1.2 miles
Distance
357 ft
Climb
00:19:28
Avg time

Upper Wapiti Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Heil Valley Ranch
    Lyons, Colorado
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Blue (3 votes)
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Global Ranking
    #5913 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #21633 in Trail Running
    • #25961 in Hiking
  • Local Popularity
    65 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 95 in Trail Running
    • 50 in Hiking
  • Land Owner
    Boulder County Parks & Open Space

Voted one of the best after-work trails in Boulder County (well, by just one dude who wrote this), and also one of the most filling-removing trails in Boulder County by everyone with a hardtail bike, Wapiti is an action-packed, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride. No, it's not the Lower Bitterbrush over at Hall Ranch. But, yes, it's full of amazing turns, little technical bits, and some amazing Easter eggs (wee little jumpy bits on the edge of the trail). This trail is a fairly steady, but not too steep climb on the way up with a few exciting rock ledges to get up and over. From here you can connect to the Ponderosa Loop and Wild Turkey Trails. On the way down, keep your eyes up and stay in control. This trail is super popular with a variety of crowds (bikes, hikers, and even the equestrians love this trail). On a good day, the downhill is amazing. On a not-so-good day, you'll be stopping to say hello every 30 seconds or so (told ya people like this trail). The surface is a combination of dirt and well-laid out rocks. With a five-inch travel bike (or more) it's a blast. On an XC race by, prepare to have your hands take a beating

Disclaimer

Wapiti is open as an out-and-back from the Ponderosa Trail. The southern portion of the park along with the southern portion of Wapiti, Overland & Schoolhouse will remain closed through Spring 2022.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for Upper Wapiti mountain bike trail trail
  • Altitude change
    357 ft
  • Altitude min
    6,347 ft
  • Altitude max
    6,704 ft
  • Altitude start
    6,347 ft
  • Altitude end
    6,703 ft
  • Grade
    5.5%
  • Grade max
    1.2%
  • Grade min
    15.9%
  • Distance climb
    1 mile
  • Avg time
    00:19:28
  • Avg reverse time
    00:08:54
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Jan 18, 2023
Snow Covered
Avg: 3.6 (15 votes)
Your vote: 0

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  • Basemap 
  • Trail Style 
    • ?
  • Activity Type  
3D
Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Inadequate
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
  • > 96%
  • > 90%
  • > 80%
  • > 70%
  • > 50%
  • < 50%
  • bi-directional trail
  • no data
Trail Last Ridden
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  • < 2 days
  • < 1 week
  • < 2 weeks
  • < 1 month
  • < 6 months
  • > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
  • Downhill Only
  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
  • Uphill Primary
  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
Contribute Details
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  • Description
  • Photos
  • Description & Photos
  • Videos
Trail Popularity ?
Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors.
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Radar Time
x Activity Recordings
Trailforks users anonymized public ridelogs from the past 6 months.
  • mountain biking recent
  • mountain biking (>6 month)
  • hiking (1 year)
  • moto (1 year)
Activity Recordings
Trailforks users anonymized public skilogs from the past 12 months.
  • Downhill Ski
  • Backcountry Ski
  • Nordic Ski
  • Snowmobile
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Heatmap of where riders jump on trails. Zoom in to see individual jumps, click circles to view jump details.
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      Directions to upper-wapiti trailhead (40.162290, -105.300000)
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      Upper Wapiti Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Jan 18, 2023 @ 10:28am
      Jan 18, 2023
      		 From Heil Tander, 4-5” dense snow at Heil Valley Ranch. Geer Canyon"
      Jan 17, 2023 @ 4:17pm
      Jan 17, 2023
      		Trail is open. Please update conditions if you ride
      Nov 18, 2022 @ 9:58am
      Nov 18, 2022
      		 From Heil Ranger, "8-9” new snow at Heil Valley Ranch this morning. Enjoy it before it turns to mud, as warm temperatures return this weekend."
      Nov 15, 2022 @ 7:46am
      Nov 15, 2022
      		 From Heil Ranger, "2-3” fresh fluffy snow at Heil Valley Ranch this morning. Geer Canyon road is plowed, but trailheads are slick."
      Nov 4, 2022 @ 8:35am
      Nov 4, 2022
      		 From Hall Ranger, "Snow 1” in the Lyons area parks"
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 1 rides
      • 8 miles avg distance
      6 Months
      • 123 rides
      • 14 miles avg distance
      All
      • 3,367 rides
      • Last: Feb 5, 2023

      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      Photos

      more »
      80 |
      Dec 23, 2019 @ 1:36pm
      Dec 23, 2019
      86 |
      Sep 1, 2019 @ 9:10am
      Sep 1, 2019
      142 |
      Feb 14, 2017 @ 7:57pm
      Feb 14, 2017
      427 |
      Jun 4, 2013 @ 10:07pm
      Jun 4, 2013

      Routes with this trail

      more »
      titledistance
      The Van Hagar - Best of Both Worlds! featured12 miles
      Heil Ranch, frontside featured8 miles
      The Diamond Dave featured9 miles
      Ya great big turkey10 miles

      Trail Products

      4 Reviews & Comments

      • + 1
      provin1327 (Jul 7, 2020 at 10:30)
      Some trail work has been done just past the intersection with the fire road. BMA and Boulder County have been installing side hits and rock jumps along the trail.
      [Reply]
      • + 1
      getvert (Jul 7, 2020 at 11:44)
      The side hits and rock jumps were totally due to Boulder Mountainbike Alliance advocating for AND organizing the volunteer work events required to build them, and help maintain Wapiti. Sign-up here to help build more! >>> www.bouldermountainbike.org/trail-building
      [Reply]
      • + 1
      provin1327 (Jun 3, 2020 at 14:30)
      More of a blue black than a blue since it's such a rocky and technical trail.
      [Reply]
      • + 0
      samlivi (Aug 25, 2019 at 15:12)
      Great trail but it's rocky
      [Reply]





      Videos

      more »
      youtuber Fox DPX2 Review | Full Wapiti Descent at Heil...
      10:17 | 315 | Aug 22, 2017 , Lyons

      Nearby Trails

      Heil Valley Ranch

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