The Clear Creek Trail and Golden, CO are a match made in heaven. Nestled below the Front Range of the great American Rocky Mountains, the “banquet beer” is not the only thing that makes this place special.
Other than its signature brewery, Golden is a top destination for Denver-area cyclists. Specifically, it’s all about the Clear Creek Trail. Smooth and scenic with a mellow 700-ft incline, this 18-mile path is a local staple ride and a must-see for travelers.
As you will see, it won’t take long to understand why it’s the best way to experience Golden…
Getting Started
Starting near Commerce City, the path manages to keep cyclists away from heavy traffic and connected to nature. Thankfully, the Clear Creek Trail is positioned below the I-25 and I-76 freeways. As a result, you’ll hear the sound of bubbling instead of 18-wheelers on a highway.
Find the Perfect Ride for Cycling the Clear Creek Trail:
See Bikes in Denver
The farther west you ride, the better it gets. Steeper gradients will take you into a series of parks that bring you closer to the Rockies – including Creek Side, Johnson, and Anderson. Until you reach Golden, this will be the last time you see signs of civilization. In other words, you’re heading in the right direction…
As you ride between North and South Table Mountains – the Clear Creek Trail brings you into Wheat Ridge. This is where you’ll catch a number of lakes (West, Tabor, Prospect). In most cases, we would recommend stopping your ride here and taking it all in. However, you’re only 5 miles away from Golden’s famous beer scene (and currently, these lakes aren’t flowing with beer).
The Home Stretch
Like all good rides, the Clear Creek Trail saves its most challenging climb for last. You’ll top out at 5,800 ft before a refreshing descent into Golden. You won’t be able to miss the imposing Coors Brewing Plant to your left, which is an experience unto itself. However, we recommend exploring Golden’s downtown district – which offers more variety.
After responsibly loading up on fluids and food, you get to ride it all over again in heading back to Denver. That said, there is a bonus for going the opposite way – as it’s mostly downhill going back into The Mile High City. In short, we’d like to think it’s a solid tradeoff…
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