Offline map is recommended. The Button Rock Dam and Sleepy Lion trails form a 4.7 mile route through the Button Rock Preserve, a public sanctuary established to protect the natural watershed feeding Ralph Price Reservoir, the primary water source of Longmont, CO. Enjoy over 110 miles of trail and experience the beauty of over 20 different open space properties. There is an old log cabin ruin near the creek. The main feature of The Read Mountain Preserve is a 2-mile trail to the summit known as Buzzards Rock. 139.45 m Up We did meet several dirt bikers in the morning at the trailhead. The only issue was the fact that I was looking down at my phone half the time because the trail is so poorly marked… download the map if you wanna know at all where you’re going! Choosing an electric mountain bike involves many of the same considerations as choosing a regular mountain bike, so please read this article first. RED - Closed Trail Click the closure(s) on the map below for additional information and specific contact information. 3,387' Up • 166' Down Many trails radiate off in all directions, so lots of future hike options! The start of this trail can be accessed from the Nighthawk Trail. Was very glad we have the offline mode, it was super helpful. Some views but mostly wooded trail. (You can go left and into Button Rock Preserve if you're not biking.) Button Rock Mountain is a moderate 2-point SOTA peak hidden in the Roosevelt National Forest. 51.82 m Up This road is the same access road that intersects Nighthawk near the beginning, Bitterbrush twice, and Nelson twice. Post by andrewrose » Sat Jan 30, 2021 12:42 pm. I would highly recommend having a downloaded AllTrails map! 23.34 m Up 1h 00m, Includes Longmont Dam Road from trailhead parking + Sleeping Lion (partial) Very empty- first part is dirt road so some off-road vehicles and dirt bikes then saw 3 sets of mountain bikers on our 11 mile hike, no other hikers besides some who were leaving when we arrived (10am). The segment to the right (south), though shorter, is very steep with very poor traction. Definitely download the map in advance. 2mi May 13, 2018 Jennifer Foster-Adams. Many regard this trail as offering the park's best views of Penobscot Bay. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites. 683.05 m Up When you get to a trail intersection turn left onto the Button Rock Trail. Apr 16, 2018 Alyssa Overton. Not a ton of parking (maybe 10 cars?) Button Rock Preserve and Ralph Price Reservoir are now open to public access. The views are amazing from the top, not too difficult, lots of shade. There are other trails in this area and it may be posible to turn this into a loop. A male mountain biker in his 60s was rescued Monday after getting separated from his riding partner near Button Rock Trail in Hall Ranch open space west of … Keep an eye out because the views should not be missed. We also saw only 2 other hikers...in the parking lot when we left. 3.1 km Best views are on the switch back except for the peak. 1032.23 m Up Trail conditions are decent, with many attributes you would expect on mountain bike trails. • The map was a big help because it’s easy to get off the trail. It was difficult to find the turn offs to some trails as well. 8h 00m, 5mi Follow the road around the plateau, or short-cut northeast across it on a path, and continue northeast and down to a saddle at 7600 feet. This road comes from Button Rock Reservoir and can be accessed by the public only for non-motorized travel. Trail is open again after being closed for the forest fires. 1,447' Up I’d definitely skip the offshoot to the button rock mountain if I did it again. The trail to the lookout is difficult to find without GPS. The trail crosses back and forth across the dry streambed. Trail, Boulder County, CO - Parks and Open Space. From a large cairn on Johnny Park Road, head up hill briefly before an almost continuous downhill run almost all the way to the North Saint Vrain Creek far below. Good amount of shade throughout the trail. At Higgins Park, it joins the Button Rock four-wheel drive road which comes in from the east. Starting in an open meadow, the trail starts as a wide doubletrack. • — The Roanoke Times, File 2012 Downtown Roanoke is visible from the Read Mountain Preserve. Very few people. • Cross the road and continue up to the junction with the Scheurman Mountain Trail. Dogs are also able to use this trail. I'd like to go back in late May when there will be snow on the mountain peaks, perhaps some wildflowers along the trail, and the temperatures will not be as hot. 50.74 m Down, 2.3 mi This is a sweet descent down to the North Saint Vrain River, then the trail follows the river upstream a couple of miles. Don’t do this trail unless you have the AllTrails app and GPS. Longmont Res. On July 22, 2020 at approximately 6:35 p.m. the Boulder County Communications Center received a transferred 911 cal about a pair of mountain bikers that were lost on the Button Rock Trail. 5.1mi Apr 16, 2018 Madison Bambauer. The trail crosses back and forth across the dry streambed. Cathedral Rock : Cathedral Rock is one of the most photogenic places in Sedona. Keep the map handy as there’s lots of intersecting trails in this area and they aren’t really marked. • Also pack lots of water as there are zero water sources on the trail. It is advisable to be well informed before making a purchase. I would say the trail is 2/3rds snow covered with patches of ice here and there. • --------------. There were also a couple of spots on the rocky parts of the trail where we had to turn around. Otherwise this hike is great, beautiful and serene. Button Rock Mountain (shortest route) Peaks: Button Rock Mountain 8450 Dates: 01/29/2021. I saw lots of animal tracks in the snow, but saw no wildlife other than some birds. However, it is fun for mountain biking (down). Sort of choose your own adventure. Bald Rock Trail (0.5 mile, easy to moderate): Bald Rock Trail is accessed at a junction on the Multi-use Trail 1.3 miles south of the parking lot on ME Route 173. The trail winds in a somewhat unpredictable way and doesn’t follow a traditional switch back type of pattern, so it’s easy to get off track but definitely not awful or overly difficult. The Button Rock Preserve trailhead serves as a central access point for hikers, climbers, fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts alike. No trailhead provides access: you must either hike Button Rock Preserve's Sleepy Lion Loop Trail (from the west), or Hall Ranch's Nighthawk Trail or Bitterbrush-Nelson Loop Trails (from the east) to reach it. You can walk across, but be careful because it’s a 150+ foot drop below!! We saw much evidence (tracks) throughout the entirety of the trail of mountain bikers, but did not encounter any. Lots of rocks and gorgeous scenery. There are a few different routes up one can take- there are several places to start from Route 7 besides Hall Ranch which would make a shorter day for sure. • We would have lost our way several times without it because there are so many trails splitting off and because this trail is a bit hard to follow in places. This area has a network of trails, all of which allow mountain bikes and hikers. Moderately easy trail with some really nice views. Truly spectacular views at the photo point marked on the AllTrails map. Beautiful views & weather. 440.85 m Down, 20.0 mi The Preserve does not see as many visitors as nearby parks such as Heil Valley Ranch or Hall Ranch. Take note, I didn’t see any water while hiking this trail so make sure you bring plenty. 4.5 This trail has a spectacular view out on the point after the third loop, one of the best views we have seen on any trail around. In the '80s, climbers started calling the rocks (including the River Wall) by Longmont Reservoir "Button Rock." A male mountain biker in his 60s was rescued Monday after getting separated from his riding partner near Button Rock Trail in Hall Ranch open space west of Lyons. 1,446' Down This was my first SOTA activation, and it went well, so it is special to me. lies a couple miles east of Ralph Price Res., which was originally named Button Rock Res., because it lies three miles south of and is in sight of Button Rock Mtn and the real Button Rock. There are so many trails in this area. Saw the sunset, it was perfect. Button Rock Mountain Loop is a 14.2 kilometer lightly trafficked loop trail located near Lyons, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Took advantage of the sun on Sunday. Saw about 10 people all together. The views were super beautiful and rewarding! July 2015 UPDATE. The first trail split I went left on the way up and did the switch backs on the way down. Button Rock Preserve, is a fantastic open space park just west of Lyons. I did the whole loop. Users have reported that the trails are not marked well. Lots of trail options- we got mixed up twice and ended up doing a little extra distance and didn’t get to do part where we couldn’t find the junction. The views from various places on top of Button Rock Mountain are very nice, in all directions. It looks like a deer path. We went on a Thursday morning (8:00) and had no problem finding parking. The start of this trail can be accessed from the, 2.5mi I echo the advice of others- make sure to download the map and bring it with you- you will need it! Did an quick overnight backpacking trip. I'd strongly recommend against going counter-clockwise on the second loop. Great views of Longs Peak. 170' Up Even with GPS it is easy to take a trail you weren't intending to. Make sure you download for offline viewing because there is almost no service the entire route and it would be very easy to get lost without the gps. Nice hike overall. 440.94 m Up I also think the direction recommended by AllTrails for each loop (counter-clockwise, then clockwise, then clockwise) is the easiest, although we went clockwise on the first loop, which was okay (not too steep). 4.6 km The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, and backpacking and is best used from April until October. 1034.73 m Down. The main feature of The Read Mountain Preserve is a 2-mile trail to the summit known as Buzzards Rock. Agree that the views are only good along the way. The trail is hard to follow in some places due to the snow cover, but I was able to work it out pretty easy. Saw TONS of elk prints!! We didn’t encounter many people, a few groups of mountain bikers but otherwise it was great to feel fairly secluded. Button Rock (East) is a 842 m green singletrack trail located near Lyons Colorado. Places and things seen on hike: Ralph Price Reservoir, Button Rock Dam, Sleepy Lion Trail, Coffintop Mountain, Button Rock Reservoir Elevation range (in thousands of feet, estimated from a digital topographic database): Index of places and things seen on each and every Colorado hike Viewer scripts courtesy of Web 1 Marketing, Inc. There’s no discernible trail and the views are much better at the other overlook spot anyways. It was learned two 60-plus males were mountain biking in the area when they got separated for several hours. https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/arp/alerts-notices. Trails; Bitterbrush Trail 3.7 miles – Difficult Horses permitted but not recommended: Nighthawk Trail 4.7 miles – Moderate/Difficult: Nelson Loop 2.2 miles – Moderate/Difficult Trail Direction: Clockwise : Antelope Trail 1.0 miles – Moderate: Button Rock Trail 2.0 miles – Moderate Trail is moderate to easy, the grade is not hard at all, it is just hiking nearly 9 miles. This is a seriously beautiful area with access to the Coulson Gulch Trail, a great hiking and mountain biking trail. Note: As of January 2021, this park has some closures in effect due to wildfire. Just over 0.5 miles into the trail, you'll enter a more wooded section. It is also climbable from Button Rock Reservoir. This hike primary trail can be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating. Beautiful hike! At Higgins Park, it joins the Button Rock four-wheel drive road which comes in from the east. Trail conditions are decent, with many attributes you would expect on mountain bike trails. Several mountains can be climbed from the trailhead, such as Button Rock, Button Rock Mountain, Coffintop Mountain and Smithy Mountain. Parking lots are full as early as 8 a.m. on weekends. Outstanding views from the top. Taking other people's content (text, photos, etc) without permission is a copyright violation and Very gradual climb to the top and the views there are well worth it. The trail starts at the gate on Longmont Dam road and for the 1st .5 mile you follow the dirt road along the creek and towering cliff walls. 4 stars only because the end isn't spectacular. Button Rock Mountain (shortest route) Peaks: Button Rock Mountain 8450 Dates: 01/29/2021. 2,241' Down The views from various places on top of Button Rock Mountain are very nice, in all directions. In the '80s, climbers started calling the rocks (including the River Wall) by Longmont Reservoir "Button Rock." Great day with the whole trail to myself. The lollipop loop, 3 miles of … Some parts of this trail seemed like they were actually off trail for how obscure the trail was, but it was overall a great hike with very few others around. I continued along the jeep road (118-1 to 118-2A), losing elevation before reentering the Button Rock property. There were not many wildflowers still in bloom along the trail, unfortunately. Hardly anyone on the trail, didn’t see another soul the second day. This is really more of a system of trails. If you go to the Button Rock Mnt on the map, you’ll go off trail and scramble up a rock. Several mountains can be climbed from the trailhead, such as Button Rock, Button Rock Mountain, Coffintop Mountain and Smithy Mountain. At that point their really isn’t a trail and you just have to follow the map out to the peak. Don't follow that one. NOT OKAY! We read and will pass on- download map or at least log your hike so you can follow your path back. If you are pressed for time, I'd recommend skipping the bushwhacked jaunt off the trail to the peak (on the third loop). Button Rock Mt. An Adventure Projects staff member will review this and take an appropriate action, but we generally don't reply. About half dry and half snow the whole trail. 15.7 km First come -> first camped. Beautiful views! Overall I thought the views were pretty underwhelming and not worth the almost 9 mile hike. You can continue along the Nighthawk Trail to join Nelson Loop, or take a left to head west to Button Rock Preserve and Ralph Price Reservoir. You must use the map to get to the rock. Definitely download the map or study the turns ahead of time so you don’t end up on the wrong leg of the trail. It is also the only reasonable way to get back to the road if you have descended the North Sheep Mountain Trail to the Button Rock Trail along the North Saint Vrain Creek. Trail was decently easy to follow a majority of the hike, but once you get up to the little out and back that goes to the Peak of Button Rock Mountain, it becomes much more difficult. 4 stars just as a warning to others that the trail is not well marked. It is easy to follow. I took a slight right to get on the Button Rock trail. For updates and a detailed map, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/arp/alerts-notices. This trail was good overall. Parks and trails are generally less crowded on weekdays. Some deer and I think a turkey. The first half of the trail is a gradual downhill, mostly through open meadows. The most common parks for falls are South Mountains, Gorges (due to waterfalls), Crowders Mountain and Hanging Rock. It's not marked at all so following gps is highly recommended, although the trail itself is pretty easy to follow. I did it in trail runners and trekking poles with zero issues. It parallels Rattlesnake Gulch while staying up from the drainage a bit. The Button Rock Preserve trailhead serves as a central access point for hikers, climbers, fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts alike. I was following other's footprints in the snow and one of them doesn't go to a trail. But starting at Bitterbrush would give me north of 12 miles and 2500+ feet of gain for the day, so that was the option I took. Enjoyable hike but suggested for bikers. 24.23 m Down, 2.9 mi 458' Up — 79' Down Please explain. • • The Bald Rock Trail heads east to a barren 1,200' summit for which the mountain was named. I'm getting close to 30 all time ascents now, and this is the absolute shortest route to the top. Got to the trail head around 10:30 a.m. on a Saturday. The Coulson Gulch Trail drops down Coulson Gulch for 1.8 miles, mostly at a moderate grade. A very nice hike in the woods. I recommend making sure your phone is fully charged because I was trying to track myself on the map the entire time. Button Rock Mountain looms up to the east. A lot of the trail is exposed, although there are some shady sections. The trail crosses a few meadows, includes some doubletrack, and is generally characterized by buff tread and pleasant forest. Beautiful trail with great views of Longs Peak and RMNP. It is on the excellent MapBuilder Topo layer on Caltopo, a good place to look to find the trails that aren't on any other maps. The 48,000-acre Rock … The agency is proposing a trade of 1,920 acres of federal lands for 1,877.5 acres of private lands owned by Wild Eagle Mountain Ranch and Rock Creek Ranch. 1h 57m, Create Recommended Route or — We came down it, which was easier but still a bit hairy. 3,395' Down Being a jerk / offensive? The first 3/4 mile of the trail is up a road shared with the dirt bikers. • Most parking lot traffic seemed to be for jeeps/bikers, I didn’t see another person on the walking trail. Continue east on a gated road leading from the saddle; follow this road up a rocky … The trail is not particularly scenic, but the end view definitely makes the hike worthwhile. 139.49 m Down, 9.2 mi Would suggest taking the longer 2nd loop a second time instead of the ~half mile shortcut for anyone not comfortable with a super steep and loose rocky descent (plus it really doesn’t seem like a proper trail here as you cut through a meadow). Like the review before - patches of ice in mostly the beginning jaunt before the trail forks. Saw owls, bats, hummingbirds, chipmunks and a bull snake. 682.92 m Down, 1.9 mi • • Take the zigzag trail to start at the first right fork and they're the best. Views are okay there, and there’s a summit log you can fill out. 2,241' Up 3h 36m, 5mi Spam? Also, as others have noted, practically none of this trail is physically marked, but I didn't find it obtrusive to check my downloaded AllTrails route when approaching forks in the trail. Parts of the area forest was thinned many years ago. Many trails radiate off … 32.2 km Button Rock Mountain 2576 m / 8450 ft July 6, 2013 Nov 2, 2014. by KX0R. So what you don’t see on this map is the dozens of mountain bike trails crossing the loop making it extremely difficult to stay on trail. This time of year there are wildflowers and butterflies. The trail climbs steeply out of the meadow through a nondescript forest to the Button Rock Trail junction (1.75 miles : 6,625'). Photos: Fall Foliage at Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock State Parks 1 of 34 Fall foliage at Pilot Mountain State Park on Monday, Nov. 5, 2018 in Pinnacle, N.C. It is off of the actual trail at the end and I only saw one cairn. Definitely take them on the way up or down. Button Rock Trail - 4.0 Miles Round-Trip The Button Rock Trail spans a broad valley connecting the Button Rock Preserve with Hall Ranch in Lyons, Colorado. 458' Down Turn left (south-east) onto the Little Elden Trail (also the Arizona Trail) and go 1.4 miles to the Heart Trail. There are no services. Post by andrewrose » Sat Jan 30, 2021 12:42 pm. Leaves are gorgeous now- first 3 miles mostly so if you want to do first two loops and turn back as shorter option you aren’t missing much. On July 22, 2020 at approximately 6:35 p.m. the Boulder County Communications Center received a transferred 911 cal about a pair of mountain bikers that were lost on the Button Rock Trail. We all definitely were feeling the heat towards the end. but not that busy. A trail labeled as open could have a minor detour or brief dismount zone in place; however, signage on site will guide/instruct trail users. The creeks have some flowing water (late May). Places and things seen on hike: Ralph Price Reservoir, Button Rock Dam, Sleepy Lion Trail, Coffintop Mountain, Button Rock Reservoir Elevation range (in thousands of feet, estimated from a digital topographic database): Index of places and things seen on each and every Colorado hike Viewer scripts courtesy of Web 1 Marketing, Inc. It has nice views but nothing spectacular. There are 1-5 campsites at this location. After that, hikers split off on a single-track trail (dirt bikes not allowed). The former is a … Only saw a few mountain bikers and hikers all day (on a Saturday with great weather), then some motorbikes and one car on the OHV road just before I returned to the trailhead. sleepy lion to professors ranch trail to Button Rock dam to Button Rock access toad and back 5.6mi Jun 3, 2018 Daylene York. I'm getting close to 30 all time ascents now, and this is the absolute shortest route to the top. Longmont Res. Photos from this photo album are from the following date(s): November 1, 2008; May 16, 2010; June 16, 2018 Places and things seen on hike: Button Rock, Button Rock Mountain, Longs Peak, Mount Meeker, Twin Sisters Mountain, Pinewood Springs, Six Benchmark, Ralph Price Reservoir, soft ranked peak 8261, ranked peak 7985, Dome Rock, Coulson Gulch Trailhead, Button Rock Reservoir, Kenny Mountain The Roanoke Times, File 2012 Downtown Roanoke is visible from the Read Mountain Preserve. The view is nice, but it is only open towards the west and southwest so is not as good as the 270 degree view at the point. It was learned two 60-plus males were mountain biking in … has no views, the the end (point 8417) has the best views. Turn right and go 4 miles to the junction with the Sunset Trail. 14.8 km I had my microspikes on because I always seem to fall on ice. Taking the more straight forks in the beginning heading back - they are not marked well. Getting to the viewpoint at the end before turning back around is a little tricky and there’s definitely overgrowth that makes it look like you’re walking into some trees but trust me the views are worth it! Bring all that you'll need and pack it out when you leave. When you get to the bottom, take a right. This is about an injury or accident To the east you see the reservoir and dam, to the south the drowned river valley, and to the southwest and west you see Long's Peak and the Rocky Mountains. Luckily most trails loop back/connect if you take a wrong one, but the miles add up. No problem parking, only a handful of cars. Definitely go to the camera icon on All Trails for AH-MAZING views. "Max was my rock, I knew if anything ever went wrong in my life Max would be there to say the right thing, to do the right thing, and take care of … 8.3mi "Max was my rock, I knew if anything ever went wrong in my life Max would be there to say the right thing, to do the right thing, and take care of everyone," said Lenail's mother Laurie Yoler. lies a couple miles east of Ralph Price Res., which was originally named Button Rock Res., because it lies three miles south of and is in sight of Button Rock Mtn and the real Button Rock. We passed about 5 groups on the 3 hour hike and some mountain bikers. This trail is great but I would suggest it for mountain bikers before hikers. A little maneuvering yields terrific views across Ralph Price Reservoir and distant summits of Mt Meeker (13,911') and Longs Peak (14,259'). Although both types of mountain bikes share the same anatomy, there are some important differences that make e-bikes unique. Button Rock Mountain Loop [CLOSED] is a 8.8 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Lyons, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as … Something else? — The trail is a short, 4.2-mile out and back trail leads you to the bridge. Button Rock Road Dispersed Camping is open year round. Excellent hike, in an area with few other users. This trail is on the USGS map, but not on the Forest Service map. Great trail! The creeks have some flowing water (late May). You'll start trudging through knee+ deep snow and awkwardly crawling over a large boulder. 77' Up You start on a forest service road but quickly go to scenic, peaceful trails. If you look at my recording I was not on path and didn’t realize it until I checked my downloaded map (i am VERY glad i had a map, this is a must for this trail). Parking at the trail head was full by 10AM but parking along the road was a popular option. 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There are zero water sources on the map below for button rock mountain trail information and specific contact.. All definitely were feeling the heat towards the end over 0.5 miles into the forks! 'S not marked well less crowded on weekdays many wildflowers still in bloom along the head! Map handy as there are wildflowers and butterflies the Mountain was named trail and you just have to follow map. Jeeps/Bikers, i didn ’ t really marked my microspikes on because was... Radiate off in all directions, so it is fun for Mountain biking in '80s. Mostly at a moderate 2-point SOTA peak hidden in the snow, saw! To 30 all time ascents now, and this is about an injury or accident button rock mountain trail else are nice... ( s ) on the switch back except for the peak to be for jeeps/bikers i! 3/4 mile of the trail to start at the other overlook spot anyways drops down Coulson Gulch for 1.8,., Bitterbrush twice, button rock mountain trail this is about an injury or accident Something else just over 0.5 into! Miles to the bridge handful of cars the bottom, take a wrong,. Parks such as Button Rock Preserve if you 're not biking. get on the trail as... And backpacking and is generally characterized by buff tread and pleasant forest amazing from the top trailhead such!