Find the top rated running trails in Black Forest, whether you're looking for an easy short running trail or a long running trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a running trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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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
When I first got my bike I had no idea all these trails existed. A friend came over to show me a few things and we discovered the Toll Gate Trail by accident. Later, while riding the Toll Gate, I saw a trail map by Hutchinson Pond and discovered the sidewalk that led to the Central Rec Center was actually the start of the Unnamed Creek Trail. The trail has a signaled crossing at Tower, follows the creek, loops through Flanders Park, and runs along the creek again to the soccer fields near Hampden and Himalaya. Technically the trail ends here but there is an underpass at Hampden and you can hook up with the Conservatory Trail south to Quincy. There is a climb to Reservoir Rd then a descent back to the Toll Gate for a short loop. You can also go north on Conservatory to Power Line to Toll Gate for a longer loop.
Visited Fountain Creek Regional Park this morning with my husband and our two dogs. One is a Great Pyrenees mix at 60+ lbs and growing and the other is a 25lb rat terrier mix. There are multiple side trails off the main trail and a good portion of it follows the creek. It was great for beginners like us. The trail was relatively clean and flat. It would be nice if they had a garbage can or two along the way but the only one we saw was at the parking lot. We went around 830am and walked for about an hour. It wasn’t crowded but there were enough people around that you didn’t feel all alone in the woods. It was gorgeous. We will definitely be back!
The southern 26 miles (upstream from Cherry Creek Dam) is definitely 5- Star (Arapahoe and Douglas Counties). The southern part has many areas in natural and beautiful settings and the use is moderate. Very pleasant. Parker and South-Suburban does a great job keeping them nice.
The Northern 14 miles (Downstream from dam) is 3-star (Denver City & County). It is urban, lots of local road traffic as well as high use. Watch out for the bikers and the Lance-Wannabees who will not call themselves out as the pass and ride between 15 - 30 mph. They can ride in pelotons dominating the path and get angry if you are in there way. Many though are courteous. Be very careful though if you are out with your kids and leashed dogs. There are also an increasing amount of e-bikes as well that are riding fast even though they are forbidden on the trail. Denver does not patrol their paths and trails
Good trail overall. No trail between mile 9.5 and 11.25. Do not try to walk on Santa Fe here - that is suicidal. Best trail (in the rich neighborhoods) between Hampden / CO Blvd to Broadway-Very Nice. Denver parts are so-so to OK, same with Aurora. Only a few mile-post markers missing. Watch out for bike riders, many feel they own the trail and maybe 5% call out before passing you. I walked all the trail after having hip replacement surgery between April -August 2021.
This trail is mainly flat with great views on southern part of trail
We wrote this today for a couple of hours and some of the views were stunning and there was a lot of tree cover that made for a shady ride on a hot sunny day. The path follows the correct for the most part and was easy to navigate. We’re definitely going back again
Just finished it.. our favorite part was south of Inverness Park through the Overland Golf course area.. beautifully maintained by the city with waterfall features, outdoor gym equipment, great places to picnic... we were really really impressed with the southern portion of the trail. On to the next one!
I’m new to Denver and was looking for a place to run without the ubiquitous concrete. The Highline Canal Trail is an amazing public resource. I wish the community would embrace and support the maintenance and expansion of this historic treasure. The southern portion of the trail, from section 15 south, is unmatched for its surface, environment, and scenery. Once the trail enters Denver proper and Aurora, the upkeep, amenities (parking locations, restrooms, water, and directional signage) are greatly lacking. I hope the Highline Canal Commission can dedicate resources to the start and ending sections of the trail to match the quality and public benefit of the middle sections. I have run all 27 sections and look forward to logging many more miles on the Highline Canal Trail.
Not to hard or strenuous. Good for quick walk/run or with your dog.
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