Belcher Hill Trail to Mustang Trail - 9.0 Miles Round-Trip

White Ranch Park supports nearly 20 miles of multi-use trails through open grasslands, ponderosa parks, and montane forests. The Mustang Trail stretches 2.2 miles along the Park's south side, a lightly traveled area with interesting terrain and good views.

The Mustang Trail cannot be accessed from any trailhead, but is most directly reached from either end of the Belcher Hill Trail. This description begins from the East Access Parking Lot and Trailhead:

The Belcher Hill Trail runs northwest across the foothills, rising nominally to and across a small creek (.65 miles : 6,260'). Summer travelers will enjoy an array of wildflowers along these sunny eastern slopes. The trail moves easily to the Whippletree Trail split (1.15 miles : 6,510'), then turns sharply southwest on a winding, moderately strenuous climb into the foothills.

Views improve on a westerly bend and methodical climb to the Mustang Trail (2.4 miles : 7,245'). Look for deer, elk, turkey, coyote, bear, rabbit, hare, porcupine, mountain lion, and bobcat in these pine-aspen forests.

The Mustang Trail narrows and grows rugged for over a mile with little net elevation change. It runs along the rim of a deep ravine, and steepens through 4 miles up a narrow gully dotted with aspen. New steps and wooden planks make this section easier to navigate (bikes will likely need to dismount and carry).

Once past the Sawmill Trail cutoff (7,615'), it's just over .25 miles and +265' to the Mustang Trail's terminus at the western end of the Belcher Hill Trail (7,880').