 mile, turn left onto Old St. Vrain Rd. Continue 0.3 mile and turn left on Red Gulch Rd. Continue 0.2 mile to trailhead parking on the right.
Hall Ranch (Bitterbrush Trailhead): From Lyons, CO, take CO 7 W for 1.7 miles. Park at Hall Ranch lot on the right.
St. Vrain Overlook
Location: 40.187397°, -105.295136°
© Mark Harrison
HVR001
Location: 40.149159°, -105.300095°
Heil Valley Ranch Southern Trailhead: Follow the singletrack to the left of the trailhead map/kiosk. This trail leads out of the parking lot and connects with a fire road stretch that continues for 0.5 mile. © Mark Harrison
HVR002
Location: 40.156574°, -105.297943°
Turn left off the fire road onto the singletrack Wapiti Trail. The trail begins climbing across a broad meadow on smooth singletrack and stays that way until it enters the trees. © Mark Harrison
HVR003
Location: 40.158344°, -105.300407°
The trail enters the trees and become significantly more rocky as it continues to climb along a manageable grade. © Mark Harrison
HVR004
Location: 40.173672°, -105.296356°
Power through the last section of rock obstacles and you'll find yourself at the 3-way junction of the Wapiti Trail with the Ponderosa Loop. Turn right to follow this track to the Wild Turkey junction. Otherwise, turn left to ride the Ponderosa Loop counter-clockwise up to the overlook at HVR008. © Mark Harrison
HVR005
Location: 40.175198°, -105.295013°
Wild Turkey Junction: Turn right at the 3-way junction onto the Wild Turkey Trail, a 2.9-mile stretch of undulating singletrack with banked turns and plenty of narrow rock passes. To access the Picture Rock Trail (which leads north to the Hall Ranch system), you'll need to ride Wild Turkey. Another option: continue straight here on the Ponderosa Loop and ride Wild Turkey clockwise, picking up the northern end of the loop near the overlook at HVR008. © Mark Harrison
HVR006
Location: 40.178059°, -105.288536°
Picture Rock/Turkey Creek Junction: The northern terminus of Picture Rock intersects with the Wild Turkey Loop of the Heil Valley Ranch system. To access the Hall Ranch trail network, turn right here to descend Picture Rock for 5.5 miles. To bypass this extension and ride Heil Valley Ranch as a lollipop loop, continue straight here. © Mark Harrison
HVR007
Location: 40.191200°, -105.291084°
Near the end of Wild Turkey, the trail transitions from a rock-studded singletrack to smooth hardpack. Tires will have lots of grip on this stretch; get out of the saddle to stretch out your muscles and generate some speed.
HVR008
Location: 40.187300°, -105.294814°
At the northern junction of the Wild Turkey Trail with the Ponderosa Loop, a trailside overlook offers spectacular views over St. Vrain Creek to the Hall Ranch trail system across the valley. Dusk riders will enjoy amazing sunsets from this spot. Turn around from the overlook and continue left on the Ponderosa Loop. To the right, the Ponderosa Trail leads away from the overlook on a loose and rocky climb. Both options from this junction are bumpy, but following this track to the left allows for a ride with a bit more rhythm.
PRT001
Location: 40.211327°, -105.272774°
Heil Valley Ranch Northern Trailhead: Be sure to park only in the designated spaces at the Picture Rock trailhead. If it's full, there is overflow parking back at Meadows Park in Lyons. <p>
To access the Hall Ranch trail system from here, ride back to Old St. Vrain Road, turn right, continue back to CO 7 and turn left (watch for cars). The Hall Ranch trailhead is 1 mile up the road on your right. © Mark Harrison
PRT002
Location: 40.201756°, -105.269814°
Picture Rock starts with a slight uphill grade on smooth singletrack: perfect for getting your legs loose before the rocky stuff. © Mark Harrison
PRT003
Location: 40.200718°, -105.268440°
Pumping through a tight section of singletrack on the return trip: Much of the Picture Rock Trail runs along narrow bench cut singletrack, especially on its north end. Mountain bikes must yield to hikers and horseback riders. © Mark Harrison
PRT004
Location: 40.195854°, -105.271172°
About 1.7 miles from the northern Heil Valley Ranch Trailhead, the Picture Rock Trail ducks into a tight tunnel of conifers. © Mark Harrison
PRT005
Location: 40.190495°, -105.278236°
One of the trail's superb rhythm sections, this stretch of off-camber, red-clay singletrack has a great up-and-down flow. Hit it hard, but do your best to stay on trail: this stretch may be prone to erosion. © Mark Harrison
PRT006
Location: 40.189270°, -105.280205°
Here, the Picture Rock Trail spits out onto an open rocky clearing. Riding south to north, continue past the abandoned car and turn left back onto the singletrack. © Mark Harrison
PRT007
Location: 40.187111°, -105.282173°
The latter 3 miles of Picture Rock are peppered with various rock obstacles. None are super-technical, but several can be difficult to figure out the first time around. Of course, all these tricky spots are a lot more manageable on the way down the trail. © Mark Harrison
PRT008
Location: 40.180267°, -105.284859°
Here the trail winds under a modest rock overhang before looping around the first in a series of uphill switchbacks. Be prepared for series of back-to-back rock obstacles on the flip side of this first switchback. © Mark Harrison
PRT009
Location: 40.178054°, -105.288532°
Picture Rock/Wild Turkey Junction: Here the Picture Rock Trail intersects with the Wild Turkey Loop.
HRT001
Location: 40.210739°, -105.288200°
Hall Ranch Bitterbrush Trailhead: Begin riding northwest on the Bitterbrush Trail. This tilted, salmon-colored land was once coastal sand dunes during the Precambrian Era (1.3 billion years ago). Today it offers some of the best singletrack in Boulder County.
HRT002
Location: 40.210941°, -105.296700°
Continue straight a @ 3-way junction on the Bitterbrush Trail, a multi-use path for bikers, hikers, trail runners, and equestrians. Here, the hiking-only Nighthawk trail shoots off to the left.
HRT003
Location: 40.209751°, -105.303497°
Gear down for a stiff climb and a series of rocky, sometimes technical spots, ahead. Balance, speed, and confidence will push you through. If you have to hop off and walk a bit here, no worries: you're not the only one.
HRT004
Location: 40.213932°, -105.305822°
The toughest stretch of the climb is over. Rest at this overlook looking west to the tilted mesas and foothills.
©Kris Wagner
HRT005
Location: 40.216805°, -105.306656°
Recover from the climb a bit as you ride the west shoulder of Indian Lookout Mountain. Gear up and enjoy the fast, smooth downhill ahead.
HRT006
Location: 40.220248°, -105.305543°
The Bitterbrush/Antelope Junction: From here, head northwest on rolling singletrack for a gradual 1.4 mile climb up to the Nelson Loop.
HRT007
Location: 40.222679°, -105.312302°
As you continue the grind up to the Nelson Loop, keep an eye out for the mule deer that often graze Hall Ranch's open fields.
HRT008
Location: 40.226663°, -105.322875°
The Nelson Loop: the 2.2-mile loop can be ridden clockwise or counterclockwise. Neither alternative presents a huge technical or physical challenge over the other, but some say that riding clockwise makes for better flow on the return trip. After you're done circuiting the loop, gear up for a second go-round, or backtrack from here to the Bitterbrush (4.1 miles) or Antelope (2.3 miles) trailheads.
HRT009
Location: 40.222786°, -105.329529°
Old Nelson Ranch (c. 1890) sits in Antelope Park, a wide meadow overlooked by the 14,255-foot Longs Peak. A spur trail leads right for a closer look at the old homestead. © Mark Harrison
HRT010
Location: 40.221218°, -105.333038°
Stay straight @ 3-way with Nighthawk Trail. From this point in the Nelson Loop, it's mostly downhill (in either direction). There are very few tricky spots on this trail, but it never hurts to take it easy the first time around. The loop is just the right distance and difficulty for 2 or 3 circuits in one ride. On clear days, Longs Peak is visible from this trail junction. © Mark Harrison
ANT001
Location: 40.227699°, -105.296097°
Hall Ranch Antelope Trailhead: Offering a less technical approach to the Nelson Loop than the Bitterbrush Trail, the Antelope Trail is just a short ride from Lyons proper. Parking is available but limited at this trailhead.
Foothills View
Location: 40.157608°, -105.298637°
The return trip affords a brilliant view of the Boulder foothills as you bomb down the final stretch of smooth singletrack before turning back onto the fire road. © Mark Harrison
A Smooth Stretch
Location: 40.167774°, -105.296463°
A few brief stretches of smooth gravel provide respites from the bumpy ride up the Wapiti Trail. © Mark Harrison
Wild Turkey at Dusk
Location: 40.177692°, -105.289452°
© Mark Harrison
Find-a-Line
Location: 40.181423°, -105.285080°
The upper slopes of Picture Rock are complicated but not extremely technical. This trail is perfect for intermediate riders looking to improve their ability to find good lines through rocky terrain. © Mark Harrison
Down and Around
Location: 40.183464°, -105.284012°
© Mark Harrison
Picture Rock at Dusk
Location: 40.191158°, -105.278214°
© Mark Harrison
Singletrack Flow
Location: 40.197773°, -105.268333°
Riding south to north, the final miles of Picture Rock have excellent flow. © Mark Harrison
Sandstone Foothills
Location: 40.198479°, -105.268593°
Indian Lookout Mountain and Steamboat Mountain, Lyons' signature sandstone foothills, overlook Picture Rock on the return trip. © Mark Harrison
Rolling Out
Location: 40.211353°, -105.272697°
The first 1.7 miles of Picture Rock are fairly exposed. © Mark Harrison
Bittersweet Switchback
Location: 40.212791°, -105.305107°
The Bitterbrush Trail climbs the southern slopes of Indian Lookout Mountain on long, sometimes technical switchbacks. ©Kris Wagner
Near the Saddle
Location: 40.217056°, -105.306717°
Riding the shoulder of Indian Lookout Mountain. ©Kris Wagner
Descending Indian Lookout
Location: 40.219921°, -105.305489°
The fast, smooth descent down the backside of Indian Lookout Mountain. ©Andrew Matranga
Trail's Eye View
Location: 40.227455°, -105.316940°
© Mark Harrison
Conifer Alley
Location: 40.226957°, -105.322323°
Cranking through a stand of conifers just before the Nelson Loop. ©Kris Wagner
Antelope Park
Location: 40.222473°, -105.327049°
Riders cruise into amber fields. ©Andrew Matranga
Rocky Mountain Views
Location: 40.222191°, -105.333572°
The west side of Nelson Loop offers splendid views of Mt. Meeker and Longs Peak (behind, on R). ©Andrew Matranga
Banked Curve
Location: 40.226467°, -105.326439°
Zipping through a banked singletrack curve on the downhill. © Mark Harrison
Antelope Trailhead
Location: 40.227699°, -105.296097°
The Antelope Trail is the less technical approach to the Nelson Loop Trail in Hall Ranch. It's easier than the Bitterbrush Trail (which approaches from the south), but it still starts the ride with a steady 1-mile climb that gains 400 feet of elevation.
Note: There is limited parking at this trailhead. Park on the side of the lot or the road and you risk getting ticketed. There is much more parking at the Bitterbrush Trailhead (1.5 miles southwest of Lyons on CO 7), although that approach to the Nelson Loops is more difficult. If the lot is full at Antelope, try to find a public spot in Lyons and ride to the trailhead.
The Antelope Trail
Location: 40.223927°, -105.301025°
There are a few tight switchbacks and some slightly steep terrain near the beginning of Antelope Trail, but it's rideable terrain all the same.
Antelope Trail Overlook
Location: 40.223927°, -105.301025°
Looking east down the Antelope Trail. © Mark Harrison
Climbing Antelope
Location: 40.221218°, -105.303589°
The Antelope Trail widens after an initial stretch of tight--but manageable--switchbacks. © Mark Harrison
