These four different East Boulder Trails were non-technical double track trails (and a little section of easy singletrack) with breathtaking view of the snow covered foothills.
Not very crowded and even better, those using the trails were courteous and friendly.
Easy to access from commonly biked Gunbarrel/Boulder roads.
MUD!!!! Gravel biking in the winter months is a dirty business. The East Boulder Trail is more dirt than gravel and was sloppy with thick, wet mud after a light snow a few days earlier. Two downhill sections in the first three miles were nearly impassable even when walking (think slip-n-slide, which is what Rose did!). We persisted and then found an alternate route rather than following the original out-and-back plan. Bikes and Laura and Rose all got really really dirty.
Do this ride if the Boulder Area has had dry weather for days! These trails could also get very warm because they are quite open and exposed. Our ideal version of this ride would be on a cool summer morning.
Our Strava map has a detour onto paved roads that we took to avoid repeating the mudslide on the East Boulder Trail, the downloadable GPX file is the original route and also includes a little out and back section alongside 83 that we cut out due to time restraints.
There is a bridge that is “out” at about mile 3 (going over the Boulder Creek), but we watched several runners and bikers climb over the barriers and continue on, so we did too.
Laura & Rose
Laura Karpinski and Rose Barcklow are the creators of Gravel Bike Adventures. Click on the About page to learn more about them.
