Viking Muscle
Top 10 Places to run in Denver
Denver is Awesome… Running in Denver is way awesome…
Here is my list of the 10 best places to run in Denver:
In the city:
1.) City Park:
Located in the middle of Denver, City Park offers a perfect location for all types of runners. The trail begins around 17th and Colorado and makes a full loop around the park. In total the loop is about 4 miles long, with flat terrain, it is paved for most of the way with dirt trails in several patches. The park offers nice shade cover from large trees that surround the park, making the run easy and smooth. The park is a popular hangout in Denver and will have many people there on a regular basis, this trail stays on the outskirts of the park so it avoids the crowds, but if you hate running around other people, this one may not be for you.
2.) Cheesman Park:
A very short distance from City Park, Cheesman is a small park in central Denver. Starting at 11th and High St, this park makes for a great Time Trial run, the loop is roughly 1.2 miles. This park is not as popular as City Park so it is usually less populated. I like to use this loop when I run mile repeaters, I run the whole park as fast as I can, rest 3-4 minutes then do it again trying to beat my previous time. The trail is paved the whole way and makes for a quick, flat, and smooth run.
3.) Washington Park:
One of the major parks in Denver, this loop can be found anywhere on Downing street along the west side of the park. This loop is just under 3 miles and makes for another nice easy run. Central location and long straight-a-ways let you get your miles in fast without having to cross traffic or worry about people or bikers most of the time. It is mostly packed dirt path wide enough to stride out without worrying about rolling an ankle.
4.) Cherry Creek Trail:
This is an awesome run if you are ready for a long steady run. The trail starts in the Highlands at Confluence park and goes all through Denver on its way to Cherry Creek Reservoir. The Entire trail is about 15 miles and has only a few interruptions along the way. It starts with a steady decline into the heart of the city followed by a long continuous flat, at the end you get a very smooth gradual incline as you approach the reservoir. I like to through on an audio book and let my mind clear while I run at a light and steady pace. There are plenty of places to jump off trail and get water or food in the beginning but it becomes mostly homes and industrial complexes as you near I-225. For those that think a 15 mile run would be as fun as getting kicked in the face, this makes for an awesome bike ride as well!
5.) Sloans Lake:
Located in the Highlands region, Sloans Lake is a great run that is perfect for 5K training. I run here often to see how fast I can get around the lake, which is a flat 2.5 miles all the way around. The bonus of Sloan’s is that on a clear day it overlooks Denver nicely giving you something to look at as you turn the corner.
6.) High Line Canal, Denver
The Highline canal was built when Denver was first being irrigated, this trail snakes through almost all areas of Denver along it’s 66 mile path. It is long and smooth and you can jump on and off of it easily almost anywhere along the way. It is mostly gravel road, but it is well maintained along the way and has a large amount of nice tree cover as you meander through the city. This trail is good if you live nearby, just hop on and go.
Just outside of Denver – Trails and Long Flats
7.) Green Mountain, Lakewood:
Just on the outskirts of Lakewood (20 minutes from the middle of Denver) is a great rolling foothill called ‘William Hayden Green Mountain Park’. This one makes the list because it has several different trails to choose from and and is super easy to get to from the city. You can make a day out of it and spend a few hours hiking around and taking in the view of the mountains and looking back over the city of Denver. There is a great 6.5 mile loop that will take you to the summit after a moderate 800 foot climb so you can take in the scenery and catch your breath!
8.) Mount Falcon Trail, Morrison:
This one is great even for the scenery alone. It makes for a challenging run though and you should bring some water with you. The entire loop is about 10 miles with several climbs along the way. The trail gives you an awesome view of Red Rock amphitheater along the way. I recommend running the trail 3-4 miles deep then enjoying a nice hike the rest of the way or looping back at one of the forks if your not up for the full thing.
9.) Waterton Canyon
Past Chatfield Reservoir heading west on C-470 you will find the entrance to a 6 mile trail that will lead you to Strontia Springs Dam. A very scenic and often isolated location that will allow you to run hard and not worry about anything else. I like this trail because it is still close to Denver, it has mile markers along the path (might have to look close!), and it has bathrooms open along the way for most of the year. Waterton is a decent climb but the hard work is worth it when you kick back at the top to relax!
10.) The Track
If I’m being honest, this is where I spend 40% of my runs / sprints so I figured It deserved a place on my list. The beauty of public schools is that they allow the public to use the facilities all year round if not occupied by scheduled events. Almost every morning, I like to ride my bike to Denver North High School (Home of the Viking’s by the way) and run 15 – 20 minutes of sprints (usually 400’s). It’s quick and a great way to get the day started.
Think I missed one that should be on the list? Leave a comment with your favorite place to run in Denver!
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