I'm living in downtown Denver for the summer and I am trying to find a few good places to run near Denver. Any ideas? Are there any Colorado Trail Heads near the denver area?
I'm living in downtown Denver for the summer and I am trying to find a few good places to run near Denver. Any ideas? Are there any Colorado Trail Heads near the denver area?
Well, it will require a little drive, but the Highline Canal is a fantastic place to run. Several miles of dirt path along the tree-lined canal with half-mile markers. Paved in parts as well.
In the city:
1) Washington Park (2.2 mile dirt loop)
2) Cheeseman Park (1.3 mile? dirt loop)
3) City Park (2+ mile dirt loop + golf course if you go north of 21st Ave
Just west of the city
1) Green Mountain (Lakewood, 10 miles or so of trail running)
2) Bear Creek State Park (Morrison, 8+ miles of trails)
3) Mtn Falcon (Morrison, tough trail climb)
Just south of the city
1) Highline Canal (Colorado Blvd and Hampden, I've done 18 milers entirely on dirt)
2) Waterton Canyon (Littleton, 6 mile dirt access road up a canyon, can add on another 6 mile loop of Colorado trail on the top before coming back down the dirt road)
North of the City
1) Lots of trails in/around Boulder.
Google these names for more details on location etc. Are you looking for people to run with? There are lots of groups in the area (Rocky Mountain Triathlon Club (Tues track workout), Runner Roost (Weds night), Niketown Run (Weds?), Irish Snug Running Club (Thurs), I meet with some post-collegiate guys for workouts and a long-run. Let me know if you want more details.
Kevin
Denver sucks ass. Take today for example: 80+ degrees and smoggy as hell.
People say Denver has 300+ days of sunshine. What they don't tell you is that 1/2 those days it's either too hot or too cold to enjoy being outside. And the other half of them it's too farkin windy to run or bike. Nevermind the smog, rednecks, total lack of culture, and endless sprawl.
Why anyone would choose to live here is beyond me. I'm getting out soon myself. One year has been one too many.
My advice would be to get out as quickly as possible.
Wash Park outer loop is actually 2.6 miles. The inner paved loop is a little over 2.2 (2.26 if memory serves).
If you don't mind pavement, the Cherry Creek trail is nice and long -- about 15 miles, give or take. From downtown, you can pick it up anywhere along Speer. I'm also a fan of the Platte River trail -- pick it up at Confluence Park by REI and run SOUTH (east has problems with transients).
Congress Park has a nice loop for 800-2000 intervals.