Sunday Sept 28: Biking to the Colorado Trail

61 miles total today
The Colorado Trail is a hiking (and mt biking) trail that meanders over the rocky mountains from Denver to Durango, 415 miles.

I rode down the Platte Trail today down to Chatfield Reservoir and from there hung a right to catch the South Platte Trail to Colorado Trail trailhead then rode down Waterton Canyon Trail up past the Strontia Springs Dam. It was a fun ride, made possible by the fat tires on my new Miyata Six Ten! From the right turn at Chatfield until the end of the ride were all dirt paths.

South Platte Trail

Here's the Waterton Canyon Trail Map:


Here's information on the Colorado Trail:


Here's a picture of the Pike National Forest that borders the trail:


One more pic:


On the way back I bumbled onto perhaps a more direct route from Chatfield to Waterton Canyon:
1. Bike south down the main park loop road
2. take a right at the horse stable exit, "B&B Livery - Horse Rental" (its a half mile past the main park exit/entrance on Wadsworth Blvd)
3. find the dirt trail to Waterton (I think it should be obvious.)

I'm excited about today's adventure as I've been looking for a fun, bikeable route from Denver to a National Forest where I can go bike camping without being surrounded by RVs. And I finally found it! Next weekend, hopefully I'll try camping overnight in the Pike National Forest on the Colorado Trail.

Saturday Sept 27: Bear Creek Trail to Dinosaur Ridge

58 miles
I forgot my camera so no pictures, which is too bad because this is the most beautiful ride. I left a little after 11am, cuz I can't get started before 11 for some reason. I rode down the platte trail, took the right fork to get onto the bear creek trail, rode out to Bear Creek Lake State Park, climbed to the top of the enormous Mt Carbon, was scowled at up top of said mountain by some suburban biker whom I said "Hi!" to at a water fountain. (Was the scowl the result of my vintage bike with puffy foam handlebars or the fact that I filled up my water bottle instead of using a disposable cup like him? We'll never know. I get very few nods or hello's in BCL state park, seems snobbier and alienatinger than any other trail, shit on C470 west, everyone I met was friendly and that even farther west into the burbs!)

Then I took S. Rooney Road up to Alameda Parkway which rides up and around Dinosaur Ridge. I took the time to look around Dinosaur ridge. The views up there are amazing and there are actual dinosaur foot prints on the rocks. Yes, next time I will remember the camera.

Then came back the same way. I'm still trying to learn to shift my friction shifters on the new old bike, but other than that a gorgeous ride. Also the bike seems to smooth over a lot the bumbity bumps.

Friday Sept 26: Getting Lost on Clear Creek Trail

I rode my new 22 yr old bike, its a 1986 Miyata Six-ten

45 miles
This has to be the least marked trail, with the most forking paths that I've ever taken. I met a couple who was also lost, they had biked down from Arvada and were calling their son at a cross roads, to ask him which fork to take.

I took the Platte Trail up from confluence park to the Clear Creek Trail turn off. The Platte trail during this leg is smelly and very industrial. There is a wide gamut of smells from Purina Dog Chow processing, to waste water management to Horse stable stink: bring a lavander scented handkerchief. (I did bring a bandana but it was unfortunately not scented, perhaps I will try that next time.) After you ride past the first 5 miles of the CC trail, it begins to become tree lined and pretty, next time I will take pictures, the falling yellow leaves were pretty and a bit seasonally wistful, that part of the ride made the Platte section worthwhile.

I didn't make it all the way to Golden, which was my goal, I just made it past the Wheat Ridge rec center, after which I lost the trail for the last time and decided to turn back home as the sky had been promising rain all afternoon.

Map of Denver Bike Paths

Sunday Sept 21: Chatfield-west C470-Bear Creek

View from W. C470 trail

55 miles
Yesterday I explored another good trail: the West C470 trail. I biked down the Platte River trail to Chatfield and then biked under C470 and took a wrong turn onto the abominable Columbine trail. (Ugh.) Then doubled back and found the C470 trail, which granted, yes, parallel'd C470 up a 100 feet, but the views of the hogbacks were spectacular, I had a grin on my face the entire time I was on C470 or Bear Creek. Then as the trail approached BCLP, I saw the home depot that I could see from my old camp site at BCLP a week ago. I bike passed it and was at the South end of Bear Creek Lake Park, which is a beautiful entrance.

the winding road into Bear Creek Lake State Park

Then I pedalled through BC, had a bit of a snack and then decided not to ride up over Dinosaur Ridge (55 miles would be enough today). I rode back through BCLP, saw a motorcycle with a couple kids driving through the bike trail of the park (I gave them a stern old-man-on-bike look, which no doubt made their ride worthwhile.) It rained a bit, just enough to muddy up the bike, and I had this view with Prairie flowers leaving Bear Creek.


Beautiful ride, I can't wait to ride it again!

Friday Sept 19: Bear Creek-Morrison Half Century

55 miles
I took a vacation day to go cycling. I liked this ride alot, although Mt Vernon Road is a bit narrow and cars seem to pass whether there was room or not.

Bear Creek Lake Park was beautiful and fun to bike through with all its hills and Mount Carbon. I rode through it to on the way out as well as to get back. (There is an option to take Morrison Road but I stuck with the bike path, its much prettier.) Then I biked up Mt Vernon road, up past the Red Rocks entrance. Cars speed on this road and its too narrow, so it was not such a fun segment. Then I turned off onto another road Alameda Parkway, it winds up and over the hogback: Dinosaur Ridge. That was fun to ride, there were alot of hikers, next time I decided I should bring along my hiking shoes. Then I got a bit lost and then I ended up going down the correct bike lane past the world famous speedway (whose name I cannot recall). Then back home through Bear Creek. I hiked around in Bear Creek looking for a potential stealth camping spot. There may be potential spots around there.

Sweet ride. Perhaps my new favorite.

Wednesday, Sept 17th: Cherry Creek Resevoir

34 miles
I went after work, started at 6:15. I think its too late in the year to start a ride this late. It grew dark really early in the ride. Stuff kept falling off my bike (I had a big water bottle and lock badly bungeed to my rear rack). Also on the back half of the resevoir the insects were so thick, I had to hold my hand in front of my face and could feel insects smacking into my hand one or two a second. (brutal!) They stung if they hit my face anywhere near my eyes.

Sunday Sept 14: Cherry Creek Resevoir

34 miles

Fun ride, chilly today: 60 degrees F.

I wore my new New Belgium wool sweater and my knickers and was warm enough. I left the camelbak at home, because I didn't want a sweaty back. I took two water bottles and was fine.

Thursday Sept 11: Back Home from Camping

28 miles
the ride home in the morning was beautiful and laid back, I meandered through BCLP instead of taking Morrison road,
good choice that park is beautiful to trek through
a bit Chilly and sweaty (with the camelbak and jeans) on the way home though

Wednesday Sept 10: Bike Camping

Sub-24 hour Overnight

24 miles

I loaded up the bike with camping gear, headed out the door at 4pm
got another flat on the front tire, other than that a beautiful ride, I love Bear Creek Path and Park.

I Biked to Bear Creek Lake Park via Bear Creek Path and Morrison Road. On Morrison Road with all of the extra weight I had to shift down onto my granny gear and the biggest cog.

Fully loaded the red bike is a bit slow, which added to a fun laid-back trip, bikes passed me and I let them, without a seconds thought to trying to keep pace with them.

Sunday Sept 7: Bear Creek-Morrison Cruise

45 miles

I got a flat on Morrison road, almost turned back as I had no more spares, but I pressed on, it was a lot of fun!

The hill climbing was a good time too!

Saturday Sept 6: Cherry creek resevoir

34 miles

Wednesday Sept 3, 2008: Cherry Creek Res

34 miles
I used my biking shoes and they were fine today.
I kept telling myself not to rush, not to push, just to take it easy.
computers dead, battery??
2 hour after work ride.