BallBuster

Ballbuster is about 25-30 minutes away from downtown Boulder.

Ballbuster on Magnolia Rd.

GPS Coordinates

• Latitude: 39N 57.391'
• Longitude: 105W 26.685'

This is a great place to play with varying terrain of flat to steep with small and large pine patches and many boulders to hide behind. It's also a very large area to play in. The drawback is that there's a gate so you can only drive so far during winter. Gate opens around May so during summer it should be a blast but will work for winter as long as you don't mind walking a bit further. Light green areas on the downloadable topo maps are public National Forest land. National Forest rules apply in those areas. Dark green areas are private land so stay off.

Maps available
Red arrow points to the dirt road entrance
Blue arrow points to the gate, which is closed until May

• Screen size (about 630 pix)
• High resolution version (portrait)
• High resolution version (landscape)
• Print version (portrait)
• Print version (landscape)

Links to this area

• Topographic & Satellite map on terraserver (Dirt road with gate into the area not shown on topo map but the creek is there. Use the dropdown on the left to see the aerial shot. Dirt road into the area is shown on arial map although the gate can't be seen.)

General directions to get to BallBuster

• Shortest (distance) & Steepest route - 35 mins

1. From Boulder take Canyon Blvd west into the Rockies.
2. Turn into Magnolia (left turn which is south). You'll be going up hill here. NOTE: Ballbuster is exactly 8.5 miles from this turn (you can also find mile marker 8 and go 0.5 mile further). GPS Coordinates 40N 00.331' | 105W 20.964'
3. Asphalt road Magnolia will turn into dirt road around Twin Peaks but keep going until you get to BallBuster on map.... it's about 3 miles from where Magnolia turns into a dirt road.
4. Tips to locate the area: BallBuster is on the right (if you're coming from Boulder on Magnolia) and is at the start of an open area (open areas on the topographic maps are white).. (see the satellite image for open area too). Ten feet before you get to the entrance road there's a large boulder on the right side of the road with some sign at the top...i believe the sign says something about heavy machinery). You can't really see any cars in the entrance area unless you drive to the gate (unless of course if somone parked close to magnolia)

• Longer (distance) & Gradual route - 35 mins
  1. From Boulder take Canyon Blvd west into the Rockies to Nederland (about 20 mins).
  2. From Nederland take 119 South approximatelly 2 mi to county road 132 (aka Magnolia Rd) as marked on the maps (note: 132 (aka Magnolia Rd) is just after mile marker 24 and before marker 23 heading south on 119). (Tip: Entrance is several hundred feet just south of Sundance Lodge). Make a left at 132 (aka Magnolia Rd)
  3. 132 (aka Magnolia Rd) seems to fork at one major intersection. Stay on 132 (aka Magnolia Rd)by taking the left road of the 'fork'
  4. Follow the map to the entrance of Ballbuster. Ballbuster is on the left side of the road shortly after the 'fork'. Entrance is a rough dirt road that curves left at the entrance and then right a few hundred feet thereafter.
  • ALTERNATE INSTRUCTIONS (submitted by Vince)
    1. From Boulder take Canyon Blvd west into the Rockies to Nederland (about 20 mins).
    2. From the Nederland round-about take 119 South 2 mi to Magnolia Dr. (note: Magnolia Dr. is just after mile marker 24 and before marker 23 heading south on 119).
    3. Make a left at Magnolia Dr. Take Magnolia Dr. 3.3 miles to the forked intersection. Taking the left road of the 'fork'.
    4. After the fork take the first left after house # 8624, Ballbuster is at the end of the curving dirt road, stop at the dead-end.

  NOTE: 132, 132W and Magnolia are all the same road. At the 119 intersection, Magnolia to the west is also 132W. To the east it is known as 132. It's all the same road though. At the intersection there MIGHT be two signs. On the left it may say Magnolia or 132, on the right side of the road 132W.