tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675220309364689970.post771474981437904197..comments2013-06-23T18:37:42.221-07:00Comments on Self-powered Life: Hiking Hall RanchAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08465157326122597523noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675220309364689970.post-56622191663471253252012-02-13T19:07:05.171-08:002012-02-13T19:07:05.171-08:00Lion Gulch is nice in the summer as it follows a s...Lion Gulch is nice in the summer as it follows a stream to the meadow about 3mi in. I believe it was the main road for the homesteaders as there is a rusty truck along the way. It's not a spectacular hike by any means but it has a great feel to it, bubbling creek into a meadow with broken down farm houses to gaze at.<br /><br />While I'm talking about easy local hikes, I'll add another. <a href="http://www.protrails.com/trails/view/75" rel="nofollow">Ceran St. Vrain Trail</a> is about 4mi round trip, but very verdant in the summer. Don't have to go the whole way either. Never tried it in winter, so I'm not sure how accessible it is, but maybe I should try it soon. Its about 20 minutes past Heil Ranch up past Jamestown.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02452384788083321218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675220309364689970.post-15496286414915456642012-02-13T15:46:27.203-08:002012-02-13T15:46:27.203-08:00I saw one other hiker walking along the maintenanc...I saw one other hiker walking along the maintenance road near the little bridge on Nelson Loop. There were a few more vehicles in the lot when I got back to the TH, but I didn't see any of those folks on the trail.<br /><br />I've taken the kids out to do the Lichen Loop trail at Heil Ranch. It's the perfect distance for them (~ 2 miles), and only foot traffic. I haven't explored any of the other trails around there. Lion Gulch sounds nice, too - I'll have to check that one out some time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08465157326122597523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675220309364689970.post-36040231808273035582012-02-13T14:43:29.325-08:002012-02-13T14:43:29.325-08:00Neat, one of my go to trails for when I don't ...Neat, one of my go to trails for when I don't feel like driving more than I hike!<br /><br />I was out there last week for a short hike. It was very picturesque with the snow cover, but the way back was much muddier than the way up. There wasn't many people on trail, which is one of the benefits of winter hiking. Did you meet many people up there or was the mountain lion and deer your only interactions?<br /><br />In the summer it gets bit hot, so I usually try to get a bit more altitude. Plus it's a popular mountain bike trail (Nighthawk is hiker/horse only though).<br /><br />Another couple of trails in the area are<br /><a href="http://www.protrails.com/trails/view/34/boulder-denver-golden-fort-collins-lyons/lion-gulch-trail-to-homestead-meadows" rel="nofollow">Lion Gulch to the Homesteads</a> and <a href="http://www.bouldercounty.org/play/recreation/pages/heilranch.aspx" rel="nofollow">Heil Ranch</a>.<br /><br />-chrisChrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02452384788083321218noreply@blogger.com