Go Back  Bike Forums > Community Connections > Regional Discussions > Mountain - Plains
Reload this Page >

Visiting Denver in October, Looking for Rails-to-Trails and Other Recommendations

Notices
Mountain - Plains Colorado | Kansas | Missouri | Montana | North Dakota | Nebraska | South Dakota | Utah | Wyoming

Visiting Denver in October, Looking for Rails-to-Trails and Other Recommendations

Old 08-22-12, 12:30 PM
  #1  
jimbojonez
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
jimbojonez's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 74

Bikes: 2011 Trek 7.5 FX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Visiting Denver in October, Looking for Rails-to-Trails and Other Recommendations

Hello from the Great Lakes region (Madison, WI specifically)

I'm visiting Denver in early October and staying the the Lakewood and Wheat Ridge Area.

I already have one day planned doing a loop thru the city and visiting some of the Brewpubs downtown, here is the route i was going to make a loop out of, if anyone has any recommendations to change this up i would appreciate any feedback.

I was also looking for some recommendations for some other routes to take on the other days I am there. I prefer spending my time on Rails to Trails type trails with nice views. I see so many on TrailLink that its hard to get a feel for the ones i should really spend time on. Id really appreciate any advice the locals have for cant miss trails. I'm used to doing up to 100 miles, so i'm open for anything

I'm a novice mountain biker and will be bringing my mountain bike also and am looking for any recommendations for some novice level mountain biking areas I should check out.

Thanks for any advice you have.

If your ever coming to south central Wisconsin, check out my trail biking blog for routes in the area.
https://bartsbiking.com/
jimbojonez is offline  
Old 08-22-12, 08:08 PM
  #2  
mje
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Highlands Ranch
Posts: 256

Bikes: Trek Domane, Specialized Sequoia, Cannondale RT3000

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Part of your large route goes through Apex Park. Those trails would not be suitable for a road bike. Instead, you should take US 40 up the Mt Vernon canyon. I made some edits to your map: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=216879053703708317241.0004c7e543ac4ce2efb58
Besides avoiding Apex Park, I improved your route through Bear Creek Lake Park.

Climbing Mt Vernon Canyon at the end of that ride may be a lot to bite off coming from low elevation.

The Cherry Creek and Platte River bike paths are highly recommended. Your route already includes half of the Platte Trail. It's popular to link the Cherry Creek and Platte Trails with the (less recommended) 470 bike path to make a ~60 mile loop.

One more thing, the NE section of your route is pretty industrial and not very scenic. Most riders would get to downtown from your starting location along 32nd avenue.
mje is offline  
Old 08-22-12, 08:20 PM
  #3  
colorado dale
cycling for 50 plus yrs
 
colorado dale's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Silverthorne/Lakewood, CO
Posts: 411

Bikes: IF Crown Jewell

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
for a second day from rei downtown take cherry creek trail to c470 trail to platte river trail (mary carter greenway) back to rei

get a dbtc denver bicycle map at rei or a lbs for other options
colorado dale is offline  
Old 08-23-12, 06:40 PM
  #4  
JMgoblue
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Not sure what brew pubs you currently have in mind, but just before you get to point C on your original map you can cross the river @ 16th street pedestrian bridge onto Platte St. and hit Denver Beer Co - they brew their own beers and usually have a food truck parked out front. Downtown you have Wynkoop (Wynkoop &17th), one of the original brew pubs, and the Great Divide brewery on 22nd and arapahoe. Falling Rock tap house on Blake b/t 18th and 19th for a huge craft beer selection. Looks like your route takes you through Golden so you've got Coors there if necessary.

Re: your route - Agreed on 32nd instead of clear creek & planning to ride straight through Bear Creek Lake Park instead of dropping south on Kipling which is not very rider friendly I don't think. There is one short but steep climb coming out of fox hollow golf course. then uphill on 470 trail. If you're a climber I'd detour into red rocks from 470. It's worth the climb - actually, do you realize that you already have a couple thousand feet of climbing on your current route? Just checking.

I guess don't forget to pack your climbing legs or your liver.
JMgoblue is offline  
Old 08-23-12, 08:28 PM
  #5  
colorado dale
cycling for 50 plus yrs
 
colorado dale's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Silverthorne/Lakewood, CO
Posts: 411

Bikes: IF Crown Jewell

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
strange brewing should be on your list https://strangebrewingco.com/
colorado dale is offline  
Old 08-23-12, 09:53 PM
  #6  
JMgoblue
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by colorado dale
strange brewing should be on your list https://strangebrewingco.com/
huh. I gotta check that out myself.
JMgoblue is offline  
Old 08-24-12, 07:52 AM
  #7  
jimbojonez
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
jimbojonez's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 74

Bikes: 2011 Trek 7.5 FX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by mje
Part of your large route goes through Apex Park. Those trails would not be suitable for a road bike. Instead, you should take US 40 up the Mt Vernon canyon. I made some edits to your map: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=216879053703708317241.0004c7e543ac4ce2efb58
Besides avoiding Apex Park, I improved your route through Bear Creek Lake Park.

Climbing Mt Vernon Canyon at the end of that ride may be a lot to bite off coming from low elevation.

The Cherry Creek and Platte River bike paths are highly recommended. Your route already includes half of the Platte Trail. It's popular to link the Cherry Creek and Platte Trails with the (less recommended) 470 bike path to make a ~60 mile loop.

One more thing, the NE section of your route is pretty industrial and not very scenic. Most riders would get to downtown from your starting location along 32nd avenue.
Thank you for the advice, I put this together just looking on Google maps and this is exactly what i was looking for. Ill probably avoid Apex Park all together and take 6th ave.
jimbojonez is offline  
Old 08-24-12, 07:59 AM
  #8  
jimbojonez
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
jimbojonez's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 74

Bikes: 2011 Trek 7.5 FX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by JMgoblue
Not sure what brew pubs you currently have in mind, but just before you get to point C on your original map you can cross the river @ 16th street pedestrian bridge onto Platte St. and hit Denver Beer Co - they brew their own beers and usually have a food truck parked out front. Downtown you have Wynkoop (Wynkoop &17th), one of the original brew pubs, and the Great Divide brewery on 22nd and arapahoe. Falling Rock tap house on Blake b/t 18th and 19th for a huge craft beer selection. Looks like your route takes you through Golden so you've got Coors there if necessary.

Re: your route - Agreed on 32nd instead of clear creek & planning to ride straight through Bear Creek Lake Park instead of dropping south on Kipling which is not very rider friendly I don't think. There is one short but steep climb coming out of fox hollow golf course. then uphill on 470 trail. If you're a climber I'd detour into red rocks from 470. It's worth the climb - actually, do you realize that you already have a couple thousand feet of climbing on your current route? Just checking.

I guess don't forget to pack your climbing legs or your liver.
Thanks for all the replies on recommended Brew Pubs, i had seen this guide here https://www.denver.org/dining-nightli...icionado-guide and was planning on hitting most of those spots. Ill add Strange Brew. It already had Denver Co and Wynkoop which people had mentioned above also. Im hitting the Great American Beer festival on Thursday also, so my liver will definitely be getting a workout to.

I like some climbing, but the later in the day it gets i may detour from some of the climbs. Ill probably take 32nd street since that seems to be the recommended route from the replies here.

Any other advice for avoiding some climbs on the last part of the trail is also appreciate, so i have some alternatives after a long day.
jimbojonez is offline  
Old 08-24-12, 09:51 AM
  #9  
colorado dale
cycling for 50 plus yrs
 
colorado dale's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Silverthorne/Lakewood, CO
Posts: 411

Bikes: IF Crown Jewell

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
for light mtn biking (could be done on cross bike) try waterton canyon
there is over a 50 /50 chance you'll see bighorn sheep riding in the canyon https://www.denverwater.org/Recreation/WatertonCanyon/
not challenging ride but very beautiful perhaps a good short ride for your first day to help you get used to altitude

here's another article on strange brew https://www.denverpost.com/food/ci_15198853

reminder if you take your loop counterclockwise you get hills out of way earlier in the ride as you hit the foothills first and downtown last and you'll be following the bear creek and platte downstream and have the brewpubs closer to end of the ride
colorado dale is offline  
Old 08-24-12, 10:08 AM
  #10  
mje
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Highlands Ranch
Posts: 256

Bikes: Trek Domane, Specialized Sequoia, Cannondale RT3000

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Originally Posted by jimbojonez
Any other advice for avoiding some climbs on the last part of the trail is also appreciate, so i have some alternatives after a long day.
If you take Johnson St into Golden instead of the 6th Ave bike path, you'll avoid going over a hill. Stop at Golden City Brewery while in Golden.
mje is offline  
Old 08-26-12, 07:39 AM
  #11  
DnvrFox
Banned.
 
DnvrFox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 10 Posts
Waterton Canyon:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-More-Coud-One
DnvrFox is offline  
Old 08-27-12, 12:24 AM
  #12  
RobertHurst
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Denver
Posts: 1,621
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 12 Posts
Oh no, don't take 6th...That's a freeway.

Your route goes south on Kipling where the Bear Creek Trail ends. Definitely continue onto the golf road there and find the BCT continuing over the little hill (Mt. Carbon) and down into Bear Creek Lake Park. That's one of the coolest sections of bike path we've got around here.

If you like smooth gravel paths try the Highline Canal Trail which winds through the entire city. The best sections are down south. It's really cool to make a loop with S Platte, Big Dry Creek Trail and Highline, or something like that.
RobertHurst is offline  
Old 08-27-12, 06:09 AM
  #13  
DnvrFox
Banned.
 
DnvrFox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 10 Posts
Originally Posted by mje
If you take Johnson St into Golden instead of the 6th Ave bike path, you'll avoid going over a hill. Stop at Golden City Brewery while in Golden.
???? 6th Ave bike path**********

I thought I had been on all of the bike paths?? Never been on the 6th ave.

This may be helpful

DnvrFox is offline  
Old 08-27-12, 09:23 AM
  #14  
mje
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Highlands Ranch
Posts: 256

Bikes: Trek Domane, Specialized Sequoia, Cannondale RT3000

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Originally Posted by DnvrFox
???? 6th Ave bike path**********

I thought I had been on all of the bike paths?? Never been on the 6th ave.
That may not be its proper name, but it runs along US 6 as it loops around the west side of Golden.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=...0f6b858c8f3ca6

Last edited by mje; 08-27-12 at 09:29 AM.
mje is offline  
Old 08-28-12, 06:18 AM
  #15  
DnvrFox
Banned.
 
DnvrFox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 10 Posts
Originally Posted by mje
That may not be its proper name, but it runs along US 6 as it loops around the west side of Golden.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=...0f6b858c8f3ca6
Thanks - and, as I recall, during a class at Mines, I did take a portion of that trail. I was not aware that it was so long - I just thought it was a sort of trail stub. Of course, that was about 10 years ago, maybe it has been lengthened a bit.
DnvrFox is offline  
Old 09-09-12, 05:03 PM
  #16  
gps_dr
GeoBiker / Mapper
 
gps_dr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 117

Bikes: 2007 Gary Fisher Piranha & ~ 1984 Ross Mt Whitney

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by DnvrFox
Thanks - and, as I recall, during a class at Mines, I did take a portion of that trail. I was not aware that it was so long - I just thought it was a sort of trail stub. Of course, that was about 10 years ago, maybe it has been lengthened a bit.
Signs say it is the US 6 Trail. Recently extended N to Clear Cr, passes by fossil area and School of Mines.

This is part of my G47 trail (Golden C470) on my website.

Some other changes in that area are:
C470 Trail also extended N with paths & some on street routes to 6th & Indiana area.
Tucker Gulch Trail extends past Norman D Perry Park @ Mesa & Ford St to trail along Hwy 93 (My GLY trail (Golden Leyden).

These and over 200 more Colorado GPS enabled trails are available, Free, on my website.
Can load as tracks on almost any GPS, Map overlays on Garmin & DeLorme GPS & via Google Earth.

On the West side of town on a MTB, Dakota Ridge, Red Rocks & Morrison Slide trails make a nice scenic loop including dinosaur tracks.
Dakota Ridge is easier N to S. They form my RDS trail, parking at Matthew Winters Park or RTD Park & Ride Just S of I70 on County Rd 93.
(Last exit before mountains)
Further S near Bear Cr is Mt Falcon Park, steep climb from Morrison Side. Not too bad if you go to back side and stay on top.

Around town, the Highline Canal trail goes from Waterton Canyon to Aurora on E side of town, quite flat except for a few spots near C470. Platte River, Cherry Cr, Sand Cr and Clear Cr trails are all low incline trails that you can makes some nice off street loops with.
C470 has some long climbs/drops over its 34 mile swoop around SW metro area.

Enjoy!

Last edited by gps_dr; 09-09-12 at 05:14 PM. Reason: add a few more trail suggestions
gps_dr is offline  
Old 09-14-12, 09:09 AM
  #17  
cyccommute 
Mad bike riding scientist
 
cyccommute's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,274

Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones

Mentioned: 150 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6147 Post(s)
Liked 4,091 Times in 2,325 Posts
Originally Posted by jimbojonez
Hello from the Great Lakes region (Madison, WI specifically)

I'm visiting Denver in early October and staying the the Lakewood and Wheat Ridge Area.

I already have one day planned doing a loop thru the city and visiting some of the Brewpubs downtown, here is the route i was going to make a loop out of, if anyone has any recommendations to change this up i would appreciate any feedback.

I was also looking for some recommendations for some other routes to take on the other days I am there. I prefer spending my time on Rails to Trails type trails with nice views. I see so many on TrailLink that its hard to get a feel for the ones i should really spend time on. Id really appreciate any advice the locals have for cant miss trails. I'm used to doing up to 100 miles, so i'm open for anything

I'm a novice mountain biker and will be bringing my mountain bike also and am looking for any recommendations for some novice level mountain biking areas I should check out.

Thanks for any advice you have.

If your ever coming to south central Wisconsin, check out my trail biking blog for routes in the area.
https://bartsbiking.com/
First on your map. As others have said the 'bike path' that you routed out in Golden is a mountain bike trail, and a rugged one at that. US 6 (aka 6th Avenue) does indeed have a bike path that follows it from Golden to the Jefferson County Courthouse. It's not flat but it is worth the ride. Stop just off 19th Street (top of the hill) to visit a dinosaur trackway.

We have a lot of roads and trails that used to be rails but not a lot of 'rail-to-trails' like Wisconsin has. Also weather in the high country can be iffy in early October. It can be stunningly gorgeous or snowing like a sumabich. All that said, there are a couple of trails that are worth the effort. There's the Santa Fe Trail from Palmer Lake to Colorado Springs. It runs through the Air Force Academy and goes off the rails about 5 miles outside of Colorado Springs. It's an easy ride but does involve a bit of hill climbing and downhills on loose surfaces. Early October would be an excellent time for this trail.

There also the Rock Island Trail near Falcon. It's a prairie trail which means that it is very flat and there's no trees. The outbound leg is going to be featureless but the inbound leg (toward Falcon) will give you spectacular views of Pikes Peak.

Also around Colorado Springs is Gold Camp Road. This is an old trolley line and parts of it are open to cars. There is a road block near the tunnels and you can ride up about 9 miles.

Around Buena Vista, there is the Midland Trail around Buena Vista which is less rail trail and more trail. There is also the Mineral Belt Trail in Leadville. This is a wonderful ride and breath taking...both literally and visually. You could also ride on parts of a railbed in Frisco. The ride up Ten Mile Creek from Frisco to Copper Mountain is a railbed and is spectacular as well.

Of the trails I've listed (and there are many more old railbeds in Colorado), I'd suggest the Santa Fe Trail in Colorado Springs...to get you lungs used to vacuum we call air up here...and the Mineral Belt Trail as well as riding around Frisco.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!



cyccommute is offline  
Old 09-14-12, 09:26 AM
  #18  
DnvrFox
Banned.
 
DnvrFox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 10 Posts
The Rio Grande Trail from Glenwood Springs to Aspen is a 40 mile "Rails to Trails" paved (mostly) trail. There are winter closures between Carbondale and Basalt - I don't know the dates. There are also bears.
DnvrFox is offline  
Old 09-22-12, 04:39 PM
  #19  
cyccommute 
Mad bike riding scientist
 
cyccommute's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,274

Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones

Mentioned: 150 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6147 Post(s)
Liked 4,091 Times in 2,325 Posts
I forgot one that is super close. Waterton Canyon is a 6.5 mile ride up the old Denver, South Park and Pacific railroad. It's not a hard ride and you can often see bighorn sheep as well as other wildlife there.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!



cyccommute is offline  
Old 09-24-12, 07:28 PM
  #20  
jimbojonez
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
jimbojonez's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 74

Bikes: 2011 Trek 7.5 FX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Hey all, still making some adjustments to my routes from all the great advice here, i really appreciate it and will check in with my final routes soon. Looking forward to the trip.
jimbojonez is offline  
Old 09-25-12, 10:17 AM
  #21  
Speedwagon98
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 206

Bikes: 2009 Specialized Sirrus

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Don't forget about the altitude difference. If you combine exercise with drinking, 4-5000ft higher than you normally are, it might kick your ass in a hurry. So take it easy until you know how you'll react to it.

When I first moved here, I tried mountain biking about 2-3 months after I got here... and quickly found out that 6000ft is a big reality check.
Speedwagon98 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Steve B.
Northeast
14
07-21-17 07:16 PM
White_birch
Pacific Northwest
9
11-23-15 10:26 PM
bknaus
Road Cycling
10
10-14-13 01:36 PM
vandalarchitect
Pacific Northwest
12
11-20-11 09:43 PM
toolbear
Southern California
6
05-23-10 02:11 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.