DENVER, Colorado – While most people travel to Denver for access to the mountains, the area surrounding the city should not be slept on. Foothills, reservoirs, wooded areas, and grasslands all surround the mentro area, and the 177-mile Denver Orbital Trail aims to highlight their beauty.
Split into 28 segments, the Denver Orbital Trail circles the entire city, from Highlands Ranch to Northglenn, Aurora to Golden. The first segment of the trail begins in Downtown Golden, taking an 11.2 mile trail up Lookout Mountain to the Buffalo Bill Museum and back down into Apex Park.
The route then takes you south, rotating you counter-clockwise around the city. Other highlights include Red Rocks Park, Chatfield State Park, the Cherry Creek Trail, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Platt River, Big Dry Creek, North Table, and so much more.
Each segment is designed to be completed in a day or less, but that doesn’t mean they’re all remarkably easy. The shortest segment sits around 3 miles, while the longest is more than 11 miles. If you aim to hit these routes, make sure you plan accordingly. You can learn about each one here.
While the trail was primarily designed for walking, a significant majority of the route can be done on bikes if that’s more appealing to you. Keeping in mind, of course, that some sections may not allow bikes and some may require off-road capable bikes. Many sections, like North Table, are already popular for cyclists (off-road bikes are definitely required for North Table).
The people behind the Denver Orbital Trail do not own, operate, or maintain these trials, but they have walked every inch over several months to confirm their guidance. Dogs are allowed on a significant portion of the trail but, like with bikes, it’s a good idea to do a bit of research into each segment to confirm that.
This seems like an amazing way to explore the areas around Denver. I’ve already hit many of the trials featured on this route since I moved to the city, but I’m really looking forward to checking out some more as the weather begins to warm.
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Featured Image Credit: Cassie Gallegos on Unsplash