Cherry Creek Trail

The Cherry Creek Trail is a picturesque 40-mile route that begins in downtown Denver and connects Parker, Centennial and Franktown. This paved path begins near the Platte River Trail and Confluence Park, which marks the area where a gold discovery in 1858 led to the founding of the city. Trail-goers will journey southwest, paralleling Cherry Creek, through urban landscapes and parks and into the suburbs. Highlights of the route include the Cherry Creek Shopping District and Four Mile House and Historic Park, where one can learn about Denver's early pioneers. The trail ends in a wooded, hilly area south of Denver, near the scenic Castlewood Canyon State Park in Douglas County.

Begin at Confluence Park off of Water St. near 15th St. Also accessible from Cherry Creek State Park on Union Ave, west of Dayton, and many points along the way. There is, as of this writing, one section that is on-road: from south of Cherry Creek Reservoir in Cherry Creek State Park, you must detour at E. Caley Ave., west to Blackhawk, south on Jordon Road, east along Arapaho Road -- you'll want to use sidewalks here -- then the trail begins south of Arapaho Road east of Jordon (approximately 1/2 mile).