Mountain - Plains - Where to ride - originating from *CITY* of Denver

Just moved into the city, living in northern end of the rotated-city-grid

There are tons of riders in this area and many group rides to join

However, on a weekday evening when I want to go for a quick solo spin, what options are there?

One intermediate out-n-back ride, from what I've read, is to head west on 32nd towards Golden and climb Lookout Mtn. Apparently, as I've also read, the ride on 32nd could be dangerous???

I've also seen many people unload bikes at Speer/Platte (near the mega-REI), and riders along the banks of Platte Rider; is that a "Fred'ish" ride? Or are those people doing the Speer <---> Cherry Creek route?


Looking to get some quick accessible short-medium rides during the week, to get acclimatized to the air, and hopefully seeing some of you on group rides :)

You have a great location. Use the trails and don't worry about how Fredish they are. Denver's trails are dominated by cyclists and you can ride fast on them once you are away from Platte Park or Cherry Creek Mall. You have access to 600 miles of trails from there and more when you consider the adjoining towns.

From your area, I like to ride to the two reservoirs. One is Cherry Creek (down the Cherry Creek Trail) and a loop of the reservoir will get you in at something over 30 miles. Chattfield is farther (down the Platte Trail) will get you 50 or more, round trip, depending on where you turn around.

I ride up Lookout Mountain 2-3 times per week, but I drive out there. 32nd is dangerous. I also ride up Deer Creek Canyon 1-2 times per week. Just did it yesterday. You get almost a mile of elevation gain in the first 13.5 mile climb.

Here is some info on the Denver trails: http://www.sandcreekgreenway.org/1news/1.1press/post041405.htm

Welcome to Denver

edit: The first climb in Deer Creek is more like 3k of elevation gain. The loop is about a mile after several more hills. I must have been oxygen starved after my last ride...

You can also head north on the platte to where it meets another trail (cold creek?) and take that out to lookout. Though it is a tad schetchy at times and heads through some interesting areas.
Since I am in thornton I prefer to take 120th out to 93 and drop into Golden from the north but that trail is fine from time to time.

I moved to greater denver just over 3 yrs ago One thing that worked very well for me was...
Get yourself a DBTC Denver Bike map (there is a new 2008 edition avail at REI, PERF, Bike V and most
LBS) And go explore and enjoy!
Some days you'll find training wasn't as challenging as you wanted, another
day you'll find a pizzera or coffee shop than may become a frequent stopping point.
Just ride and learn the area.

If you want to head towards Golden & Lookout, you can take 26th Ave. then a right onto Youngfield St, then take a left onto 32nd. You'll still have to deal w/ a few semi-blind turns about a mile east of the Coors plant on 32nd, but the shoulder on 26th while in Denver and Wheat Ridge is really good and is less trafficky than 32nd.

You can also head north on the platte to where it meets another trail (cold creek?) and take that out to lookout. Though it is a tad schetchy at times and heads through some interesting areas.
Since I am in thornton I prefer to take 120th out to 93 and drop into Golden from the north but that trail is fine from time to time.

That would be Clear Creek. MOst of it is fine. The park just west of Wadsworth is a local lover's lane (literally) and the part just east of Pecos has historically been a make-out area for male gays. The sheriff cleans it out every now and then. I used to ride that almost daily. Along the Clear Creek Trail are several other trails. Explore.

Also, head up to the northern end of the Platte River Greenway (aka Front Range Trail). You can go east on the Sand Creek Trail through beautiful downtown Commerce, City,observing oil refineries and the like - but oce you get aways east, it gets better.

I believe I have ridden every major trail in the Denver Metro area, except Tollgate and Piney Creek east. Here is a trail map of the major trails in the area. Several trails have been lengthened and new routes have been added, but this is the basic structure.

For a fun challenge do the entire Highline Canal, from the starting point in Waterton Canyon to the end point in Aurora - 66 miles, mostly a hard dirt/gravel surface interspersed with cement and pavement. Very pretty through Littleton and Greenwood Village - best to use a bike with larger tires, though (but you CAN do it on a roadie).

This will be a low-speed trip.

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox/denverbikemap1.jpg

One of these days I want to do that 50 mile loop around Denver

http://www.sandcreekgreenway.org/3map/3.2region/1region.html

Though has anyone ridden the sand creek trail lately? How do you get across I-70 and into commerce city? They're doing a lot of construction at Stapleton and the only way across, that I see, is through Suicide Quebec.

One of these days I want to do that 50 mile loop around Denver

http://www.sandcreekgreenway.org/3map/3.2region/1region.html

Though has anyone ridden the sand creek trail lately? How do you get across I-70 and into commerce city? They're doing a lot of construction at Stapleton and the only way across, that I see, is through Suicide Quebec.

If you are considering C470 > Cherry Creek > Platte River > Clear Creek > C470 - it is heck of a lot more than 50 miles! Perhaps approaching 100+??

If you are considering C470 > Cherry Creek > Platte River > Clear Creek > C470 - it is heck of a lot more than 50 miles! Perhaps approaching 100+??

I'm sorry, I ment the loop going across Denver, Aurora, and Commerce City; as shown on the map. Though I wouldnt mind doing a huge loop around Denver; as preparations before I start getting into bike touring.

Another nice loop is from Confluence Park to Chattfield on the Platte and then across the 470 Trail to Cherry Creek (I take Jordan Rd to connect, but I think you can do it on trail now), and back to Confluence on the CC Trail. With the spurs to my house near City Park, it is about 65 miles.

Another nice loop is from Confluence Park to Chattfield on the Platte and then across the 470 Trail to Cherry Creek (I take Jordan Rd to connect, but I think you can do it on trail now), and back to Confluence on the CC Trail. With the spurs to my house near City Park, it is about 65 miles.

Nope, the trail does NOT go through yet.

Perhaps another 10 years?

Someone needs to lite a fire under Arapahoe County!

I'm sorry, I ment the loop going across Denver, Aurora, and Commerce City; as shown on the map. Though I wouldnt mind doing a huge loop around Denver; as preparations before I start getting into bike touring.

Your map clearly showed the loop around Downtown. No need to apologize. Sand Creek is in very good shape out to Quebec and about 50th. The trail is mostly concrete to there (about 2 miles of well packed dirt). Once you get into the old Stapleton area, things get a little dicey because of all the construction out there. The trail has had to go through some realignment and the part from Smith Road to Peoria isn't that good at all. You can do it but expect some sand.

Nope, the trail does NOT go through yet.

Perhaps another 10 years?

Someone needs to lite a fire under Arapahoe County!

Thanks for confirming that. I wasn't sure if it was farther East.

I think you mean Adams County. Arapahoe and Adams are divided by Colfax Ave. in that part of town.

Nope - Arapahoe County.

The southern CC Trail (Parker area) is in Douglas and Arapahoe Counties. It is finished through Douglas, and hop scotched through Arapahoe.

Been around here since 1962 - sort of know the area.

Right now they are working a bot on the trail just north of Arapahoe Road. It is finished - a portion, at least - to just south of the Arapahoe bridge over Cherry Creekm near the new 24 hour fitness.

An alternative view of trails can be found by opening this file (http://geobiking.org/Documents/GeoBiking1May08.kmz) in Google Earth.

It emphasizes trails over street routes.
The trails can be loaded onto a GPS to follow on the bike.
The Google satellite images are typically 3-4 years old, but for most areas, that is sufficient.

Thanks for the Google Earth file. It makes finding these trails a lot easier; like the last time I went out I ended out in the middle of nowhere following a horse path.

If you want to head towards Golden & Lookout, you can take 26th Ave. then a right onto Youngfield St, then take a left onto 32nd. You'll still have to deal w/ a few semi-blind turns about a mile east of the Coors plant on 32nd, but the shoulder on 26th while in Denver and Wheat Ridge is really good and is less trafficky than 32nd.

I rode this route from sloans lake today. Scratch my silly trail route.
This version works much better. Though riding through the short tunnel near coors without lights is a tad disconcerting. That and the blind curves and the memorial bike. Still... I would rather take my chances on that road than the trail.

Late to the party, but if you want another, shorter route to Golden, half on city streets:

Use the pedestrian/bike bridge over I-25 from 16th/Platte. Take 16th 2 blocks NW to
Tejon. Tejon N to 35th, 35th W to Pierce (slight uphill until you reach Sheridan, then slightly downhill, all through quiet neighborhoods.) Pierce N to 48th, 48th E to Otis. This is an entrance to the Clear Creek Bike Path, take that west in to Golden.

Nice way to avoid Commerce City.

That would be Clear Creek. MOst of it is fine. The park just west of Wadsworth is a local lover's lane (literally) and the part just east of Pecos has historically been a make-out area for male gays. The sheriff cleans it out every now and then. I used to ride that almost daily. Along the Clear Creek Trail are several other trails. Explore. ------ copied from earlier post-------


I thought I was the only one who noticed the pick up spot, it always seems kind of busy there. ahhhhh the things you get to see from the bike path......... and whats wrong with riding up into commerce city? the smell of rendering plants, oil, and fresh turds is just part of life.

Nope - Arapahoe County.

The southern CC Trail (Parker area) is in Douglas and Arapahoe Counties. It is finished through Douglas, and hop scotched through Arapahoe.

Been around here since 1962 - sort of know the area.

Right now they are working a bot on the trail just north of Arapahoe Road. It is finished - a portion, at least - to just south of the Arapahoe bridge over Cherry Creekm near the new 24 hour fitness.

Supposedly the city of Centennial doesn't have the tax revenue to finish it, since they're more of a business 'burb than residential. It's why Arapaho is maintained so poorly, especially in winter.

However, my theory is that the golf course is right in the way, and there's no way they would work with anyone to help cyclists :twitchy:

I sure wish there was something better, because riding Jordan is not the most fun, even if it's only 2.9 miles of it.

Another great ride is to hook up with the Cherry Creek path at Confluence and ride it all the way down to Castlewood Canyon. You get some beautiful scenery, especially once you're out of Aurora ;)

Riding through Parker is very nice, and peaceful, and the reward of Castlewood at the end is spectacular. I think it comes in around 50-60 miles door to door. I actually do it the opposite way since I live 4 miles north of Castlewood, and do a nice stop at REI complete with an Americano and a danish. Of course, I have some amazing country road loops out of Parker, but those would be a bit much to tack on unless you're looking for super mileage. If you want to know a good country road loop to make a century from Central Denver I can give you more than you'll know what to do with!

I sure wish there was something better, because riding Jordan is not the most fun, even if it's only 2.9 miles of it.

Another great ride is to hook up with the Cherry Creek path at Confluence and ride it all the way down to Castlewood Canyon. You get some beautiful scenery, especially once you're out of Aurora ;)


I am a bit confused here. I thought the path doesn't go through and you have to take Jordan Rd. Are you saying that you can take the Cherry Creek path south of the reservoir?

I am a bit confused here. I thought the path doesn't go through and you have to take Jordan Rd. Are you saying that you can take the Cherry Creek path south of the reservoir?

There is a 2 mile connector connecting the loop with Caley by the country club. You catch it just southwest of Cherry Creek where it crosses the loop road.

It is confusing, but since I rode down there this morning I can absolutely verify that you have to ride on Jordan Road from Caley south to wherever you want to get on the CC Trail - the closest being to go east at Jameson, follow the signs to Cherry Creek Ecological Park, catch the trail there, go under Broncos Parkway (Dry Creek) up the Happy Canyon Creek connector, go left into the neighborhood, find Otero, go east to almost the end, catch the trail again following the narrow and winding neighborhood connector, and you are on the trail again.

However, I just go on Jordan.

I can also verify that an extension of the trail is now poured right behind the new 24 hour fitness at the SE corner of Arapahoe and Parker (except for about 50 feet) headed towards Arapahoe, and the trail is being poured paralleling Jordan north of Arapahoe, curving around to near the Arapahoe bridge over Cherry Creek. So, it may not even be going through the golf course??? Whether or not it will actually go under the bridge - who knows?? I have heard that a rebuild of that bridge is in the works, so it may have to wait until then.

I will be riding to Yale and Monaco and back from Parker shortly and will report any changes to the above, if there are any.

DnvrFox. Thanks for that explanation.

I will be riding to Yale and Monaco and back from Parker shortly and will report any changes to the above, if there are any.

No changes, 18 miles one-way to Yale and Monaco on the route I took, I rode down Jordan 5 miles from my house to the trail at Caley and Jordan.

I am a bit confused here. I thought the path doesn't go through and you have to take Jordan Rd. Are you saying that you can take the Cherry Creek path south of the reservoir?

DnvrFox handled it for me, but I suppose I could have been a bit more in depth in explaining it.

FWIW, I hop out on Otero, hit Jordan up to the park and get back on the trail (actually, I do the road as it's quicker and virtually traffic free;)). that was my "2.9 miles of it" reference in my previous post, because from trailhead to trailhead was 2.9 miles last I clocked it.

DnvrFox, is the new addition going to link up with the concrete by Otero? That would be worth $1M to me!

DnvrFox handled it for me, but I suppose I could have been a bit more in depth in explaining it.

FWIW, I hop out on Otero, hit Jordan up to the park and get back on the trail (actually, I do the road as it's quicker and virtually traffic free;)). that was my "2.9 miles of it" reference in my previous post, because from trailhead to trailhead was 2.9 miles last I clocked it.

DnvrFox, is the new addition going to link up with the concrete by Otero? That would be worth $1M to me!

I don't know, and I am not even sure that the "real" - final - trail will be on the west side of the creek.

It seems to me that Arapahoe County/Centennial should have required KB home to finish off the trail to the east of that new area, instead of just putting that piss poor little windy cement thingie up to Otero. A friend of mine fell on that a couple of days ago.