Trails
Trail Rules and Etiquette
For the safety and enjoyment of all users, please follow trail rules and etiquette:
- Speed limit: 15 MPH (as conditions allow—slow down if necessary!)
- Yield when entering the trail
- Yield to pedestrians
- Do not stop in travel lanes
- Stay to the right; announce to pass on the left
- Turn lights on after sundown
- Always wear a helmet!
- Do not occupy more than half the width of the trail, either single-vehicle or side-by-side
- Call 311 (720.913.1311) to report incidents, camps, crashes & concerns
About Denver Trails
Denver offers more than 80 miles of off-street, multi-use trails within city limits. Most trails follow urban waterways, offering safe and scenic routes through various neighborhoods. These trails provide recreational opportunities and supplement Denver's on-street grid bicycle route system.
Off-Street Bicycle Trails
Denver Parks and Recreation maintains the City’s network of off-street bicycle trails. Any snow accumulation on a trail greater than one inch will be plowed to the channel side (or down slope side) within 12-hours after the end of a snow fall event. Snow that can’t be accessed by machine will be removed manually. Ice accumulation on the trail will be treated with environmentally safe chemical products.
Snow Removal on Park Property/Other Public Property
Denver Parks and Recreation performs snow removal on park property and select sidewalks, such as bridges and underpasses. Snow is also removed from recreation center locations.
Urban Parks: Trail & Walk Details
Many of our parks have perimeter and lake loop trails to serve as a defined route within the park. Here is a list of some of those loops to help you start exploring our park system.
| Park Location | Trail Name & Map | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Berkeley Lake Park | Berkeley Lake Loop |
1..0 mile |
| Cheesman Park | Cheesman Park Inner Loop |
1.1 mile |
| Cheesman Park |
Cheesman Park Inner Loop |
1.4 mile |
| City Park |
Ferril Lake Loop |
0.9 mile |
| City Park |
Mile High Loop |
3.1 mile |
| Garfield Lake Park |
Garfield Lake Loop |
0.6 mile |
| Harvey Park |
Harvey Park Lake Loop |
0.4 mile |
| Huston Lake Park |
Huston Lake Loop |
0.6 mile |
| Parkfield |
Parkfield Lake Loop |
1.1 mile |
| Rocky Mountain Lake Park |
Rocky Mountain Lake Loop |
1.0 mile |
| Sloan's Lake Park |
Sloan's Lake Loop |
2.6 mile |
| Washington Park |
Grassmere Lake Loop |
0.8 mile |
| Washington Park | Meadow Loop | 0.9 mile |
| Washington Park | Smith Lake Loop | 0.6 mile |
| Washington Park | Washington Park Outer Loop | 2.5 mile |
| Washington Park |
Washington Park Roadway Loop |
2.2 mile |
| Trail Name | Reach | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Gulch Trail | Sheridan Blvd to Lakewood Gulch Trail | 0.8 mile |
| First Creek Trail | High Line Canal Trail to 53rd Ave | 2.3 mile |
| Garland Greenbelt Trail | Virginia Ave to Cherry Creek Trail | 1.7 mile |
| Goldsmith Gulch Trail | Eastman Ave to High Line Canal Trail (Bible Park) | 0.7 mile |
| Hampden Heights Trail | Quebec St to Cherry Creek Trail | 2.2 mile |
| Lakewood Gulch Trail | Wolff St to South Platte River Trail | 2.0 mile |
| Sanderson Gulch Trail | Wolff St to South Platte River Trail | 3.4 mile |
| Stapleton Greenway Trail | Montview Blvd to Westerly Creek Trail | 1.9 mile |
| Stapleton Greenway Trail | Quebec St to Greenway Park | 1.9 mile |
| Weir Gulch Trail | Sheridan Blvd to South Platte River Trail | 3.7 mile |
| West Harvard Gulch Trail | Federal Blvd to South Platte River Trail |
1.2 mile |
| Westerly Creek Trail | Montview Blvd to Sand Creek Trail | 1.7 mile |
| Trail Name | Reach | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Gulch Trail | Sheridan Blvd to Lakewood Gulch Trail | 0.8 mile |
| East Harvard Gulch Trail | 56th Ave to Memphis St | 1.0 mile |
| Wagon Creek Trail | Tufts Ave to Field Way | 1.0 mile |
Regional Trail Details
| Trail Name | Reach | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry Creek Trail 1 | Confluence Park (S Platte River Trail) to Colfax Ave | 1.2 mile |
| Cherry Creek Trail 2 | Colfax Ave to Broadway | 1.1 mile |
| Cherry Creek Trail 3 | Broadway to Downing St (Bike Route D-11) | 1.0 mile |
| Cherry Creek Trail 4 | Downing St (Bike Route D-11) to University Blvd | 0.9 mile |
| Cherry Creek Trail 5 | University Blvd to Colorado Blvd | 1.3 mile |
| Cherry Creek Trail 6 | Colorado Blvd to Holly St (Garland Park) | 1.3 mile |
| Cherry Creek Trail 7 | Holly St to Quebec St | 1.3 mile |
| Cherry Creek Trail 8 | Quebec St to Iliff Ave | 0.9 mile |
| Cherry Creek Trail 9 | Iliff Ave to High Line Canal Trail (Hentzell Park) | 1.3 mile |
| Cherry Creek Trail 10 | High Line Canal Trail (Hentzell Park) to Havana St | 0.8 mile |
| Cherry Creek Trail 11 | Havana St to Cherry Creek Reservoir Dam | 1.1 mile |
| Trail Name | Reach | Length |
|---|---|---|
| High Line Canal Trail (GVR) | 40th Ave to First Creek Trail | 2.3 mile |
| High Line Canal Trail (GVR) | First Creek Trail to Maxwell Pl | 2.2 mile |
| High Line Canal Trail 1 | Hampden Ave to Goldsmith Gulch Trail (Bible Park) |
4.7 mile |
| High Line Canal Trail 2 | Goldsmith Gulch Trail (Bible Park) to Cherry Creek Trail (Hentzell Park) |
3.3 mile |
| High Line Canal Trail 3 | Cherry Creek Trail (Hentzell Park) to Parker Rd | 2.8 mile |
| High Line Canal Trail 4 | Parker Rd to Havana St. | 2.8 mile |
| Trail Name | Reach | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Sand Creek Trail (Commerce City) | South Platte River Trail to 47th Ave | 3.7 mile |
| Sand Creek Trail 1 | 47th Ave to Central Park Blvd | 1.6 mile |
| Sand Creek Trail 2 | Central Park Blvd to Havana St | 1.4 mile |
| Sand Creek Trail 3 | Havana St to Peoria St | 1.6 mile |
| Trail Name | Reach | Length |
|---|---|---|
| South Platte River Trail 1 | Dartmouth Ave (South City Limits) to Evans Ave (Pasquinel's Landing Park) |
1.5 mile |
| South Platte River Trail 2 | Evans Ave (Pasquinel's Landing Park) to Florida Ave (Sanderson Gulch Trail) |
0.8 mile |
| South Platte River Trail 3 | Florida Ave (Sanderson Gulch Trail) to Alameda Ave (Johnson-Habitat Park) |
1.8 mile |
| South Platte River Trail 4 | Alameda Ave (Johnson-Habitat Park) to 8th Ave (Frog Hollow Park) |
1.7 mile |
| South Platte River Trail 5 | 8th Ave (Frog Hollow Park) to Colfax Ave (Lakewood Gulch Trail) |
0.8 mile |
| South Platte River Trail 6 | Colfax Ave (Lakewood Gulch Trail) to 15th St (Confluence Park) |
1.3 mile |
| South Platte River Trail 7 | 15th St (Confluence Park) to Park Ave (Bike Route D-7) |
1.0 mile |
| South Platte River Trail 8 | Park Ave (Bike Route D-7) to 38th St (Globeville Landing Park) |
1.3 mile |
| South Platte River Trail 9 | 38th Ave (Globeville Landing Park) to Franklin St (North City Limits) |
1.4 mile |
- Park Use Rules & Regulations
- Admissions-Based Events
- Alcohol Rules, Regulations & Policies
- E-Device Operation | 180-Day Directive
- Communications Policy
- Corporate Sponsorship
- Gift Policy
- Marijuana Policy
- Naming Parks & Facilities
- Park Designation Policy
- Partnership Policy (draft)
- Passive Recreation Use Areas Amendment
- Private Outdoor Fee-Based Activities (POFA)
- Public Event Policy
- 2020 Proposed Revision: Public Event Policy
- Recreation Customer Code of Conduct
- Recreation Facility Permitting
E-Device Rule Directive: May - Nov. 2019
Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR) is implementing a 180-day Rule Directive that will allow e-devices on Denver trails and park facilities. During this pilot period, DPR will evaluate how e-device use can safely interact with other park activities.
E-devices are defined as electric and/or battery-powered bicycles, scooters, skateboards, “Segways”, unicycles and similar standing or sitting low-powered mobility devices.
Read the full 180-day Rule Directive. (PDF)
Why
E-devices have become increasingly popular in the past couple of years, prompting city agencies and officials to take a closer look at rules that govern public rights-of-way and how they impact mobility options for people traveling throughout Denver. DPR is aware that e-devices are being used in parks and on trails and must evaluate how to best manage this activity.
When
To accommodate the growing number of e-bike and scooter users, DPR has decided to formally evaluate how these devices impact park and trail visitors via the 180-day Rule Directive.
The 180-day directive will be in place May 17 – November 11, 2019 with a public hearing with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and pending public feedback.
What is an e-device?
E-devices are defined as electric and/or battery-powered bicycles, scooters, skateboards, “Segways”, unicycles and similar standing or sitting low-powered mobility devices.
Where will e-devices be allowed?
With some exceptions, e-devices will be allowed wherever bicycles are currently allowed.
What yield pattern should be followed?
E-devices must yield to everyone and bicycles must yield to pedestrians—all must keep right and announce to pass on the left.
What is NOT allowed on trails?
If a device can be registered for street use, it is not allowed on off-street trails or sidewalks. Additionally, no device more than half the width of a trail is allowed (trails are about 10 feet wide in most areas)—everyone should be conscious of riding side-by-side and refrain from doing so in crowded areas.
Can trails now be accessed for commercial use?
Current rules regarding vending and commercial use still apply. Anyone using park facilities for commercial operation must only be passing through and cannot stage within DPR facilities.
How will rules be enforced?
The DPR Park Ranger program will continue hiring additional seasonal staff to accommodate system-wide needs during the busy warm-weather months. As always, Park Rangers will proactively patrol DPR’s most heavily-used facilities to help identify problem areas and educate visitors about park rules, public resources, trail etiquette, safety issues and more.
How can residents report concerns?
During the pilot period, residents were able to report concerns via an online tool that included detailed location information. Park use violations should be reported to 311 (720.913.1311) while the activity is occurring so that a Park Ranger can be dispatched if necessary.
How will this pilot be evaluated?
Please report any incidents related to the use of e-devices via the online evaluation tool which will be used to track potential problem-areas and challenges related to e-vehicles in parks and on trails.
At the end of the 180-day pilot period, DPR will evaluate issues reported via this online tool, 311 and pocketgov reports, along with incidents logged by Park Rangers. DPR recognizes the popularity of e-devices as a convenient method of transportation and may implement rule modifications to help make them a successful transportation option while maximizing the safety of other park and trail users.
For the safety and enjoyment of all park users, cyclists, e-device users and pedestrians must follow trail rules and etiquette:
- Speed limit: 15 MPH (as conditions allow—slow down if necessary!)
- Yield when entering the trail
- Yield to pedestrians
- Do not stop in travel lanes
- Stay to the right; announce to pass on the left
- Lights must be on after sundown
- Always wear a helmet!
- Do not occupy more than half the width of the trail, either single-device or side-by-side
- Call 311 (720.913.1311) to report incidents, camps, crashes & concerns
- Submit feedback on the Rule
NOTE: This rule impacts Denver Parks and Trails ONLY.
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Denver Parks & Recreation
Main Office
201 West Colfax Ave, Dept. 601
Denver, CO 80202
(720) 913-1311
ParksandRecreation@denvergov.org
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