Eagle Trail

Dogs Off-leash

Features Lake · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Generally good surface, but bike and horse traffic can cause ruts especially after rain. There are usually smoother parts near the edges of the trail. The steep bit climbing up to the ridge next to Mesa Reservoir is loose. Not very much shade on this trail!

This is a multi-use trail, so expect bikers, equestrians and folks with off-leash dogs. The trails in Boulder Valley Ranch don't have much elevation gain and are much more mellow than other trails in Boulder County's foothills. Eagle Trail runs east and west more or less between US36 and N. 55th Street. The Eagle Trail can be traveled in either direction and a great variety of loops can be formed by using combinations of trails in the Boulder Valley Ranch area.

Starting out at Eagle trailhead on N. 55th Street, head west through the gate. The wide dirt road through pastureland is flat here with good views of the foothills and Indian Peaks. In 1/2 mile, turn left at the intersection and run down a hill that twists south. Pass the dammed pond and begin the mile long, gentle climb through fields of tall grass.

After some westward travel through an area with scattered cottonwoods next to an old farmer's irrigation ditch, you'll come to the intersection of the Eagle Trail and the Sage Trail. To stay on the Eagle Trail, stay left (south) and ascend a short, steep path to the top of the mesa. This is the hardest part of the trail and the rocky surface is sometimes eroded. It is soon over though and views from the top of the mesa are great.

On top of the mesa, you arrive at a rain shelter at the junction of Eagle Trail and the Mesa Reservoir Trail. To remain on the Eagle Trail, stay right and run along the northern side of the Mesa Reservoir. Pass the Degge Trail intersection on the left and continue to follow the ridge west. After a few more gates and the intersection with the Old Mill Trail, you come to a trailhead and end of a dirt road. The remainder of the Eagle Trail for bikers is on this dirt road, for foot traffic, the Eagle Trail parallels the dirt road just to it's south. Both parts of the Eagle Trail end at the parking area off Broadway Street.

Eagles, northern harriers, red-tailed hawks, deer, coyotes, prairie dogs, rattlesnakes, bull snakes. Yucca, cottonwoods.