Find the top rated horseback riding trails in Black Forest, whether you're looking for an easy short horseback riding trail or a long horseback riding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a horseback riding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Started a second time at Duckwood & rode down to the closed bridge, then north 5 miles before turning back. Wanted to do the full length but we lost too much time with the earlier start point. This portion of the trail is in constant use and great condition. Will absolutely be back to get the full ride north!
Tried to ride the full length starting at the south access point just south of the vacant office building. The trail is becoming overgrown, then blocked by a massive deadfall tree, which leads to some bushwhacking, just to find the trail no longer connects to the bridge due to river erosion. Rode back out to the road and our car on the access road just north of the abandoned office building.
Rode from MM 0, west to Fox Hollow Golf course. The trail starts in a very urban area, surrounded by many houses and shopping centers. This area the trail is narrow, with some sharp turns. As it goes west it opens up with a wider trail and lots of great scenery. It crosses the Bear Creek trail about 6 times in the first 9 miles. It goes through a park where the trail is surrounded by fields of prairie dogs. The scenery around the golf course is very pretty.
Huge improvements to the far northern end of the trail especially north of Colfax Ave. A bike/pedestrian bridge now carries the trail over I-70 to the Green Valley Ranch neighborhood. The city of Aurora has added numerous trail maps. The only thing preventing a 5-star rating are too many road crossings, some of which can be difficult.
I rode this trail on a rented bike on a beautiful late October Sunday in 2024 while in Denver for a conference. I started near the intersection of Sherman Street and Speer Blvd, riding northwest toward the Platte River trail / Confluence Park before turning around and riding out of the city to the southeast. I was very impressed by the trail etiquette of other users: families with strollers, runners, joggers, and all range of cyclists at various speeds. It was a glorious and sunny 60 degree day a few weeks after the season's first snowfall, and traces of snow were still in the shadows under trees. I followed the trail all the way to the Cherry Creek Reservoir State Park before turning around. This trail is wide, smooth, fast, and best of all, has VERY FEW intersections with vehicular traffic. In my opinion, it's the best urban greenway I've ever ridden on. I look forward to someday returning and doing the entire 47 mile route.
The only significant climbs are to the top of the dam, whether clockwise past Massey Draw (links to C-470 Trail) or counterclockwise after crossing Plum Creek. The latter climb is gravel as is a 1.2 mile section on top of the dam. A nice, easy, pretty ride.
I was happy to see that they finally extended this trail, and added 2 miles from where it meets the Shooks Run trail to the Pikes Peak Greenway trail (at Beacon & Van Buren.), including an underpass at the Nevada crossing. Well done COS!
This could be the best commuter trail with a little work. City of Colorado Springs: PLEASE build an underpass at Academy Blvd. That crossing is presently dangerous for schoolchildren trying to bike. Please plant more low-water shade trees along this path.
This is a pretty trail and easy for beginners. Just be aware that the Bike Path is CLOSED underneath the Arapahoe and Liverpool intersection, so you have to cross at the street level. Other than that it is a very enjoyable ride.
We again parked at Village Greens Park (lots of big shade trees to keep the jeep cool) and this time headed south on the trail. It winds around the Cherry Creek Reservoir and then meanders south. Not much shade in this direction. We rode 10 miles south to Cottonwood Park and then turned around (getting hot) so a nice 20 mile round trip. There was a big prairie dog colony and a long stretch of trail with baby grasshoppers hopping all over the joint. The thing I enjoyed most about this trail is that it is NOT straight like so many-constantly twisting and curving. Made it more interesting. There are some fast food restaurants along the way at one point.
Had a hard time finding a good parking place. Ended up parking near the Regal theater at River Point Shopping area in Sheridan. From here you can directly access the Mary Carter Trail and The Bear Creek Trail. This puts you almost at the North end of the Trail. (We did see a good parking area at the south end of the trail-not sure what that is called) We rode south for about 8 miles to the end. It connects directly to the C-470 trail both East and West at the point. Really fun trail/Some shade/right along the river/people tubing/in inflatables going over the little rapids/huge ducks/nice stopping place with lots of tables in the shade at Nixon's Coffee and someone told us there is a brewery right off the trail.
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