Cherryvale
Location66 S Cherryvale Rd, Boulder, CO 80303
The google map directions take you to the Rocky Mountain Therapeutic Riding Stable. You will see the trailhead and trailer parking before you get to the barn. |
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PDF Map
Trail Map
Park Fees
Free.
Trailer Parking
There is a really huge wonderful parking lot. There is even a sign with a drawing showing horse trailers should park in the middle on the diagonal with cars around the edge. This parking lot is right next to the cow pasture so it is a good idea to make sure you are riding with horses that are used to cows.
BathroomsNo bathrooms.
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WaterNo water.
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Mounting
I found a nice rock to use to mount at the east end of the parking lot.
Footing
Soft crushed gravel or packed dirt. This is a good winter trail ride. Sam and I rode about a week after our last snow. Sam was barefoot and seemed comfortable.
Horse Hazards
There are cows right next to the parking lot, Sam is used to cows but some horses are not. The biggest challenge for us was the very loud underpass going under 36. It is possible going on the weekend would be a little easier but Sam was on high alert. I am so glad he is not a bolter because if your horse got loose they could run up to the street.
Chosen Trail
South Fork - S. Boulder Creek Trail
I chose to ride the South fork of the trail as an out and back. Sam and I rode 5.4 miles in about 2 hours. The 36 underpass took us a long time to get through because Sam was really nervous about the traffic sounds. We also dismounted for the first bridge and then had to dismount to open 3 gates one way, 6 gates total.
North Fork - South Boulder Creek Trail
I chose to ride the South fork of the trail as an out and back. Sam and I rode 5.4 miles in about 2 hours. The 36 underpass took us a long time to get through because Sam was really nervous about the traffic sounds. We also dismounted for the first bridge and then had to dismount to open 3 gates one way, 6 gates total.
North Fork - South Boulder Creek Trail
Trail Experience
We started out going North from the parking lot. We rode fairly close to Cherryvale road with the trail fenced on both sides.
Headed west we were pretty close to South Boulder Road. The trail was wide and soft and the traffic didn't seem to bother Sam. There was a cow pasture to our left and S. Boulder Road to our right.
The trail forks and the right or north fork goes through this small underpass under S. Boulder Road. It did not look very welcoming so we continued west. It was really pretty looking to the west.
We came upon a bridge with some electrical boxes to the right. Sam did look at the electrical boxes. I dismounted to give him courage to cross the bridge.
It was a really long bridge with two different kinds of fences. As soon as we crossed the bridge the trail forked. We went to the right. You could have also gone straight to a dead-end. As you follow the fork to the left there is a swing-gate. It is a good idea to dismount for this gate.
The trail was really pretty during this short stretch.
We came up to the underpass that takes us under Hwy 36. Sam was NOT a fan of this underpass. It was very loud and his whole body was tense as we both walked through the underpass.
We both felt better at this point and were able to do some trotting.
We came up to a neat looking bridge or walk-way that carried us over the marsh-land. Sam was not sure about this at first but decided after some treats that it was ok to cross.
We crossed some more bridges. Sam got better with every bridge we crossed.
And we reached the end of the trail as it connected to Hwy 93 and a small car parking lot on the shoulder.
Rating
Difficult! Sam was really not ok with the underpass and I am so lucky he trusted me enough to walk behind me. I think he would get better with practice but it is asking a lot for a horse to tolerate all the traffic noise right above their heads. The rest of the trail was wonderful and I would ride it again if I could figure out how to avoid the Hwy 36 underpass.