Fizziii

Does anyone know if there are any closures on the South Platte River Trail under I-76? I know they're doing road construction on I-76 and bridge replacement. I was hoping to go by that way and if it's closed, I'll need an alternative route.

Best regards,
Fizziii

DataJunkie

It is open. The trail narrows a bit but that is about it.

colorado dale

they did make me get off and walk under the bridge today

Fizziii

Thank you both.

DataJunkie

I ride it most weekends to get from a northern suburb to locations in Denver or Golden. No walking for me...yet. I had better remember my cleat covers the next time.

Fizziii

I'm working my way up to a ride from the 88th & Colorado Trail entrance to Lakewood (BelMar). Any advice you can share? What to expect, best way to head West from the Trail?

colorado dale

?"the trail"? if it were me i'd take clear creek trail get off where bridge crosses clear creek and continue straight(up) vs continuing to wheat ridge rec center that's just before kippling follow the bike route markings to crown hill and then take garrison left on belmar (in spite of sign no access to belmar park)
the bike path will go straight thru belmar park to belmar shopping center

DataJunkie

That sounds about right.

Fizziii

Sorry for the lack of description. By "The trail", I was referring to the South Platte River Trail. It looks like it goes down past 9th around I-25. I'm aiming to go from around 88th & Colorado to Alameda and Wadsworth.

mikeybikes

What colorado dale said. I'm not 100% sure how, but I know there's a decent way to get from the Clear Creek Trail to Garrison St, and then take that all the way south into Lakewood.

Another option would be to head west at the Lakewood Gulch Trail, take Perry St south across the 6th Ave Freeway, then head west on 1st Ave. That should get you within a few blocks of Alameda and Wadsworth.

colorado dale

you need to stop at rei or a lbs and pick up a (greater)denver bicycle touring map if I am leaving familiar routes i wont leave home without it
you never know when you will experience a detour

my contention is clear ck trail to crown hill to garrison is shorter vs platte/ sanderson to belmar if nothing else it will make for a loop with very close distances vs out and back

Fizziii

Colorado Dale, thank you for the input. I think I'll start trying to explore the trails on the weekends and see where they go. (Well, after I get another bicycle, or get mine fixed as the freewheel/freehub exploded on me). All I have to go on is google maps at the moment and according to them Platte to Decatur to Weir Gulch through some other streets still following Weir Guch to 1st to Harlan to Byers to Belmar is around 18 miles.

Dragging the route to go through Crown Hill Park shows it to be 21 miles. As you mentioned, I need to get a bicycle touring map and get out there and travel parts of the trails. There's a REI store near the South Platte River trail in Denver, isn't there?

Jaypkk

You could also try Clear Creek Trail to Tennyson St, south to 26th Ave, then west to Garrison St. Garrison is one of the better Lakewood Roads. Here's a link to a map of the major metro trails in the Denver area (from ColoradoBikeMaps.com), and below an excerpt from Great Road Rides Denver showing the connecting route from REI/Confluence Park to Crown Hill and south on Garrison. Good luck.

colorado dale

last time i looked a google maps for bicycles it told me to go out us 6 to get to loveland pass
us 6 due to the tunnels bicycles are prohibited
bottom line it seems they publish what they would for cars and then wait for bicycle feedback
granted I havent checked it for a yr but I WOULD NOT trust google for bicycle routes

Fizziii

Understandable. Putting in my start in Thornton, and my end in Lakewood, it uses mainly bicycle trails. Again, nothing beats experience which is why I'm going to get out and start exploring a little farther each time.