The Doudy Draw Trail runs along the juxtaposition of the Eastern Plains and Rocky Mountain upslope, a transition zone with unique ecological, geological and topographical range. Here plant and wildlife communities from each meet, creating one of the most diverse biological communities in Colorado.

This versatile 4-season trail offers sensational views of the Boulder Flatirons, Eldorado Canyon, and Eastern Plains. Hikers, runners, cyclists, and equestrians will enjoy good trail conditions, mild grades, and numerous connections for extended routing:

The Doudy Draw Trail heads south from the parking area on a wide, graded path to the Community Ditch Trail split (.45 miles : 5,765'). In .6 miles the trail bends southeast beside a low ridge, a good place to examine the Community Ditch below. This luxuriant riparian corridor supports wild plum, chokecherry, hawthorn and hackberry, which provide food and cover for deer, bear, towhees, grosbeaks and orioles. Dawn, dusk and autumn travelers should be mindful of bear activity while passing through this area.

The trail rises up the draw to the Spring Brook Trail junction (1.2 miles : 5,958'), from which it drops, veers left at an unmarked spur (1.35 miles) and crosses the ravine (1.4 miles : 5,935'). Once over it continues south on a steady climb up the ravine's pine-studded west-facing ridge.

The trail hairpins sharply north (1.7 miles : 6,055') with views across the Front Range and Eldorado Canyon. A small window through Eldorado Canyon reveals a glimpse of the Indian Peaks just before leveling off at the Flatirons Vista North-South Trail split (2.2 miles : 6,105'). Bear left (east) on the Flatirons Vista North Trail.

Travel eases on a service road across a flat, sparsely treed mesa. Pass through a cattle gate and drop to another at the first of two connections with the Prairie Vista Trail (3.1 miles : 5,980'). Bear left and remain on the service road, which glides down to the Flatirons Vista Trailhead on Highway 93 (3.4 miles : 5,925').

For a longer route between the Doudy Draw and Flatirons Vista Trailheads, use the Flatirons Vista South and Spring Brook Loop trails. The Flatirons Vista South Trail adds approximately 1.3 miles to the one-way distance by taking a more circuitous course across the mesa. The Spring Brook Loop Trail adds 2.8 miles (roundtrip), an easy excursion that circles the base of Eldorado Canyon.