Denver Trail Runs

Following are some of the trail runs I’ve found close to central Denver. I have only included runs that are mostly or all unpaved trail, and have organized trails in proximity to downtown.

I prefer rugged and steep terrain, so tend to head in to the mountains whenever I can.I am not an ultra-runner, but I do like it if my legs are a little shaky by the time I get back to the car. None of these runs are too serious, but White Ranch can be tough if you are not used to climbing.

If you don’t have one already, I’d recommend picking up a Denver bike trail map, as any of the dedicated bike paths also make great running routes, though paved in almost all cases. Nearly all bike shops will carry the map, as well as some general sports/outdoor stores. I would also recommend a good topo map for some of these and exploring in general. I like the scale of the USGS maps for running, but I prefer the National Geographic topos for durability and readability. Both are available at REI.

I have included links to mapmyrun.com for example runs in each of the places talked about in this guide. In all cases you can change it up as much as you want. Apart from the Cherry Creek and Highline Canal runs, you will notice offshoot trails as you run, some of which are not on any map. As you get more familiar with the different areas, you will find you can come up with almost limitless variants on the basic loops and out-and-backs. The mapmyrun.com maps also start at a good parking location for each run.

If you are new to running, you may also want to check out this guide: Running to lose the Buddha Belly

Follow my trail running tweets at www.twitter.com/nicobrx

Cherry Creek

This is my least favorite of the runs listed here, but has the advantage of being right in central Denver. A dirt trail runs adjacent to the Cherry Creek bike path west of Colorado Blvd. The trail is very nice, but doesn’t last very long and to make a loop you have to end up going on a lot of road. Still, you will be surprised by how remote it can feel in some places. It is also a perfect place to take your dog for a run. The terrain is very flat, but there are some nice contours to run over. Parking options aren’t as obvious as the others on my list. I’ve parked by some office buildings on the south side of the Creek just east of Colorado.

Highline Canal Trail

If you haven’t been yet, this is one of the treasures of the metro area. The Highline Canal trail meanders all the way from Cherry Creek State Park down nearly to Chatfield Reservoir. And I do mean meander – there are sections of the trail where you won’t feel like you are in the city at all. One of my favorite stretches starts off of Colorado Blvd, just south of Hamden, which is the run featured on the map. There is a small parking lot at the trail head. You head east of Colorado (counterintuitive) and zig-zag through a stunning stretch of Cherry Hills. I picked this stretch, but it is worth exploring the entire trail, as it holds many surprises. Good spot for marathon training too, as there are relatively few road crossings and the surface is a little easier on the joints than asphalt. The main downside of this trail is the fact that it is dead flat.

South Table Mountain

This is another hidden treasure of metro area trails. The obscurity of the trail heads keeps it from being overrun (no pun intended). I’ve done it a number of times, but still feel like I’m walking through someone’s back yard as I leave the road. The parking lot at the church at the end of 20th street is an ideal starting point. From there, you do a long slog up the mesa. I’ve traced an odd route around the top of the mesa and back down. I tried to stick to fairly official trails, but frankly I usually do a bit of trespassing on NREL property when I get up there. Be warned that trespassing on the west side of the mesa gets a bit dodgy. I’ve done a nice long route across the full length of the mesa then down around the south length back to the church, but all the “private property!” signs had me a bit spooked.

Green Mountain

This may be my favorite area to run within metro Denver. I love hills, and Green Mountain is a doozey. You can come up with all kinds of routes, and the views from the top are very nice. There are always plenty of bikers and walkers, if you are concerned about remoteness. The only downside of Green Mountain is that it is very exposed. On a hot day you won’t get any relief from the sun. The Hogback ridge to the west of the parking area on the map is also a very nice place to run, but requires a bit of road running. I didn’t include Red Rocks on my list, because I haven’t run there much, but it is worth exploring as well.

Note: I hear that the pedestrian bridge across C470 is closed right now, so you may to head for the parking lot off of Alameda instead. It is located between Florida Drive and Utah Ave.

Mount Galbraith Park

Another hidden gem, this park seems almost designed for runners. The route I have traced out is pretty much the only option, which is a nice running length but a longish hike. Therefore, it doesn’t tend to get much traffic. The climb at the start is pretty steep, but once you get to elevation it is relatively flat. I’ve done a bit of off-trail here to try and mix it up, but I don’t recommend it as the flora is very fragile.

White Ranch Park

White Ranch is a mountain biking mecca, but also a great place for running. I enjoy the smug satisfaction of passing bikers as they wheeze up the hills. White Ranch has an extensive trail system, so can occupy many weekends of exploration. At the start, there is a bit of flat to get you warmed up, but then you have a long steep climb to get you up to elevation. That’s the worst of it, but any direction you go in the park will have a number of ups and downs. I like heading straight for the top of Belcher Hill, then down around the east side of the park back to the car. If you are thinking about doing any of the longer mountain races, White Ranch is the best place to train close to Denver.

There are also a number of trails in the south west metro area, but I am less familiar with those. I’ve also left out Golden Gate Canyon and a number of other points west.  I prefer to spend more time running than driving, so kept the choices reasonably close.

Following are a few useful resources.