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The main trail at Heil climbing up from the trailhead to the Ponderosa loop and beyond.


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Map Key

2.7

Miles

4.3

KM

Point to Point

6,712' 2,046 m

High

5,898' 1,798 m

Low

813' 248 m

Up

0' 0 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (3°)

15%

Max Grade (9°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features River/Creek · Wildlife

Description

This trail climbs, mostly gradually, right from the trailhead. You'll start out on a rough dirt road, but don't worry - the singletrack starts just up ahead.

Once you hit the singletrack, it's a steady climb for about 2.5 miles, all the way up to the junction with the Ponderosa Loop. The trail mostly runs through a heavily forested area, so there's plenty of shade.

The area is extremely rocky - the ground is covered with many softball to basketball-sized rocks. But the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance and others have done much work to clean up the trail, make it a little easier, and keep it sustainable.

Hike this trail about 2.5 miles to the junction of the Ponderosa Loop. You can connect this to multiple loops at the top of Heil, or to the Picture Rock trail, which leads down to Lyons and Hall Ranch.

History & Background
The 5,200-acre open space making up Heil Ranch trails and the newer Picture Rock trail are part of a large land purchase made by Boulder County Parks and Open Space in 1993 and 1994. The area housed large quarry operations from the 1890's to the 1960's.

Contacts

Shared By:

Tom Robson with improvements by Liz

Trail Ratings

  4.2 from 9 votes

#8427

Overall
  4.2 from 9 votes
5 Star
22%
4 Star
78%
3 Star
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2 Star
0%
1 Star
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Trail Rankings

#651

in Colorado

#8,427

Overall
5 Views Last Month
2,082 Since Jun 1, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate

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Photos

The first section of Heil singletrack has great scenery before you dive into the forest.
Oct 20, 2015 near Lyons, CO
Suitable for families.
Jun 3, 2016 near Lyons, CO
Lots of wildflowers to identify on this trail.
Jun 3, 2016 near Lyons, CO
Split rocks fallen like dominoes.
Jun 3, 2016 near Lyons, CO

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
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Check-Ins

Oct 4, 2020
David L
17h 01m
Nov 10, 2019
Angel Anichin
Jun 30, 2019
lindsey n.
5.4mi
Apr 21, 2019
Peter Jacobson
Jan 8, 2019
JP Jones
7mi — 3h 15m
Jul 22, 2018
JP Jones
Very popular trail, many mountain bikes and runners on the weekend, even at 6:30am - still a very special and beautiful trail. 8.2mi — 3h 50m
Oct 6, 2017
Bomber Smith
3.9mi
Nov 20, 2016
Neal Horrom
First time on the trail. It was fantastic. We saw several deer (bucks and does) right along the trial. 6.6mi — 3h 01m
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