12.1 miles
Distance
1,670 ft
Climb
-1,674 ft
Descent
1 mile
High Point

By far the best way to ride Hall Ranch. This ride is best started by parking in the town of Lyons either at Redstone Cyclery or Oskar Blues. Ride northwest out of town and turn left onto Apple Valley road. After a 15 minute road ride you'll end up at the start of the Antelope trail. Take Antelope up and keep right at the fork to continue onto Upper Bitterbrush. Continue to climb Upper Bitterbrush until you reach Nelson loop. Riding Nelson clockwise provides the best descent. After finishing the loop head back the way you came and be sure to turn right to hit Lower Bitterbrush. Gear up for a gnarly, technical, but surprisingly flowy descent through Lower Bitterbrush. After popping out at the Lower Bitterbrush trailhead head left down highway 7 and back into town.

Detailed Description
Hall Ranch Technical Descent is a 12 mile popular expert route located near Lyons Colorado. This mountain bike only route can be used one direction and has a moderate overall physical rating. This route includes 5 trails. This route climbs 1,670 ft with a max elevation of 6,696 ft then descends -1,674 ft.
Local Trail Association
Local trail association
Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (bouldermountainbike.org)
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5 Reviews & Comments

  • + 1
Wloganb (Apr 7, 2019 at 7:13)
 Awesome ride. I actually ride up Bitterbrush and down Antelope, then back to Lyons. Better on 58 yo bones. Be sure to ride the loop at the top clockwise.
[Reply]
  • + 1
BreakerBreaker19 (Jun 6, 2019 at 5:51)
 2 way traffic is strangling this trail. Great features, flow, and length. Needs better trail / user management in order to be a great trail.

Lower Bitterbrush needs to be downhill only. Upper Bitterbush cannot be enjoyed during times when there is more than light trail traffic. Nelson Loop is good because 99% of people ride it the correct direction.
[Reply]
  • + 1
provin1327 (Jul 10, 2019 at 12:52)
 Welcome to riding on the Front Range. Directional an/or bike only trails are a pipe dream. I agree with your points (aside from Lower Bitterbrush as that's a fun trail to climb and test your technical skills and physique) that trail use often kills the flow on this trail and makes blind flat corners even more dangerous but for some reason land managers just don't seem to think directional trails are a good thing even with the tons of new trail users the Front Range and all of Colorado are seeing.
[Reply]
  • + 0
hi-dr-nick Reporter (Oct 14, 2020 at 8:28)
 Rad trails but this area could benefit from an expanded trail network, it is far too busy (even a Tuesday in October) to really enjoy these trails as they’re designed.
[Reply]
  • + 0
dcman90 (Jan 17, 2021 at 6:26)
 Bitterbrush 100% dry and fun. Lollipop loop a little wet at times but 95% dry and clean. Have fun!
[Reply]





Trails in Route

Details

  • Featured
  • Riding area
    Hall Ranch
  • Primary Activity
    Mountain Bike
  • Difficulty rating
    Black Diamond
  • Route Type
    Loop
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Bike type
    AM
  • Direction
    One Direction
  • Physical rating
    Moderate
  • Ridelogs
    54
More Stats for Hall Ranch Technical Descent mountain bike route
  • Altitude min
    5,344 ft
  • Altitude start
    5,365 ft
  • Altitude end
    5,364 ft
  • Grade
    -0%
  • Grade max
    -39.8%
  • Grade min
    31.6%
  • Distance climb
    5 miles
  • Distance down
    6 miles
  • Distance flat
    1 mile
Avg: 3.75 (4 votes)

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  • Basemap 
  • Trail Style 
    • ?
  • Activity Type  
Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Inadequate
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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Photos

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Videos

more videos »
youtuber CO MTB | West Magnolia | Rocks and Roots Descent
CO MTB | West Magnolia | Rocks and Roots Descent
trail: Antelope
5:13 | 400 | comments: 0 | favs:
May 28, 2018
youtuber Not a review of the 2018 Transition Scout
Not a review of the 2018 Transition Scout
trail: Antelope
7:05 | 416 | comments: 0 | favs:
Jun 4, 2018

Recent Trail Reports Along Route

statustraildateconditiondescription
Lower Bitterbrush
Jun 21, 2022 @ 9:19am
Jun 21, 2022
Nelson Loop
Jun 21, 2022 @ 9:19am
Jun 21, 2022
Upper Bitterbrush
Jun 21, 2022 @ 9:19am
Jun 21, 2022
Antelope
Jun 7, 2022 @ 4:49pm
Jun 7, 2022
more reports »
  • By provin1327 & contributors
  • #7156 - 2,138 views
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