Walker Ranch Loop

Distance: 8 mile loop
Elevation: 7,362 ft - 7,392 ft (yep its a loop)
Elevation Gain: 1,580 ft (cumulative)
Bathroom at Trailhead: No
Dogs: On leash, Boulder County Open Space
Date Hiked: 7 June 2014
Tags: #Boulder, #Eldoradocanyon, #coloradooutdoors, #hiking

South Boulder Creek is one of many diverse terrain features on the Walker Ranch Loop.

The Walker Ranch Loop near Boulder, CO is an amazingly diverse trail with green glades, precipitous descents, cool rock formations, and a rumble-in-your-bones creek. I can't believe I have lived near Boulder for over ten years and have never done it. I was under the misinterpretation that it was just like Eldorado Canyon Trail, which it abuts, but it is so much more.

Map at the trailhead showing the numerous parking areas and stream crossings.

Starting out from the Cedar Meadows Trailhead and heading counter-clockwise.

Indian Paintbrush

There are three trailheads for this loop, three up Flagstaff Road out of Boulder (Boulder County Open Space) and the other (Cedar Meadows) up Coal Creek Canyon Road (part of Eldorado Canyon State Park).  Cedar Meadows is blessedly empty, which on a spring weekend is a novelty not to be missed. Finding a place to park and hike near Boulder can be a trial that is so stressful that it would send the most calm yogi into a week of recuperative meditation.

Leaving the open meadows behind, the terrain shifts to dry Ponderosa Pine, Yucca, and rocks.

Expansive views looking west

The steep steps leading down to South Boulder Creek

Since this is a loop, you can take it in any direction. On this trip we journeyed counter-clockwise. The route starts out crossing gentle hillsides covered in green grasses that wilted in the damp air. Wildflowers dotted the landscape and clouds hung lazily and low over the trees. An unusual June for sure. Before long, the trail drifted into stands of Ponderosa Pine.

Mountain bikers do this trail??

Looking down on South Boulder Creek

After the creek, the route changes to a wide dirt road and heads steadily upwards.

After 1.5 miles or so, the trail begins a steep descent down log steps to the bottom of Boulder Creek. The only way to go is slow, taking each step carefully since they are filled with loose gravel and are narrow in places. I can't image mountain bikers liking this trail for this reason but they just carry their bikes up or down this segment and carry on. South Boulder Creek is a controlled waterway with its volume controlled by the dam at nearby Gross Reservoir. On this trip it was a torrent that shook the earth with its intensity. Falling in would have been an instant death sentence.

Turning from the dirt road back onto a single track. Note the nature sign in the distance. That will be a good thing to look for.

A shaded segment in the trees

On top of the ridge

Beyond South Boulder Creek, the trail rises again and becomes a wide dirt road. At 2.5 miles is the junction with the Eldorado Canyon Trail that heads westward into the State Park. Another mile upwards the trail splits. Head straight up the road and you will dead end at the Ethel Road trailhead. Turn left onto the dirt path to continue the loop.

Starting into the burn area

All the rain we had in June 2014 really had the wildflowers popping.

Looking east. You can see where the trail heads south again from the Walker Ranch trailhead.

The next segment is damper and the trees change to shade-loving Douglas Fir. A small stream gurgles nearby while the trail becomes packed gravel eroded from granite outcroppings. After climbing steadily, the route peaks out on a narrow ridge (at 4.4. miles/912 ft elevation gain) with views to the east and west. The trail winds slowly down this ridge until it reaches the Walker Ranch trailhead at 7,279 ft (1,029 ft elevation gain). It was cold and windy at this point but we were starving and so chose to eat at the picnic table to avoid getting crushed by the hikers and bikers disgorging themselves from the parking lot. Obviously, this is the busiest trailhead on the route.

Approaching the Walker Ranch Trailhead

Leaving the Walker Ranch Trailhead and heading back down to South Boulder Creek

Walking along South Boulder Creek. The roar was palpable.

Continuing counter clockwise, the trail descends rapidly on an eroded path back down to South Boulder Creek. At the bottom (at 6.3 miles) there are several picnic tables that were filled with anglers braving the rushing stream. From this point the route is flat, following the stream until it crosses the creek and begins a short but brutal 0.75 mile climb back up to the Cedar Meadows trailhead.

The path along South Boulder Creek is wide, flat, and very pleasant.

Starting the long slug back to the car

Close-up of some reproductive organs.

The Crescent Meadows trailhead is a separate undeveloped part of Eldorado Canyon State Park. To get to the trailhead drive 7 miles up Coal Creek Canyon from Hwy 93. Go through a small town where you'll see a Sinclair Gas Station on the left. Turn Right on Crescent Park Drive,  travel one mile always staying to your left until you come to a T junction. Take a right at the T and proceed a couple more miles, cross a railroad track. A few hundred feet from the tracks you'll see the dirt lot on your right.

More flowers

Approaching the trailhead

It is hard to find long hikes near Boulder. Walker Ranch will get you in shape for summer hiking while keeping you interested with all of the micro-climates. If you don't live in Boulder itself, the Cedar Meadows trailhead is the way to go.

Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm (Stearns Lake)

Distance: 3.6 miles round trip
Elevation: 5,276 ft
Elevation Gain: Nominal
Date Hiked: 8 July 2012
Bathroom at Trailhead: Yes
Dogs: On leash (Boulder County Open Space)
Tags: #lake, #bcos, #stearnslake

Looking at Stearns Lake in the Carolyn Holmberg Open Space

The Carolyn Holmburg Perserve at Rock Creek Farm is a small Boulder County Open Space located north of Broomfield on Highway 287.  It is popular with fishermen and locals taking strolls with their kids and dogs.  Located in the middle farm land, it is very pleasant in the spring and fall and is usually snow free in the winter.

Trailhead with parking and picnic enclosure

Starting out on the Mary Miller Trail

I chose a steamy day in July 2012 (can you say record heat anyone?) to try running the trails in the park so I grabbed my cell phone to track my pace and distance as well to take pictures on the fly. If the pictures in the post don't seem up to snuff, that is why.  In the humid air, my phone was like a wet bar of soap

Farmland stretches off to the right.  The lake is on the left behind the berm.

The route leaves the lake (out of frame to the left) and heads off to the east.

There are several named trails in the area, but the logical route is to leave the parking lot and head due west along the shore of Stearns Lake.  Technially, this is the Mary Miller Trail, but that name is not evident as you leave the parking area. As you head east, you may see Canada Goose, which frequent the Cottonwood-lined shoreline.

The road leading due east that intersects the trail.  The directional sign is on the post to the right.

Close up of the directional sign.  The arrows point down the road.  I am not sure this is how they want people to go.  If you avoid this turn you come to another trail sign further up the road.

On the far eastern side of the lake there is a large gate and dirt road that continues directly eastward.  Attached to the right-hand post of the gate is a trail sign with two arrows.  This sign was just loosely attached with some wire and was twisted in such a way that the arrows were pointing down the road.  This is NOT correct.  While you can take this road, it may be private so when you come to this junction, continue northward until you see a large trail sign pointing to the right.

If you keep going this is the sign that point to to the trail as it forks eastward.

Looking back towards the lake near several interpretive signs.  Farmland is on either side.

From this point of the route, the trail heads eastward along a slight ridge looking down on a working farm.  I chose to turn around when the dirt trail turned to pavement as it connected to a bike path heading under Highway 287.

My turn around point.  This is where the gravel path becomes paved and travels under Highway 287.  Note the farm buildings in the distance.

Back near the trailhead, this is the sign pointing to the Cradleboard Trail, which from this angle heads off to the right.

After running back around the lake, I took a left on the Cradleboard Trail, which heads due south before more curving westward.  The Cradleboard trail comes to a junction at a dirt road.  To return to the parking lot, turn right.

A typical segment of the Cradleboard Trail.  The Flatirons can be seen in the far distance.

The junction where the Cradleboard Trail continues southwest and a dirt road wraps around to the north to return to the parking lot.

One of things I love about Colorado is that "parks" are more often open space rather than green grass and manicured deciduous trees.  The Carolyn Holmberb Preserve is a perfect example.  While not large, it is perfect for a short run, afternoon stroll, or picnic at the shelter in the parking area.

The parking is ahead in the distance

Map of the trail system.  The dirt road is marked with a dotted line.