Biking the Sand Creek Regional Greenway

The Denver / Boulder area always has ranked high as a place for trails – from the Boulder Creek Trail to Cherry Creek Trail. Some data says there are more than 450 miles of biking / walking trails in the Denver area. Many years ago, community leaders and cycling enthusiasts envisioned linking Denver’s various bike trails such as the Highline Canal Trail, Clear Creek Trail and the Platte River Greenway –a 50-mile, mile-high loop. One of those trails, the Sand Creek Regional Greenway, nearly is finished. Located in the northeast quadrant of the metro area, the 14-mile multi-use trail runs east from the South Platte through Commerce City and Aurora. I think there are plans to link eventually to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. This past weekend, I rode a portion of the trail that heads west from Stapleton toward the Platte River along a new trail segment in Commerce City. Construction in the Stapleton area limits access, but the trail meanders through forested areas and meadows that are surprising given its urban location.