Hall Ranch

Route Description for Hall Ranch

Riding at Hall Ranch is awesome, but be prepared for a little bit of everything from fast and fun flowy downhills, steep and strenuous hill climbs, and challenging technical rock gardens. Hall Ranch is comprised of 3 main trails, Bitterbrush Trail, Antelope Trail and Nelson Loop Trail. There is no specified riding direction, so what was a steep hill climb, in the reverse direction is a fun downhill!

Here is our favourite option for linking the trails. Start heading west at Antelope Trail and climb uphill along moderate switchbacks. The trail will start to level out at the intersection with Bitterbrush Trail.

Merge with Bitterbrush Trail, and continue the climb up the hill. After a few punchy uphill climbs and a few rocks, you will come to an intersection with Nelson Loop Trail.

This loop can be ridden in either direction, but clockwise seems to flow really well, especially on the downhill sections. Taking the loop clockwise, the first half continues to climb until you reach the halfway point at the top with spectacular views of Longs Peak (4,346 m) and Mt. Meeker (4,240 m) overlooking Rocky Mountain National Park in the distance. After taking in the views and catching your breath, it is time for the well-deserved flowy downhill section. Cruise all the way back down the trail to the original intersection with Antelope Trail.

Now this is where it is time to assess your skill level and choose your way to go down. You can continue the fun flowy downhill by heading down Antelope Trail and back to your car. Or you can decide to go ‘big’ and follow Bitterbrush Trail into the technical rock gardens!

The rocks at Hall Ranch are the test pieces for many locals. Making it down this technical section cleanly, require skills and choosing the proper lines. Be prepared to stop and maybe walk your bike when it gets too spicy! Bitterbrush Trail takes you all the way down to the Hall Ranch Trailhead parking lot. You can plan ahead and have parked another car here, or you can ride back along S St. Vrain Dr. Which turns in 5th Ave as you enter Lyons. From here, merge onto W Main St or 36 and follow the original directions to the Antelope Trailhead.

Insider Hints for Hall Ranch

• If you really want to challenge yourself, try riding the Bitterbrush Trail uphill through the rock gardens - make it clean through and you automatically gain “Local Status”!
• Grab a beer and a bite to eat from Oscar Blues Brewery.
• Park at the Hall Ranch Trailhead and ride into town and to the Antelope Trailhead, this will help avoid the limited parking at the Antelope Trailhead and will allow you to ride all sections of Hall Ranch, finishing with a downhill through the technical rock gardens along Bitterbrush Trail.