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A wide, dirt road that makes for an easy route along the North St. Vrain Creek.


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Map Key

2.2

Miles

3.5

KM

94%

Runnable

6,450' 1,966 m

High

5,989' 1,825 m

Low

462' 141 m

Up

28' 9 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

13%

Max Grade (7°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features River/Creek

As of May 15, 2023, dogs are no longer allowed at Button Rock Preserve (more info here: longmontcolorado.gov/depart…).

Need to Know

Multiple restrooms along the road. No bikes allowed and no swimming in the reservoir or streams.

Runner Notes

Though somewhat sun-exposed through the river valley, this is a beautiful area and the road is flat and wide making for a nice middle ground between pavement and singletrack.

Description

This fire road makes for a nice, riverside route minutes outside Lyons at the end of County Road 80. Per the territory, it can be busy on weekends, with fishing access all along the North St. Vrain Creek.

There is a parking area right before the gate and trailhead, which can fill up. In busier months (summer), there is regulated spill-over parking at the top of the hill along the road where an attendant is present on weekends or busier days. (This adds close to one mile of distance ONE WAY.)

The road itself is flat and wide with a very slight incline heading west. Wide enough to run six across, it's a great option for groups. At just over 1.4 miles, the road branches to the right. Continue to the left onto the Button Rock Dam Access road, which almost everyone will be doing as well.

Flora & Fauna

Abert's squirrels, Stellar's jays, hummingbirds, American dippers, great blue heron, mountain bluebirds, black bear, prairie rattlesnakes, stocked brown trout, rainbow trout, and splake (brook/lake trout hybrid).

Contacts

Land Manager: City of Longmont

Shared By:

Zander Göpfert

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 11 votes

#9924

Overall
  4.0 from 11 votes
5 Star
36%
4 Star
36%
3 Star
18%
2 Star
9%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#805

in Colorado

#9,924

Overall
9 Views Last Month
2,913 Since May 15, 2017
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate

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Photos

The road climbs slowly along the creek.
Aug 24, 2017 near Lyons, CO
Parking at the trailhead
Aug 24, 2017 near Lyons, CO
Sleepy Lion Trail branches off the road to the left.
Aug 24, 2017 near Lyons, CO

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Minor Issues 87 days ago
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