High Plains Trail

Colorado

1 Reviews

The High Plains Trail travels down the west side of E-470 from Stephen D. Hogan Parkway to a point just south of Ireland Way on the Arapahoe County Line. As it heads south, trail passes on the edge of the Plains Conservation Center, several subdivisions as well as a shopping center and middle school. The trail was created as part of a road widening project.

The High Plains Trail is a wide concrete path and provides many miles on uninterrupted riding, thanks to three pedestrian underpasses at Hampden Avenue, Jewell Avenue and SR 30 (the crossing at Quincy Avenue is at-grade). Mile marking signage lets you know where you are along the trail.

Trail connections include the Piney Creek Trail south of Arapahoe Road, as well as to the multiuse trail on the south side of Stephen D. Hogan Parkway. Future connections include Triple Creek Trail. A pedestrian bridge is planned to deliver trail users safely across busy Parker Road, enabling access to the Cherry Creek Regional Trail in Parker.

Parking and Trail Access

Only One Connection North Of Quincy, Closed At Ireland Way To The South

October 2021 jadc55

From Quincy north this is a nice wide cement trail that is in great condition. Only a gentle climb here and there, great views, and no traffic issues make this trail a pleasure to ride. However there are no connections until the end at Stephen D Hogan Pkwy. Hampden is an overpass to the trail and 470 with no connection, and Hampden is not bike friendly at all at this location. Jewell is a tunnel underpass. On both sides there are dirt construction roads that are no longer being used and are quickly becoming overgrown with weeds. You can still access Jewell but beware the goat head stickers and be warned that Jewell is only semi bike friendly. There is a shoulder but traffic flies by at highway speed. The trail ends at SDH Pkwy. Here there is a soft trail on the south side of the Pkwy and at highway 30 (where SDH becomes 6th Ave) you are fenced in and forced to take the underpass. After the underpass you can continue on the Sand Creek soft trail or ride up a dirt path to 6th Ave. On the north side of SDH you can ride the shoulder but after highway 30, while on 6th, the shoulder disappears for about a half mile and again it is a scary ride.

From Quincy south you start on an asphalt road then back on cement. It is a climb to Smoky Hill Rd. The crossing is on grade and there is a lot of traffic. Right after the crossing is a steep decent, then a climb again as the trail and 470 are on an overpass of Arapahoe Rd. (You can access Arapahoe by taking a descending trail to Ponderosa and that to Arapahoe) Another climb to Gartrell Rd. where you have to ride the sidewalk to the light at Dry Creek to cross, then back up to the trail. And finally another climb past Liberty Middle School to Ireland Way where the trail is closed behind a locked gate. You can see the trail continue but there is no safe way to cross Parker Rd at Cottonwood so the trail is closed here. You can read more here:

http://parkerrec.com/1995/High-Plains-Trail