Bike Route 5: Denver Area - Morrison Big Loop including Platte River, Bear Creek, C470, and Chatfield Trails

(From 7/15/06 on my old blog)

This ride is the longest I have done in the Denver area and I have done it several times just this year so far (like today, for instance). It is 39.5 miles on a mostly paved trail except for Chatfield Dam and the Highline Canal Trail which accounts for about 3 miles of the route.

1. Ride from my house to Highlands Ranch’s Redstone Park.
2. Get on the Highline Canal trail going “downstream” (right). You can access the Highline Canal trail from the northeast corner of the intersection of Foothills Canyon Blvd. and Town Center Drive.
3. Follow Highline Canal trail to C470 where it joins the C470 trail.
4. Head down the hill along C470 towards Santa Fe Drive. Steep hill – go fast.
5. Cross Santa Fe and continue on the trail until you get to the bridge across the South Platte River. Turn right here to go across the bridge and then turn right again. You are now on the South Platte Greenway trail.
6. Continue on this trail until you get to the turnoff for the Bear Creek trail. It's after Belleview and Oxford and just before you come to Hamden. Turn left to access the Bear Creek trail right after crossing a bridge over the river.
7. Follow the Bear Creek trail all the way to Fox Hollow Golf Course. You end up riding on the road into the golf course. Eventually you will come to the dam by Bear Creek Lake. You can ride up and over the dam on either the north or south end. The north end is hard enough but easier than the more scenic south route. I usually take the north (right) route.
8. Take a break on top of the dam and enjoy the view. You can see C470 off to the west and the intersection with the road that goes to Morrison.
9. Head on down the road until right before the entrance to the park where you will turn left. Follow this road around until you come to a parking lot. At the far side of the lot is an access point for the C470 trail. Turn left here.
10. Follow this trail until you come to the beach area by the Soda Lakes. You have now ridden about 22 miles and this is a good place to have a snack.
11. Head back to the trail and head south. Follow it until you come to a trail intersection. If you go left, you will head back up the south side of the dam. The right selection is the C470 trail. Turn right.
12. Follow this trail all the way to Chatfield State Park. There are a few long climbs on this part of this route.
13. When you get to Chatfield, head up to the top of the dam. Then ride the entire length of the dam until you come to the railroad tracks.
14. Cross the first track and you are on the Highline Canal trail. Turn left.
15. Follow the Highline Canal trail past Santa Fe Drive until you come back to where you got on the Highline Canal Trail by Redstone Park in step 2 above.
16. Back to my house.