CLEAR CREEK TRAIL:
PEAKS to PLAINS TRAIL:
WELBY-GOLDEN, COLORADO
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: October 21, 2025
Length: Clear Creek Trail; 21.4 miles currently
Difficulty: Easy. Mostly flat, cement trail. More hilly as you enter Golden.
Directions:
To Start from the E 74th Ave parking lot in Welby [Eastern End]; From I-76 Eastbound take exit 8 to E 74th Ave and head left. Cross the river and turn left into the parking lot. This is the South Platte River Trail access. Head right, South, along the trail and you'll come to the start of the Cherry Creek Trail.
To Start from Golden [Western End]; From the intersection of Routes 6, 58 & 93 in Golden, follow Route 6 W (Clear Creek Canyon Rd). You'll immediately pass by the Clear Creek Canyon Park parking lot on your left. If you continue along Route 6 W, you'll pass by the Tunnel 1 Trailhead parking lot on your left, just before the tunnel.
The Clear Creek Trail follows Clear Creek from Welby, where it connects to the North-South South Platte River Trail , West, to Golden. Ongoing construction in 2025 is extending the trail 3 miles further West, through Clear Creek Canyon. Clear Creek Trail is also part of the Peaks to Plains Trail, a planned 65 mile trail West, from the South Platte Trail in Denver to the headwaters of Clear Creek at Loveland Pass. Once completed, it will connect four counties and seven cities, with a total elevation gain of more than 1 mile. In Jefferson County, which includes Denver & Golden, another section of this trail is complete in Clear Creek Canyon at the Western Border of Jefferson County. 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; CLEAR CREEK TRAIL , PEAKS to PLAINS TRAIL; JEFFERSON COUNTY & BICYCLE COLORADO .
Starting from the E 74th Ave parking lot in Welby [Eastern End]; I have not checked out this section. Porto-Potty. Follow the cement trail East, from the parking lot to the South Platte River Trail and head right, South. After 0.25 miles come to the intersection with the Clear Creek Trail.
Starting from the intersection with the South Platte River Trail [Eastern End]; Re-zeroing Mileage. I have not checked out this section. The wide, cement Clear Creek Trail travels West, alongside Cherry Creek. Green Mile Markers every 0.5 Miles. Travel underneath I-270 at 1 mile, followed by I-25 at 2 miles into Twin Lakes. Pass by a spur trail at 2.5 miles on your right.
Note; This is the 0.6 miles Twin Lakes Park Loop Trail, where you can access the Twin Lakes Park parking lot.
Travel underneath N Pecos St, where the trail pulls away from the creek (blocked by 2 RR lines). Trail follows W 64th Ave, where it combines with the Little Dry Creek Trail heading North, to an intersection.
Note; The Little Dry Creek Trail continues straight, Northwest, for 10 miles to Arvada.
The Clear Creek Trail continues left, South, underneath the RR bridge through Berkley, back to Cherry Creek at 4.8 miles. Continuing Southwest, you'll travel underneath 2 more RR bridges at 5.6 miles. Cross a bridge over the creek, before traveling underneath I-76 and passing by the W 55th Pl parking lot at 6.3 miles. Continuing West, travel underneath I-76 and Route 95, before coming to an intersection at 7.4 miles.
Note; The Ralston Creek Trail continues right, West, for 13.6 miles through Arvada.
Continuing Southwest, underneath I-76. Come to Creekside Park at 8.5 miles in Wheat Ridge, where you'll find a parking lot, restrooms and sports fields. Travel underneath I-70 and pass by a spur to the Otis Street parking lot at 9 miles. Travel underneath Route 121 and cross a bridge over the creek at 9.9 miles. Travel underneath W 44th Ave, before passing by a spur to Anderson Park, where you'll find a parking lot at 10.4 miles. Travel past the East Side Kipling Street parking lot at 11.2 miles and cross a bridge over the creek. Here the trail travels South, alongside Kipling St, before traveling underneath it and North, past the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center out to W 41st Ave. You then head right, back to Kipling St and left to the West Side Kipling Street parking lot at 11.9 miles. Continuing West, back alongside the creek. Travel past the Prospect Park parking lot at 12.9 miles. Trails, playground, picnic pavilion, restroom & sports fields. The trail then travels between Tabor Lake & West Lake, before coming to the Youngfield Street parking lot at 13.7 miles. Map Board, restrooms & picnic pavilion. You then travel underneath I-70, before a tunnel underneath RR tracks. Trail travels between Route 58 and the RR tracks before traveling underneath McIntyre St at 15.6 miles and into Golden. Here the trail travels between Route 58 & Frontage Rd, before crossing a bridge over W 44th St and heading down to an intersection at 17.1 miles. I've checked out this next section.
Note; A wide, cement trail travels East, alongside W 44th Ave, bringing you to the COLORADO RR MUSEUM after 0.6 miles.
Continuing along a ridgeline below Route 58, the trail follows some steep hills, with some cantilevered sections. Views of the rail yards & RR tracks and massive Coors Brewery below. Pass by a Map Board before coming to an intersection at 18.4 miles.
Note; Right, the wide, cement Tucker Gulch Trail travels North, underneath Route 58. See; Tucker Gulch Trail .
Head left, South, along the combined Clear Creek Trail &Tucker Gulch Trail which both follow the cement canal, Tucker Gulch, traveling underneath a RR bridge. Come to 10th St and head left to a cross-walk, where the trail continues South, past ADVENTURE WEST (E-Bike rentals). Cross a bridge over Tucker Gulch to *Vanover Park at 18.7 miles. This is where the Tucker Gulch Trail ends.
Note; The Clear Creek Trail follows both sides of Clear Creek West, through downtown Golden. Lots of spurs off the trail lead to downtown areas.
The Clear Creek Trail continues straight, past this park, to a bridge over Clear Creek. The trail then travels around a wetland area and underneath Ford St in downtown Golden. The trail continues West, along the Southern Side of Clear Creek.
Note; This next section through downtown Golden and Clear Creek Canyon can be very crowded. You are also allowed to go tubing along the creek through downtown.
Travel underneath Washington Ave and pass by GOLDEN HISTORY PARK (The Park is home to many of the original buildings from the Pearce Ranch in Golden Gate Canyon and check out the 1876 Guy Hill one-room schoolhouse. Admission is free) before passing by a pedestrian bridge over the creek at 19.3 miles. You then pull a bit away from the creek as you pass by the Clear Creek Athletic Complex, before coming to an intersection at 19.7 miles.
Note; The wide, cement 6th Avenue Trail starts here and travels Southeast, along the Eastern Side of 6th Ave (Route 6) to Route 470. Multiple other Trails you can access off this trail that travel through Golden. See; Golden Trails Map Below.
The trail then crosses back over the creek via a pedestrian bridge.
Note; The Clear Creek Trail also travels right, East, along the Northern Side of Clear Creek, to Parfet Park, where a short on-road section will return you to *Vanover Park.
Continuing left, West, along the Northern Side of Clear Creek, you quickly come to an intersection at 19.9 miles.
Note; The wide, cement Route 93 Trail travels right, North. You can utilize this trail along with the Tucker Gulch Trail & Cressman Gulch Trail to Loop back to the Clear Creek Trail at *Vanover Park. See; Golden Trails .
Continuing West, along the Clear Creek Trail, you travel underneath Route 6 and enter Clear Creek Canyon (extremely scenic gorge w/steep rock sides). Travel underneath a pedestrian bridge and come to an **Intersection.
Note; The crushed gravel Grant Terry Trail? continues straight alongside the creek to a water gate for Indian Gulch. The trail then Loops back along the gulch to another intersection. Turn right and return to the **Intersection after a 0.5 mile Loop.
Head right up to another intersection.
Note; Straight, East, a wide, cement trail takes you up a slight hill to the Clear Creek Canyon Park parking lot after 0.4 miles. Map Board & paper Maps. Restrooms.
Continue right, across the bridge to the Southern Side of Clear Creek, where the trail continues West. Pass by an access trail up to the pedestrian only ***Welch Dutch Trail, before crossing another bridge over the creek at 20.9 miles.
Note; Right, North, a trail takes you up to the Tunnel 1 Trailhead parking lot. Restrooms.
The trail now travels South, along the Western Side of the creek. Look up across the creek to spot the ***Welch Dutch Trail. Pass by a suspension bridge across the creek (access to the pedestrian only ***Welch Dutch Trail), before the trail currently ends after 21.4 miles. Straight ahead is where the Route 6 Tunnel 1 emerges. The trail will cross another bridge across the creek here.
Note; Ongoing construction in 2025 is extending the trail 3 miles further West, through Clear Creek Canyon.
***The historic Welch Ditch, in Clear Creek Canyon, was an old irrigation system constructed in the 1870's. Its wooden flume portion was constructed from Washington State timbers in the 1930's to irrigate farmland. The Welch Dutch Trail begins from the suspension bridge and travels North, then East, through the canyon before connecting to the Chimney Gulch Trail in Golden after 1.5 miles. See; MAP .
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CLICK HERE FOR CLEAR CREEK TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR GOLDEN TRAILS MAP
CLICK HERE FOR PEAKS to PLAINS TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR REGIONAL TRAILS MAP
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WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT
