9.8 miles
Distance
1,594 ft
Climb
-1,593 ft
Descent
1 mile
High Point
0 ft
Altitude change
5,457 ft
Altitude min
5,457 ft
Altitude start
5,456 ft
Altitude end
-24.2%
Grade max
37.4%
Grade min
5 miles
Distance climb
5 miles
Distance down
2,743 ft
Distance flat

Tackling Hall Ranch up Lower Bitterbrush aka "The Rock Garden" bumps this intermediate/advanced area into solid double black. Lower Bitterbrush is only 2 miles long but it feel farther with the elevation gain, advanced technical rock features, and climbing steepness.

Start at the Bitterbrush parking lot and head up the trail. It starts out nice enough with a winding dirt track but soon the rocks come. They start out small, but get bigger and gnarlier as the trail goes on. Much of the challenge is finding the power to move through several big features back to back. The most technical section is only about a mile long, then it mellows out to the intersection with Antelope. Take a left on Upper Bitterbrush and climb to the Nelson loop. The preferred direction on Nelson is clockwise for a steeper/quicker climb and a longer, flowier descent. Come back down Upper Bitterbrush, then make a right to hit Lower Bitterbrush. Now you have a chunky, technical downhill trail you worked darn hard for so make it count

Detailed Description
Hall Ranch Technical Side is a 10 mile popular extreme route located near Lyons Colorado. This mountain bike primary route and has a extreme overall physical rating. This route includes 6 trails. This route climbs 1,594 ft with a max elevation of 6,695 ft then descends -1,593 ft.
Tags
Rock gardensRocky

Local Trail Association

Local trail association
Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (bouldermountainbike.org)
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Stats

  • Distance
    10 miles
  • Avg time
    1 hr 20 min
  • Altitude min
    5,457 ft
  • Altitude start
    5,457 ft
  • Altitude end
    5,456 ft
  • Climb
    1,594 ft
  • Descent
    -1,593 ft
  • Grade max
    -24.2%
  • Grade min
    37.4%
  • Distance climb
    5 miles
  • Distance down
    5 miles
  • Distance flat
    2,743 ft

13 Reviews & Comments


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Details

  • Featured
  • Riding area
  • Primary Activity
    Mountain Bike
  • Other Activities
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Difficulty rating
    Double Black Diamond
  • Route Type
    Out & Back
  • eBike Allowed
  • Bike type
    AM, XC
  • Physical rating
    Extreme
  • Activity Logs
Avg: 5 (2 votes)
close
Trail transparency
  • Singletrack
Rolls at hall
mtb
Rolls at hall
0:05 | 60 | comments: 0 | favs:
Jan 10, 2026
Optional roll on bitterbrush
Lower Bitterbrush - Highlights
mtb
Lower Bitterbrush - Highlights
4:54 | 239 | comments: 0 | favs:
May 14, 2025

Recent Trail Reports Along Route

statustraildateconditiondescription
Upper Bitterbrush
Oct 16, 2026 @ 4:18pm (America/Denver)
Oct 16, 2026
Trail is open. Please update conditions if you ride
Lower Bitterbrush
Oct 16, 2026 @ 4:18pm (America/Denver)
Oct 16, 2026
Trail is open. Please update conditions if you ride
Nelson Loop
Oct 16, 2026 @ 4:18pm (America/Denver)
Oct 16, 2026
Trail is open. Please update conditions if you ride
Bitterbrush Connector
Oct 16, 2026 @ 4:18pm (America/Denver)
Oct 16, 2026
Trail is open. Please update conditions if you ride
more reports »
  • By WendyBMATF Pro BMA & contributors
  • #23306 - 4,840 views

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