The town of Boulder has always been a gathering place for cyclists, and with trails like this, it's easy to see why. Walker Ranch is located just eight miles west of Boulder, and offers some very rewarding riding. With fast descents, smooth singletrack, rocky fire roads, grueling uphills, and gorgeous scenery, this trail certainly has something for everyone.

When you decide to ride this trail, you first have to make a decision. Walker Ranch is very close to Boulder, so you can either drive up to the trailhead, or just ride your bike from Boulder. Riding from Boulder is a great way to improve your fitness level, but be careful! -When we rode this trail at the beginning of June, we started in town, and it almost killed us! The complete ride took almost four hours, and had our legs screaming a lot. By the end of the summer however, any dedicated rider should be able to make it.

When you arrive at the trailhead, you will notice two trails in front of you. One goes left along the ridgeline of a hill, and the other goes right, down into the valley. Walker Ranch is a big loop, and these two trails are both part of the same loop. Most riders we've talked to say that Walker Ranch is more enjoyable as a clockwise loop, and recommend starting your ride on the left.

Once you get on the trail, the first thing you'll notice is extensive fire damage. Last summer this area was hit hard by forest fires, and the damage is seen everywhere. Many trees and bushes were burned, and this served to loosen a lot of the ground soil. As a result, in some places the trails have a lot of loose dirt and sand.

We feel you're going to have a lot of fun on this trail. The clockwise loop starts out with mildly technical singletrack, fun downhill switchbacks, and rocky downhill fire road. From here, you will cross Boulder Creek, and then be forced to walk your bike up the other side. Then comes several miles of climbing up singletrack, another fireroad descent to Boulder Creek, and the last short ascent back to the parking lot.

As a last note here... We feel we wouldn't be doing our job unless we encouraged you to "stop and smell the roses" during your rides. Although you won't see any roses on this trail, you will cross Boulder Creek twice. During one of these crossings, be sure to stop and enjoy the river for a moment. Relax, put your helmet in the water, rinse off your face, and "smell the roses". Times like this remind us how cool our sport is! We hope you enjoy this ride as much as we did.