Denver commuters: Cherry Creek Res to Park Meadows?

[superdex]

right now, the current gig I'm on is at Broadway/C470. I'm comfy commuting from the girlfiend's house in Highlands Ranch; it's a 5mi jaunt that's easy enough to do a couple times a week.

What I want to do is lengthen the ride, and I can do that when I drive from home (23rd/Quebec): I'm thinking I drive (or bus) half way and ride half. That first half would be into the DTC, most likely the RTD Park-n-Ride Arapahoe@Village Station.

From there, what's the smoothest way to C470 trail? Yosemite and Quebec are a little too trafficky for me, so I'm open to MUPs even if it's a couple extra miles....

[DataJunkie]

I have been down to park meadows several times on my bike. Never to the c470 trail. Though that would be an interesting ride one of these days. I should make a note of that.
However, one time I used Quebec and the other time Yosemite. Quebec is horrid IMHO. Now I tend to only ride it from Belleview to Berry. Yosemite was pretty decent. To avoid using Yosemite will involve a bit of exploring on your part. From Arapahoe you could go north and head west on Orchard (another high traffic street) or you could use yosemite for .5-1 mile to go over I-25. Then head west at peakview and then south on greenwood plaza blvd. You could then work your way south of Arapahoe and Dry Creek using residential streets. Once you find willow creek park you could locate the willow creek trail and use that to connect to the c470 trail.
My disclaimer: this is all conjecture on my part. I have never ridden this route and am looking at google maps.

I wonder how it would work out with streets east of Arapahoe station?
If memory serves me correctly they are reasonably lighter traffic streets. Maybe something like Caley East to Boston South to South Clinton St to Inverness Dr W to S Valley Hwy Rd to Jamaica St. From denvertrails.com it looks like you would then hook up with the trail at this point. This route seems a bit more straightforward.
Unless someone else chimes in who knows more than I, it looks like you have a bit of exploring to do.

[DnvrFox]

The Willow Creek Trail goes from Arapahoe and Holly (well, actually, from the Highline Canal, where it is called the "Little Dry Creek Trail" and you can pick it up just south of Orchard just past Colorado on the HC - take a left before the bridge over Little Dry Creek).

The Willow Creek Trail winds its way UNDER Quebec and County Line and hits the C470 Trail just west of Yosemite. The take off to the C470 trail is not well marked, but if you find yourself going under C470 - you went too far. Veer to the right just before C470 and then you need to go by a Chevy dealership and across the wide street (no curb cuts) and just past the other side of the street you will hit the C470.

FYI, the Willow Creek Trail also continues under C470 and goes into Lone Tree and Acres Green. It gets a bit rougher for a period of time South of C-470. It sort of ends near the Lone Tree Library - but you can continue on by the SS golf course, up into some parks in Acres Green.


http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox/sstrailmap.jpg

I don't know if this fits in any way with what you want to do, but it is one way to avoid Quebec and Yosemite. It is a very scenic trail, and goes through several parks. You do have to ride on a residential road from just east of Holly down to Dry Creek (well, actually there is a gravel trail through the open space - you hit it just a bit south of Arapahoe east of Holly). This trail goes under Dry Creek, if the water is low! Otherwise, just cross at the light at Homestead Elementary. The WCT is asphalt except for the last section, which is hard gravel, but suitable for 700x25's or larger. It follows a pretty stream.

Possibly Belleview or Quincy west to the HC, south on the HC to Little Dry Creek Trail, thence to C-470 as described above?? Circuitous but very pretty!

If you are interested and want more specific details, contact me.

[DataJunkie]

OoooOoO! That looks much nicer. I may have to use that trail to head south someday.
I really need to learn more about the trail system in that area of town. The streets are nuts.

[DnvrFox]

Here is another option.

Circle the Cherry Creek Reservoir either direction and take the 2 mile spur south which start just west of the creek.

The spur will take you to Caley - don't turn left at about 1.75 miles - that is the unmarked Piney Creek Trail.

At Caley, go west 1 block to Jordan Road.

Take Jordan Road south. Cross Arapahoe at the light. Continue south. Jordan is not great, but it is not awful, either. There is a parallel road you can take about two blocks west, after Arapahoe - just go west on the south side of Centennial Medical Center. That road dead ends at Broncos Parkway.

Go south on Jordan past Broncos Parkway, and through Cottonwood subdivision. Go under E470 and IMMEDIATELY catch the C-470 trail on your right. Go WEST, young man!

There are many permutations, as they are always putting new roads in, and you can go west on Broncos Parkway and catch Chambers south, which intersects the C-470 trail about 1 mile west of Jordan.

Anyway, have fun. Eventually the CC Trail will go through from the reservoir to the E/C 470 Trail. It needs about 2.5 miles finished.

If you want, you can cut through KB homes past Broncos Parkway, and with luck you will find a trailhead to the northern part of the CC Trail, which will take you under C470 to the actual eastern end of the C470 trail. But, finding the trailhead is twisty and turny and confusing.

[superdex]

Thanks guys!

I like the Willow Creek idea, I just have to take the time to scout the route to the park. Will do that tonight. Fox, what shied me away from Jordan road is it seems to enter C470 whay east.

(okay, honestly, I drove Yosemite and thought to myself I'd kill myself doing it on my fixed :roflmao: Maybe I should nut up and grunt it out one day to make sure, har)

I'll let you know how it goes--

[DnvrFox]

Thanks guys!

Fox, what shied me away from Jordan road is it seems to enter C470 whay east.

(okay, honestly, I drove Yosemite and thought to myself I'd kill myself doing it on my fixed :roflmao: Maybe I should nut up and grunt it out one day to make sure, har)

I'll let you know how it goes--

Well, you said you wanted a longer ride. That, most definitely, is a longer ride!:D It is about 7 miles from my house (right near the C470 Trail and Jordan) to Park Meadows.

[SirScott]

Personally I'd just ride down the E side of 25 using Boston / Clinton / Inverness. The times I've ridden it there's been virtually no traffic (eventhough admittedly I've never ridden at rush hour times) but even when busy, it's gotta be a lot better than Quebec. Anyhow, as long as you keep heading south, you'll hit the Jamaica entrace to the 470 trail.

And if you're doing the thing in reverse when you go home, you can always stop off and do a few laps at the Meridian rides on Tues & Thursday nights.