Watch out for a narrow area through Lena Gulch (where the Maple Grove Reservoir starts). Go south (right) to join 20th Ave.Ģoth Avenue is a great route east back into Denver. Climb through a small residential area and work your way east to Eldridge St. Go east (left) a short distance to Kendrick St (look for the sign for the Rolling Hills Golf Course) and escape 32nd Ave by riding south (right) on Kendrick to Fooothills Rd. Just reverse course on the ramp and enter McIntyre from the west side–it is just an awkward maneuver and the exit from the Frontage Rd makes it simple and seamless. And if you pass under McIntyre by mistake, don’t worry. How will you know? Look for this building on your left. Surprisingly, all you need to do is follow the signs.Įxit the trail at McIntyre St by leaving the trail before Mcintyre and ride west on the Frontage Rd to make the turn on McIntyre. You can also shorten this loop by exiting the trail just before Kipling St at Independence St and riding south to connect to 32nd Ave. Watch for two sharp sequential humps along the trail, ridges really, that could throw the unwary cyclist. If the Kipling underpass is flooded (it collects water easily) cross (without a light) at 41st Ave or at Kline St (with a light–just south of the Rec Center). The second detours under Kipling and through the Rec Center parking lot. The first interruption takes you briefly along quiet city streets. The trail is interrupted twice, once at 52nd Ave and once again near Kipling St and the Wheatridge Recreation Center. If you are caught in a downpour and Clear Creek floods, move to higher ground–don’t seek shelter in one of the underpasses. if there’s been a lot of rain, avoid the underpasses along the major roads. Sometimes around the many parks along the way there are two possible routes–just follow the trail of least resistance and you’ll be fine. Route finding is generally easy–look for the Clear Creek Trail signs and follow them. It is not well marked but look for the pedestrian crossing sign and stop if you see the water in the creek.Įast of here Clear Creek Trail is pretty industrial, but the stretch between Tennyson and McIntyre streets is more natural with good shade on hot days and interesting parks and bridges to hold your interest. Jog right and left to stay on Tennyson and descend a fast hill to intersect the Clear Creek Trail. Ride west on 46th Ave to Tennyson St then go north (right) past Willis Case Golf Course to 52nd Ave, the northern boundary of Denver proper. Snake your way along Inca St and 37th ave to reach Lipan St and cross 38th Ave to reach 46th Ave. Some good graffiti and an interesting view of Denver will greet you. Ride north on the trail spur to connect to 37th Ave and Inca St. This last stretch of road is called Rockmont Drive and honors the now defunct Rockmont Envelope Company that still graces the site, awaiting the right developer and a recovering economy for further direction. Ride north on Platte St to where it dead ends in a circle at Cuernavaca Park. Get out to Platte St by leaving the Platte Trail at 15th, 16th, or 19th Streets. I like going west on 26th Ave and east on 20th Ave, but everyone has a different idea on which is better.The description below starts at Confluence Park and goes counter-clockwise. The Sunnyside Loop takes in a good chunk of 46th Ave, the Cottonwoods section of Clear Creek Trail, a short stretch of residential climbing hear the Rolling Rock Golf Course, and returns along 20th Ave. (Aside: have you ever noticed that there are far more great east-west streets in metro Denver than north-south?) Then I discovered a short piece of trail near an abandoned factory out past Cuernavaca Park that provided the missing link and avoided a scary underpass on 38th Ave and multiple twists and turns along Central Ave. It took me a while to figure out how to get easily to 46th Ave, which ranks in my personal top ten as one of the best east-west streets in Denver, right up there with Dartmouth Ave, Montview Blvd, and 26th Ave. Bounded by Federal Blvd, 38th Ave, I-25 and I-70, Sunnyside has yet to be overrun by hipsters, espresso shops, and micro-breweries. The Sunnyside neighborhood is one of the four neighborhoods that collectively make up the area that most refer to generically as “The Highlands.” The others are Highland, West Highland, and Berkeley.
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