Rabbit Mountain

Rabbit Mountain at a glance

Rabbit Mountain, officially the Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain, is a 2,871-acre Boulder County open space northeast of Lyons. It sits where the grasslands of the Great Plains rise to meet the Rocky Mountain foothills, a transition zone of grasslands, shrublands, and forest. A fault line slipped the preserve about three miles east of the main foothill hogbacks, so it stands a little apart on the plains, with wide views in every direction. It's a different feel from the steep foothill trails closer to town: open, sunny, and quiet.

Why Rabbit Mountain is a good winter and mud-season hike

Because it's lower, drier, and set out on the prairie edge rather than up in the shaded canyons, Rabbit Mountain holds less snow and dries out faster than the higher trails. It catches a lot of sun and, being east of the hogbacks, it's sheltered enough that the Arapaho used it as a winter home, safe from the strong west winds. When Chautauqua and the higher foothill trails are icy or muddy, this is often the drier, walkable option. The flip side: in summer it's hot and exposed, so most people save it for the cooler months.

The trails

Three trails leave from the single trailhead, and Boulder County lists them as follows. The Little Thompson Overlook Trail runs 1.5 miles and is rated moderate; it's the short climb up to the preserve's best viewpoint, looking out over the Little Thompson valley and the plains. The Indian Mesa Trail is 2.2 miles and rated easy. The Eagle Wind Trail is 2.5 miles and rated moderate, looping through the higher, more open country on the east side. You can link them together for a longer day. All three are open to hikers, leashed dogs, horses, and bikes on the designated trails.

Dogs, bikes, and horses

Dogs are welcome on all three trails but must be on a leash; the OSMP Voice and Sight tag from the City of Boulder trails doesn't apply on this Boulder County preserve. Bikes are allowed on designated trails only, and e-bikes are not allowed. Horses are permitted too, and the lot has dedicated horse-trailer parking, so expect to share the trail. It's day use only, with no camping and no open fires.

Rattlesnakes and wildlife

The preserve is real wildlife habitat: elk, mule deer, black bear, bobcat, coyote, and prairie dogs, plus a long list of birds. It's also prairie rattlesnake country, along with bullsnakes and racers. Rattlesnakes are most active in the warm months, which is another reason the cooler seasons are the sweet spot here. In summer, stay on the trail, keep dogs leashed, and watch where you step and where you put your hands on warm rocks.

Getting there and parking

From Boulder, head north toward Lyons and turn onto Highway 66, then north on N. 53rd Street; the road curves and becomes 55th Street and leads to the trailhead lot. There's one trailhead, with 38 car spots, 3 ADA spots (one van accessible), and 4 horse-trailer spots, plus a restroom and picnic tables. Parking and entry are free, since Boulder County Parks & Open Space doesn't charge a day-use fee. The preserve is open sunrise to sunset.

Nearby trails and guides

• All hikes in Boulder: the full hiking hub, sorted by difficulty.
• Hall Ranch: the bigger Boulder County open space just west of Lyons, another lower-foothills option.
• All destinations: every place we cover, from reservoirs to canyons.

Recommended nearby

A few local spots we'd point a Rabbit Mountain day toward.

Rabbit Mountain FAQ

Sources

Facts on this page are drawn from these authoritative sources:

• Boulder County: Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain
• Boulder County: Rabbit Mountain Trail Map (PDF)
• Boulder County: Parks & Open Space Rules & Regulations