AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Button Rock Preserve

Ralph Price Reservoir–Bitterbrush Viewpoint, 7 sights

12 mi · ▲ 2,455 ft · 5 hr 14 min

Ralph Price Reservoir–Bitterbrush Viewpoint, 7 sights is a 12-mile out-and-back in Button Rock Preserve near Lyons, CO. The route passes Bitterbrush Viewpoint and Ralph Price Reservoir. It climbs 2,455 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 44/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi5,486 – 6,700 ft · steepest grade: 18%12.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Bitterbrush Trail 40.21202, -105.28937
Nearest town Lyons, CO · Official trailhead info (bouldercounty.gov)
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Ralph Price Reservoir–Bitterbrush Viewpoint, 7 sights

12 mi · ▲ 2,455 ft · 5 hr 14 min

Elevation 5,487–6,700 ft

Out & Back · Button Rock Preserve

Trailhead: Bitterbrush Trail · 40.21202, -105.28937

Weather Sep 4: Drizzle, high 91°F / low 61° · precip 7% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:30 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Bitterbrush Trail, heading N.
  2. 250 ftTurn left onto Night Hawk Trail, heading S.
  3. 0.3 miSharp right, heading N.
  4. 0.2 miBear left, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  6. 200 ftContinue straight onto Bitterbrush Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.7 miPass Bitterbrush Viewpoint.
  8. 1.5 miBear right onto Nelson Loop, heading SW.
  9. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  10. 1 miTurn left onto Button Rock Trail, heading SW.
  11. 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
  12. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Sleepy Lion Trail, heading SE.
  13. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Professors' Ranch Trail, heading SW.
  14. 0.4 miPass Ralph Price Reservoir.
  15. 50 ftBear right onto South Shore Trail, heading NW.
  16. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  17. 0.2 miReach Ralph Price Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  19. 0.2 miBear left onto Professors' Ranch Trail, heading N.
  20. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Sleepy Lion Trail, heading E.
  21. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Button Rock Trail, heading NE.
  22. 0.1 miSharp left, heading SE.
  23. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  24. 0.7 miTurn right, heading E.
  25. 1 miTurn right onto Nelson Loop, heading NE.
  26. 50 ftBear left, heading NE.
  27. 2.1 miContinue straight onto Bitterbrush Trail, heading S.
  28. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
  29. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  30. 0.2 miSharp left onto Night Hawk Trail, heading SE.
  31. 0.3 miTurn right onto Bitterbrush Trail, heading NE.
  32. 150 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/bitterbrush-viewpoint-out-back

Trail surface

65% dirt35% unspecified

Weather

DrizzleTemperature 91°F61°
Feels like83°Precip7%Wind6 mphUV7Humidity15%
Hourly temperature
95°60°
Sunrise 6:32 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:30 PM
Sat 90°70°
Sun 93°64° 18%
Mon 90°66° 24%
Tue 87°61° 18%
Wed 88°56° 25%
Thu 94°59° 31%

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Bitterbrush Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Lyons, Colorado