Review Date
April 11, 2009

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: pktrain ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Unfortunately this trail has gone downhill (no pun intended) the last few years. It used to be a pretty decent ride until it got REALLY rocky at the top and someone decided to put in some sort of sharp, jagged, "speed control" boulders that not only threaten shins and crankarms, but completely ruin any kind of flow on the top part of the downhill. A lot of turns on the downhill have gotten sandy too. Plus it gets really busy with hikers and horses on the weekends. If this trail weren't so close to Boulder, I'd say stay off of this trail. At least make a decent ride out of it and ride the road from Boulder over Old Stage, do a loop, and ride back. Otherwise, it's a complete waste of a drive to ride this from anywhere other than Boulder if you're short on time and can't make it to Hall, Walker, or better yet, Golden.

Recommended Route:
Ride there: Old Stage, Lefthand, do a loop, ride back.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Hall, Walker, Golden (White, Chimney Gulch, Apex, etc.)

Review Date
December 27, 2008

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Farmer Ted ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I heard people rave about this trail so I decided to drive down to Boulder and check it out...what a waste of time. The trail is so rocky that it's just annoying. You cant really get much speed or rhythm going up or down because the rocks are just the right size to constantly slow you down and annoy the @#%^& out of you. The whole freaking trail is like this from top to bottom. You may like this trail if you like annoying rocks or are a Super Suited Power Ranger with something to prove but otherwise go somewhere else.

Recommended Route:
Go to Hall Ranch in Lyons instead. When I got to the top of Heil Valley I could see Hall Ranch and just wished I was there instead.

Review Date
July 1, 2008

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: MATPHAT ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
This trail is in very bad need of some work. Nothing but rocks. Lose rocks, stationary rocks, washes of rocks and big assed jutting boulders.
Wild Turkey is on it's way to as teeth chattering and bone grinding but since it's only a year old, it's got a little time left before it sucks as much.
Wild Turkey has a low grade and thus the current crop of rocks covering it's surface is even more a pain to traverse as you have to spin your ass off to acquire enough speed to float any of it.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Take Hall in Lyons. Much better trail in an area with better trail geography.

Review Date
June 14, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: xcguy ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Early reviews of Heil spoke about how easy the trail is. Well, that was a few years ago. Now it's a climbing grunt through endless rocks. Whatever fill the trail builders put in to smooth it out is gone. For the fit intermediate rider it's a fun challenge. I love Heil. But if you're a beginner wanting some easy spin through the pine trees, this isn't for you. Us experienced riders lose perspective on what is or isn't an "easy" trail. You want easy? Try High Plains or Waterton Canyon.

Recommended Route:
I go up Wapiti, right on Wild Turkey, up around to the viewpoint then down Ponderosa. Or any combination thereof. It's all fun.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Hall

Review Date
June 10, 2008

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: MileHighMark ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Rocks. Lots, and lots of rocks. If you're running tubes, bump up the psi or be prepared to fix flats. I've heard/read that Wild Turkey isn't as rocky, but I can't comment first-hand.