The last several Sundays our little Sunday running group has been running some epic trails. First we ran the Hall Ranch loop out near Lyons. We started on the Nighthawk trail and then ran down the Nelson Loop and Bitterbrush trails, clockwise. Its a long hill up but once you are on the top you feel like you are Julia Roberts in the Sound of Music (I know that sounds queer, but you do). Long grassy mountain fields with wild flowers and views of Long's Peak. On the way down we were on the same path as bikers so it got a little hairy especially when it gets rocky the last 1.5 miles near the parking lot. WATCH YOUR FEET.
The next run we did was a figure 8 loop from the Dowdy Draw trail Head. If you look at the map on the link (north is down) you can make the figure 8 like this: South on Dowdy Draw, turn right onto Spring Brook (south) then take the Goshawk Ridge trail clockwise, back to Spring Brook (north) and back down the dowdy draw. Bring a map, it is confusing. It was roughly 1400 elevation gain with more mountain meadows and some spectacular views up the front range and the flat irons. At one point you are coming down a trail that used to be a continuation of the Mesa Trail that is a service road that seems like it drops down into the town of Eldorado Springs. Perhaps it does, but you turn back onto the trails and head back down towards the parking lot. Don't run this after a rain storm, the trail looks like it gets washed out with rain on one steep 1/2 mile section near the peak.
Last Sunday we ran Walker Ranch. This is another Epic run. Perhaps my favorite of the three runs described. You have to drive over flagstaff and the trail head is down past a reservoir on the left. The trail seems great for summer running as there are a lot of shady spots and you run along The South Boulder Creek for portion of the run. There is a section of stairs that you have to stop running and walk-run down. This time we ran counter clockwise. There are many bikers on this trail, although it makes a better trail for running than biking. This is also another hilly run. I think my garmen said 1500 elevation gain and 8.75 miles.
The next run we did was a figure 8 loop from the Dowdy Draw trail Head. If you look at the map on the link (north is down) you can make the figure 8 like this: South on Dowdy Draw, turn right onto Spring Brook (south) then take the Goshawk Ridge trail clockwise, back to Spring Brook (north) and back down the dowdy draw. Bring a map, it is confusing. It was roughly 1400 elevation gain with more mountain meadows and some spectacular views up the front range and the flat irons. At one point you are coming down a trail that used to be a continuation of the Mesa Trail that is a service road that seems like it drops down into the town of Eldorado Springs. Perhaps it does, but you turn back onto the trails and head back down towards the parking lot. Don't run this after a rain storm, the trail looks like it gets washed out with rain on one steep 1/2 mile section near the peak.
Last Sunday we ran Walker Ranch. This is another Epic run. Perhaps my favorite of the three runs described. You have to drive over flagstaff and the trail head is down past a reservoir on the left. The trail seems great for summer running as there are a lot of shady spots and you run along The South Boulder Creek for portion of the run. There is a section of stairs that you have to stop running and walk-run down. This time we ran counter clockwise. There are many bikers on this trail, although it makes a better trail for running than biking. This is also another hilly run. I think my garmen said 1500 elevation gain and 8.75 miles.
