CHERRY CREEK TRAIL:
DENVER-, COLORADO
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: October 21, 2025
Length: Cherry Creek Trail; 48 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Mostly flat, cement trail. A few hilly sections.
Directions:
To Start from
The Cherry Creek Trail follows Cherry Creek from Denver's Confluence Park, where it connects to the North-South South Platte River Trail , South, to Franktown. There are multiple trails that connect to this trail along its route. I've checked out 2 of these trails in the town of Parker. See; Parker Trails . Denver & its suburbs are very bike friendly with lots of interconnecting neighborhood trails that connect to Denver's main trails. Most road crossings consist of the trail traveling underneath the road. For more information visit; CHERRY CREEK TRAIL , PARKER TRAILS & BICYCLE COLORADO .
Starting from Confluence Park in Lower Downtown Denver; I haven't checked out this section. The Cherry Creek Trail travels along both sides of Cherry Creek from the confluence of the South Platte River where a pedestrian bridge connects them. Confluence Park is located along both sides of Cherry Creek and fronts the South Platte River. You have direct access to the South Platte River here.
Starting from the Western Side of Cherry Creek & Confluence Park; The South Platte River Trail also travels along both sides of the South Platte River, where a pedestrian bridge connects them here. Map Board.
Note; Traveling Southwest, along the Western Side of the South Platte River Trail, you can access the DOWNTOWN AQUARIUM , CHILDREN'S MUSEUM & Mile High Stadium.
From the confluence of both rivers [0 Mile Marker], the wide, concrete Upper Cherry Creek Trail & South Platte River Trail travel South, above the Western Side of Cherry Creek. Green Mile Markers every 0.5 Miles. Another section of the Lower Cherry Creek Trail travels below at river level. Come to a pedestrian bridge.
Note; The South Platte River Trail continues across the creek. You can also access the Cherry Creek Trail that follows the Eastern Side of Cherry Creek South.
Next, come to a ramp. Head down this ramp to connect to the Lower Cherry Creek Trail.
Note; The Upper Cherry Creek Trail continues straight, but has multiple street crossings.
The Lower Cherry Creek Trail travels underneath Little Raven St between the river and concrete walls. Next travel underneath 2 RR bridges and pass by a spur trail. Multiple spurs connect the Upper & Lower Cherry Creek Trails along the trail. Travel underneath 2 old defunct bridges, the Wewatta St bridge and another pedestrian bridge before passing a spur trail at 0.4 miles.
Note; This spur trail takes you up to the Downtown Children's Playground, where you can also access Ball Arena. The Upper Cherry Creek Trail also ends here.
Travel underneath another pedestrian bridge, followed by the Wazee St bridge, Blake St bridge, Market St bridge, Larimer St bridge, N Speer Blvd bridge, Lawrence St bridge, Arapahoe St bridge, Champa St bridge and Kalamath St bridge before the trail crosses over the creek at 1.1 miles. You know follow the Eastern Side of Cherry Creek Southeast, traveling underneath W Colfax St, W 14th Ave, W 13th Ave, W 11th Ave, Bannock St, W 8th Ave and Broadway before coming to a cement bridge over the creek at 2.3 miles.
Note; Across this bridge a ramp leads up to a short section of trail above covered Speer Blvd.
Next travel underneath Lincoln St, E 6th Ave, Grant St and Logan St before coming to another cement bridge over the creek at 2.7 miles.
Note; Across this bridge a ramp leads up E Speer Blvd.
Next travel underneath N Washington St, Clarkson St, Corona St, N Downing St and E 1st Ave, where the trail now travels alongside E 1st Ave at 3.4 miles, bypassing a golf course. Turn right along S University Blvd, returning to the creek, where the trail continues underneath S University Blvd and quickly come to an intersection at 4.4 miles. Cherry Creek Shopping Center is left, across E Cherry Creek N Dr.
Note; Right will take you down to another cement bridge over the creek where the trail follows the Western Side of Cherry Creek briefly, before you cross back over the creek to the Western Side.
Continue left, traveling through a wide promenade, then briefly alongside E Cherry Creek N Dr to an intersection. Continue right to another intersection.
Note; Right is where the trail crosses the creek.
Continue straight to yet another intersection.
Note; Right leads to another bridge across the creek and up to E Cherry Creek S Dr.
I have checked out this next section. Continue left and soon travel underneath S Colorado Blvd. Pass by Creekside Park and come to an intersection at 5.7 miles.
Note; Right leads to a bridge across the creek and another short section of the trail along the Western Side of Cherry Creek that travels from S Colorado Blvd 0.7 miles to Cherry Creek S Dr.
Come to Four Mile Historic Park at 6.1 miles, where you'll find picnic tables and a BIKE STATION. Pass a pedestrian bridge over the creek, where you'll find a Map Board, before coming to an intersection at 6.7 miles.
Note; Left, the Cherry Creek Trail continues along the Eastern Side of Cherry Creek, crossing S Holly St and traveling past Lollipop Lake (trail circles the lake and includes picnic tables) and Garland Park (parking lot). It then crosses S Monaco St Pkwy, E Florida Ave and Cherry Creek N Dr, before crossing back over the creek to the Western Side after *7.8 miles.
Continuing right, you'll travel underneath S Holly St and cross a bridge over the creek before coming to an intersection.
Note; Right, West, will take you up to S Holly St, across which is Potenza Park. A 0.4 mile Trail Loops around the park. Playground.
Continuing along the Western Side of Cherry Creek, you'll travel underneath S Monaco St Pkwy and come to an intersection at 7.4 miles.
Note; Right, West, will take you up to and across E Cherry Creek S Dr to Cook Park. A 1.2 mile Trail Loops around the park. Goldsmith Gulch travels through the park. Parking lot, playground, picnic tables & recreation center.
Continuing straight you'll pass by a bridge over the creek at *7.7 miles.
Note; Right, across E Cherry Creek S Dr brings you to the Cook Park parking lot.
Travel underneath S Quebec St and come to an intersection at 8.3 miles.
Note; Left takes you through the floodplain to a bridge across the creek. Here the trail takes you Northwest, back to S Quebec St. Head right to Chennai Park at 0.5 miles, where you can access a 0.4 mile Loop Trail.
Note; Right, the Cherry Creek Trail (old route) travels alongside E Cherry Creek S Dr before re-joining the main trail.
Continuing straight, you travel through the open flood plain to another intersection at 8.7 miles.
Note; Left takes you through the floodplain to a bridge across the creek. Here the trail takes you South, to E Iliff Ave.
Continuing straight, you travel underneath E Iliff Ave and cross a bridge over to the Eastern Side of Cherry Creek at 9 miles and continue Southeast. Again, cross a bridge over to the Western Side of Cherry Creek and travel underneath E Yale Ave. Come to an intersection at 10.1 miles.
Note; Right, the High Line Canal Trail (The High Line Canal is a man-made waterway, used for irrigation and recreation. High Line Canals are named after the engineering principle by which they are designed, which calls for a Canal to follow the contours of the terrain, with a minimal drop in elevation that allows its flow to be driven by gravity) travels Southwest.
Continuing straight, East, along the combined Cherry Creek Trail & High Line Canal Trail, you cross the creek and travel past a golf course to another intersection.
Note; The High Line Canal Trail continues straight, traveling Northeast.
Head right, back across the creek to another intersection at 10.3 miles.
Note; Right, the Hampden Heights Trail travels South.
Continue left, Southeast and pass by another section of the Hampden Heights Trail on your right at 10.7 miles. The trail then crosses the creek again and travels underneath Route 30. Here, Cherry Creek travels through a golf course, so the trail bypasses it. Travel uphill between the golf course and an apartment complex, before you travel past the Kennedy Park parking lot at 11.7 miles. The trail then returns to the creek, as you travel underneath I-225 to the Cherry Creek Reservoir dam. This is where the creek originates. Travel uphill to an intersection at 12.1 miles.
Note; Straight, the trail takes you Northeast, uphill to Dam Rd.
Continue right, Southwest, up a slight hill along the base of the dam, paralleling I-225. The trail then steepens, bringing you to an intersection at 13.5 miles. Spot the Prairie Dogs.
Note; Right, you can access the Greenwood Village Mountain Bike Trails.
Continuing straight, uphill, you'll come to another intersection at 13.9 miles. Map Board. This was as far as I traveled.
Note; Right takes you to Village Greens Park, where you'll find parking, sports fields, Disc Golf course, picnic tables, restrooms, Bouldering rock climbing and the Greenwood Village Mountain Bike Trails.
Continuing straight, uphill, the trail travels alongside S Dayton St, across which is another parking lot at Village Greens Park, where you'll find a playground. Cross S Dayton St and come to an intersection at 14.2 miles.
Note; Straight, the Dayton Trail travels South, alongside S Dayton St.
Head left, North, into Cherry Creek Park in Aurora, crossing W Lake View Rd (This is the West Entrance road into the park) and come to an intersection 14.5 miles.
Note; Right, South, takes you back to S Dayton St and the Dayton Trail.
Continue left, to an intersection.
Note; Left, takes you to the Hobie Hill picnic area, parking lot and boat launch.
Continue right, alongside W Lake View Rd, crossing this road and traveling along the Southern End of the reservoir. Pass by several more parking lots, before crossing a bridge over Cottonwood Creek, as the trail pulls away from the reservoir. Pass by the Cottonwood Creek parking lot at 16.5 miles, where you'll find restrooms, Map Board & BIKE STATION. Pass by the Cherry Creek parking lot, before crossing E Lake View Rd and traveling South, along Cherry Creek, which is hidden behind tall grasses. Come to the intersection with the Piney Creek Trail at 18.7 miles. Continue straight, crossing E Caley Ave, where the trail heads right, alongside the road, then left, alongside S Jordan Rd. Travel past a golf course and come to an intersection.
Note; The trail splits here, so you can take either path.
Heading right, you travel around an electrical station and come to an intersection at 20 miles.
Note; This is where both trail merge back together.
Continue right, traveling underneath Route 88 and passing by the Arapahoe Road parking lot. Map Board, picnic pavilion and restrooms. Cross Cherry Creek and travel past soccer fields to an intersection at 20.7 miles.
Note; Left, North, takes you to the Gates Soccer complex.
Continuing straight, South, you'll come to a Map Board and bridge on your right in Centennial.
Note; This trail takes you to the Cherry Creek Valley Ecological Park.
Continue straight and come to an intersection at 21.7 miles.
Note; Right is the start of the Happy Canyon Trail .
Continuing straight, you travel underneath E Broncos Pkwy and pass by the Broncos Pkwy parking lot. Picnic tables & Porto-Potty. Pass by a Map Board.
Note; Right will take you across the creek to the Happy Canyon Trail .
Cross Cherry Creek and come to an intersection. Head left and you'll cross back over the creek to another intersection at 23 miles as you cross into Parker. Map Board.
Note; Left, will take you 0.5 miles to the Preservation Park parking lot next to Route 83.
Continuing straight, you'll pass by Cottonwood Park East (parking lot) and come to a bridge.
Note; Straight, across the bridge is a playground and access to neighborhoods.
Head right, crossing over the creek to Cottonwood Park West (parking lot) and continue left, passing a playground. You travel underneath Cottonwood Dr and past the Cottonwood Drive parking lot at 23.9 miles. Porto-Potty, Map Board & picnic tables. Pass by Prairie Meadows Park (Playground), travel underneath I-470 and come to an intersection. BIKE STATION.
Note; Right, West, is the start of the C-470 Trail or Centennial Trail .
Next, travel underneath Pine Ln to an intersection at 25.1 miles.
Note; Right, is the start of the Baldwin Gulch Trail .
Next, pass by the intersection for the Newlin Gulch Trail on your right, before passing by Parker Recreation Center and traveling underneath Lincoln Ave. I've checked out this next section. Come to another intersection at 26.4 miles.
Note; Right, will take you to Pam Daale Memorial Park & Cherokee Elementary School.
Head left, across Cherry Creek and quickly come to an intersection.
Note; Left, will take you to the Railbender Skate & Tennis Park.
Continuing South, travel underneath Main St and come to an intersection at 27.3 miles.
Note; Left, East, is the start of the Sulphur Gulch Trail . I've checked out this trail.
Continue right, across the creek and soon come to an intersection at 28 miles underneath the transmission lines.
Note; Right, West, is the start of the East-West Trail .
After 29.1 miles come to an intersection on your right.
Note; Left, East, a wide, cement trail takes you 0.4 miles to Salisbury Regional Park.
Head left, back across the creek to McCabe Meadows and come to the McCabe Meadows parking lot in Parker at 29.2 miles. Map Board, restrooms, water fountain & BIKE STATION. This was as far as I traveled.
The trail continues South, ending after 48 miles in Franktown.
HH
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT