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.

Eldorado Canyon

Distance: 7 miles round trip to Walker Ranch, 6 miles round trip to plateau before the drop off
Elevation: 5,950 ft - 7,200 ft
Elevation Gain: 1,250 ft (net).  Cumulative is much more if you go down the back side to Walker Ranch
Date Hiked: 22 July 2011
Bathroom at the Trailhead: Yes
Dogs: On leash only, State Park

Views of the foothills from the Eldorado Canyon Trail

The Eldorado Canyon Trail in Eldorado Canyon State Park is a pleasant outing particularly in the the spring and fall.  Since the trail is mostly south facing, it can also remain open when other trails, like Rattlesnake Gulch across the valley are coated in ice. 

The first mile of the route climbs relentlessly

Looking at two of the crenelations that the trail climbs around and over.  The peaks of the Continental Divide are barely visible in the distance.

The route follows the crenelations of a long hillside that heads deep into Eldorado Canyon and eventually intersects with Walker Ranch west of Boulder.  Along the way, the route weaves in and out of Ponerosa and Lodgepole Pines, Douglas Fir, and Mountain Mahogany.  I did this hike in July and Bee Balm dotted the slopes.  I did see occasional spots of Poison Ivy so don't go frolicking in the shrubbery no matter how appealing.

A trail segment that travels over rocks

A trail segment on an open sunny slope

I had planned to go all the way until the trail intersected with the Walker Loop but found that at 3 miles, the trail heads straight down to the valley floor.  I decided not to drop down only to turn around and race back up.   At this point in the route, there is a nice pleateau where one can sit, lounge and admire the views across the valley.

Looking back out the canyon to the eastern plains from my turn around point at 3 miles

The scare on the distant hillside is the train tracks.  I have climbed up to that point from the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail.

 The rocks that make Eldorado Canyon State Park a Mecca for rock climbers are not really visible from this trail but that is not a bad thing.  While there were tons of families at the early part of the trail, once I passed the first half mile they dropped off quickly.  The trail is steep in the beginning and most casual walkers turn around quickly.  This meant that I ran into only one other couple and some mountain bikers on the way. If you like solitude this might be a better option than the crowed Mesa Trail, which is free and therefore attracts more people.  A State Park's Pass will buy you this option year round.

Rattlesnake Gulch (Eldorado Canyon State Park)

Distance: 3.6 miles round trip
Elevation: 6,050 ft - 7,250 ft
Elevation Gain: 1,200 ft
Date Hiked: 28 November, 2008
Dogs: On leash only, State Park
Bathroom at the trailhead: No
Critters: Mountain Lion

The dramatic cliff faces are the draw to Eldorado Canyon State Park.  The Rattlesnake Gulch trail is a great way to see them.

Rattlesnake Gulch is a short hike with Zen-like properties located in Eldorado Canyon State Park near Boulder. I like hiking this trail in the spring as a mid-week prepare-for-summer hike but on this trip it was Thanksgiving weekend and we needed a close in trail with some decent elevation gain to work off the feeding frenzy.



Fowler Trail



Gray Quartzite cliff face seen from the trail. This rock started out as eroded sand 1.6 billion years ago. Time, heat, and pressure compacted it into sandstone. This formation was eventually shoved closer to the Earth's core where the increased heat and pressure transformed it into metamorphic rock. How's that for drama? 
The trail starts upwards immediately on the Fowler Trail, which is a short handicapped accessible trail with spectacular views of the rock walls and the many rock climbers that make Eldorado Canyon famous. Before these views, however, the Rattlesnake Gulch trail begins and heads sharply up to the right. It crosses a short meadow before climbing relentlessly up a series of switchbacks to the ruins of the Crags Hotel, which burned down in 1912. There is not much left but an interpretive sign, some social trails, and some nice views back down the canyon.



Ruins of the Crag's Hotel 800 ft above the trail head. Built in 1908, it was destroyed in 1912. Guests reached the hotel via an inclined railway from the canyon floor.



From the ruins overlook, you can see the trail head and cars far below. 
From this point, the trail becomes a loop up to a lookout over the Continental Divide. You can take the loop in either direction but I prefer the far right loop because it hits the overlook early on. This is my Zen space. On a hot summer day, I like to lie down on the ground at this overlook and gaze up into the deep blue sky.



The overlook trail just as it leaves the Crag's Hotel ruins. This section is smooth. Other parts are much more steep and rocky. 
For some reason I have never encountered other postulates on such excursions. This trip, however, probably due to the holiday weekend, was filled with revelers. The trail was packed with them. From the overlook, the trail continues to ascend sharply until it reaches the level of the railroad tracks that cut through the hills.



A cliff face of the Fountain Formation, which is sedimentary rock that was uplifted 300 million years ago. The redish color comes from an iron ore called hematite. This is the same stone that can be seen on Boulder Flatirons (see my snowy day at NCAR and Royal Arch posts) and at the Red Rocks Amphitheater (see my Matthew Winters post). 
If you live anywhere near the area, then you know that coal trains are ubiquitous. They traverse the cut that the trail leads to.   Earlier in the outing we did see some folks walking on the tracks, and there is a social trail that leads from the trail up to them. I have never done this though and would be curious to know what kind of views you get from tempting fate.   It looks like there is another social trail near the tunnel, which might lead up to the top of hill.



Trail leading to the rail bed



Highly eroded rail bed 
This part of Eldorado Canyon is home to a resident Mountain Lion. While we did not see it this trip we had a close encounter last spring. We had just turned a switch back and passed a mountain biker heading up. In short order, he came back round the corner screaming Mountain Lion!!!! The beastie was following us down the trail and we did not even know it. I was bummed because I have always wanted to see a Mountain Lion in the wild, through a telephoto lens of course, and here we were within 40 feet of one. I have another friend who reported being stalked by a Mountain Lion in that same area. I tell you this not to make you paranoid about this trail but to emphasize that even 10 minutes off the highway is wilderness in much of Colorado and Eldorado Canyon is no exception.



View of the canyon from the overlook trail



Sunlight glinting off the hillside on the way down
Rattlesnake Gulch is a short trail with nice vistas, so get out there and try it. Just don’t wear raw steak around your neck. If you see a Mountain Lion, “here kitty kitty” is NOT an appropriate response.