Happy Trails: The latest stretch of long-dreamed trail in Clear Creek Canyon west of Denver
West of Denver, Clear Creek Canyon has been home to one of Colorado’s biggest outdoor recreation developments in recent years.
Right off U.S. 6 approaching downtown Golden, perhaps you’ve seen the Gateway Trailhead, so named for the paved path starting at the mouth of the canyon. This big parking lot opened in 2021 as part of a big dream to give people on foot and bike a path stretching the length of the canyon toward Idaho Springs — a length otherwise traveled by vehicle.
Last year, the Clear Creek Trail dream got closer to reality with an extension.
Where a construction gate previously blocked the way after about 2 miles from the Gateway Trailhead, now the path continues for another 1 ½ miles. It ends at the CCR Trailhead. This is where we started from at last visit, acquainting ourselves with this stretch that has been described as something of an engineering marvel.
Jefferson County’s project manager has described it as a “flyover,” like the highway through the river-carved Glenwood Canyon on a smaller scale. Via bridges and a viaduct structure over Clear Creek, “you’re kind of hovering or floating,” that project manager said. “It’s going to give you a really unique perspective of the canyon.”
It’s a perspective that can’t be fully appreciated on the adjacent highway. The creek on the other side of the path tries to drown out the sound of traffic, which might be forgiven with the canyon views that captivate.
The path escapes the highway toward Tunnel 1, as the next trailhead parking lot is called. This is where we turned around, back to the CCR Trailhead, which won’t be a dead-end for much longer. From here and onward up the canyon, construction continues on another 1 ½-mile segment.
Trip log: 3.6 miles out back (between CCR and Tunnel 1 trailheads), 500 feet elevation gain
Getting there: CCR Trailhead at 23801 U.S. 6 in Golden. Driving west through Clear Creek Canyon, the parking lot is shortly after the tunnel.
FYI: Maps and more information at jeffco.us/3792/clear-creek-trail
SETH BOSTER, THE GAZETTE
