Name: Bitterbrush - Lower Section
Rating: 4.5

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Description

This is the first section of trail leading up from the main Hall Ranch parking lot. It's a steady climb all the way up to the junction with the Antelope trail.

This trail includes a 1/2 mile Rock Garden that can challenge all but the most advanced mountain bikers. It's a consistent climb with big moves up and over rock faces and features. It's rideable by advanced riders even without trials skills, but you'll work for it!

Less experienced riders can choose to park at the other smaller trailhead and ride the intermediate (but still fun singletrack) Antelope trail up to the same spot.

Contacts

Local Club: Boulder Mountainbike Alliance

Nov 17, 2025: Trail Update: South St Vrain

Nov 14, 2025: Another Step Closer to new Betasso Connector

Oct 24, 2025: Boulder County Moves One Step Closer to a Safer Boulder-to-Betasso Connection

Land Manager: Boulder County, CO - Parks and Open Space

Shared By:

Michael Ahnemann with improvements by Markus Groner

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.5 from 101 votes

#1

in Hall Ranch

#42

Overall

4.5 from 101 votes

5 Star		62%
4 Star		27%
3 Star		7%
2 Star		4%
1 Star		0%

Trail Rankings

#1

in Hall Ranch

#17

in Colorado

#42

Overall

56 Views Last Month

10,706 Since Nov 20, 2012

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Photos

Check out my Trail Boss video from Bitterbrush at Hall Ranch.

Mar 2, 2017 near Lyons, CO

The last drop before the finish on Bitterbush

Oct 22, 2017 near Lyons, CO

Oct 22, 2017 near Lyons, CO

Aug 21, 2018 near Lyons, CO

Climbing the rock garden section of Bitterbrush can be a humbling experience.

Oct 31, 2016 near Lyons, CO

staying high over some of the larger rock features help clean the trail on the climb

Aug 8, 2018 near Lyons, CO

3 Comments

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 35 days ago

Update Conditions See History

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Check-Ins

Oct 20, 2025

James Swift

Walked 5 or 6 sections

Mar 29, 2025

Ian Zafiratos

Apr 16, 2023

Fehim Hasecic

Oct 31, 2022

Jim Ryan

Apr 1, 2022

Larry Clinton

Dec 12, 2021

Matthew Kittredge

Sep 30, 2021

Anthony Alvarado

2.5mi

Sep 16, 2021

Sergie Ramiro

Aug 29, 2021

A S

Walked most of it 2.5mi

Jun 8, 2021

Steven Chepke

Did this with Aaron hungover climb was above my skill level, (hike a bike), was able to clear about 80% of downhill rock garden 2.5mi — 1h 00m

Mar 9, 2021

eddie akin

only sessioning some of the rock gardens. 2mi

Jan 16, 2021

Dave Manago

Bitterbrush 100% dry and fun. Lollipop loop a little wet at times but 95% dry and clean. Have fun!

Nov 22, 2020

Finn Merell

climb very hard descent very fun 2.5mi

Jun 4, 2020

Connor Timms

Jan 24, 2020

Austin Adams

Holy crap, that was tough.

Nov 17, 2019

Krys Contreras

2.5mi

Jul 14, 2019

Charles S

Just the best, new trail maintenance too

Jul 6, 2019

Charles S

Awesome

Jun 13, 2019

Lucy Fagan

Nov 10, 2018

Tcaprare Caprarella

Oct 3, 2018

Patrick Burns

The down never gets up to speed on account of some 'well' placed hiker corners. Old school like Adidas with no laces.

Sep 25, 2018

Naataanii Todea

1.2mi

Sep 1, 2018

Kristopher Kaufmann

2.5mi

Aug 30, 2018

Travis Sturzl

Jul 17, 2018

Thomas Pyke

Jul 14, 2018

Thomas Pyke

Jul 9, 2018

Mike Bowen

This is rediculous. Seeing how big these rock gardens are is one thing. Seeing how well some other riders get up/down them is another. This is way… 2.5mi

Jul 1, 2018

Matt Dumler

May 5, 2018

Tony Fagan

Apr 10, 2018

Carter Cooper

no issues. very limited water

Mar 11, 2018

dave van tol

Jan 28, 2018

Aaron Esmael

Nov 16, 2017

Ben Lewis

Nov 14, 2017

Ben Lewis

Nov 13, 2017

Ben Lewis

Nov 1, 2017

Bryce Maddy

3mi

Sep 2, 2017

Tim Young

Very technical to the point of not being fun. Going up this trail SUCKS!

Aug 6, 2017

Lindsey Danforth

Jul 8, 2017

Max Ryan

Jun 17, 2017

Timmy Kessel

Jun 17, 2017

James G

Tough climb, especially for a newer rider....but the descent is worth the work! 2.5mi

May 14, 2017

NATHALIE BROCHU

May 4, 2017

Clare Liu

Nov 28, 2016

Joseph Rodriguez

Sep 24, 2016

Casey O'Neill

Some of the most fun I've ever had on a downhill. Love the grippy rock and the ability to be creative with your lines.

Aug 29, 2016

Ryan Gross

Jul 30, 2016

Paul Billings

Jul 8, 2016

Jared Crockett

I'll admit I had shied away from this trail due to its reputation-I was missing out! Fun trail, super hard, but never felt like I was in mortal peril

Jun 28, 2016

Danny Savitzky

Fantastic fun going down! 2.5mi

May 4, 2016

Alexander Sollie

Apr 15, 2016

Frank Spirz

Sep 9, 2015

Michael Turner

Good ride with Bill K. Up is still extremely hard but down is a blast. Rode the Borealis fat bike cause Tallboy is in the shop for maintenance

Nearby Recommended Routes

Dropping down the back side of Hall Ranch, just after the Antelope connector.

Hall Ranch Full Loop

12.0 mi 19.3 km • 1,560' Up 475.46 m Up • 1,560' Down 475.45 m Down

Lyons, CO

Heil to Picture to Hall and Back

34.1 mi 54.9 km • 3,648' Up 1111.87 m Up • 3,648' Down 1111.94 m Down

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Ride like a Moto

10.1 mi 16.3 km • 2,101' Up 640.44 m Up • 2,101' Down 640.24 m Down

Niwot, CO

North Boulder Loop

8.3 mi 13.4 km • 372' Up 113.47 m Up • 371' Down 113.22 m Down

Boulder, CO

Skillz Loop - a great place for grom shredding!

Valmont Bike Park - Singletrack Hotlap

2.0 mi 3.2 km • 78' Up 23.73 m Up • 79' Down 24 m Down

Boulder, CO

Beautiful views to the west along the Niwot trail section along 83rd St. This trail links the Niwot loop to the new section of LoBo trail towards Longmont.

Gunbarrel to Niwot: Cottontail Trail - Niwot Loop - LoBo Trail

15.9 mi 25.5 km • 496' Up 151.09 m Up • 567' Down 172.87 m Down

Gunbarrel, CO

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Bitterbrush - Lower Section

“The most popular Hall Ranch trail - home of the well-known "Rock Garden" section. ”

2.5

4.0

6,126' 1,867 m

5,462' 1,665 m

64' 20 m

673' 205 m

6%

18%

Toolbox

Know This Trail?

Dogs No Dogs

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Description

Contacts

Shared By:

Trail Ratings

#1

#42

#1

#17

#42

Photos

3 Comments

Comment Type:

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Check-Ins

Nearby Recommended Routes

Hall Ranch Full Loop

Heil to Picture to Hall and Back

Ride like a Moto

North Boulder Loop

Valmont Bike Park - Singletrack Hotlap

Gunbarrel to Niwot: Cottontail Trail - Niwot Loop - LoBo Trail

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