Mountain - Plains - Riding from Stapleton area in Denver

Visiting family for a few days and hoping to get a couple of decent rides in. May drive out to the Boulder area one day for one of the routes I've read about. But would also like to ride at least one day without having to drive somewhere first. Any suggestions? I'm starting from near the Stapleton Wal-Mart off Quebec St.

Visiting family for a few days and hoping to get a couple of decent rides in. May drive out to the Boulder area one day for one of the routes I've read about. But would also like to ride at least one day without having to drive somewhere first. Any suggestions? I'm starting from near the Stapleton Wal-Mart off Quebec St.

What kind of riding? Street, trails, long, short?? Road, mtn bike??

The sand creek greenway - a trail - goes just east and north of the stapleton area.

http://www.sandcreekgreenway.org

http://www.sandcreekgreenway.org/3map/3.1greenway/1greenway.html

That would join with the Platte River Trail (Front Range Trail)

My bad...should've been more specific. Road biking. Would love to get 50+ miles in.

I've run on the Sand Creek Trail before...but I've only gone about 8 miles west on it. So I keep going that direction and it runs into the Platte River Trail?

My bad...should've been more specific. Road biking. Would love to get 50+ miles in.

I've run on the Sand Creek Trail before...but I've only gone about 8 miles west on it. So I keep going that direction and it runs into the Platte River Trail?


Yes, it goes through "beautiful" Commerce City, then adjoins the PRT on the north end. From there one can go north a bit, or south a lot, or one can go on the Clear Creek Trail or all the other main trails.

Here is a map showing in general the trail system:

http://www.ourwebs.info/denverbikemap1.jpg

There may or may not be detours on the Sand.

Very good...thanks for the info. Wish there was a way to avoid the dirt portion before Sapp Oil (without dealing with Quebec)...actually, I may be willing to chance Quebec early on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

The Platte River Trail is totally cement. The Clear Creek Trail is a mish mash of asphalt and cement.

You can easily get to 7th ave and ride across town that way as well. From there, you can hop on any of the designated bike routes that cross it.

If you've not yet come and gone, you skip the gravel portion of the sand creek by taking 29th (or any e/w street in the area) to Holly. Take Holly north to Smith Road. Left (WEst) on Smith Road to Dahlia. Right (North) On Dahlia to the Dahlia trail access.

Dahlia will curve to the west slightly and hit a light at 56th (I think that the street). Take a right, cross the bridge and you'll see the trail access down and to your right.

There's one very short portion of gravel before you get to the Platte. It's totally doable with no issues on a road bike.