Trails

Hikers walk through grasslands, cottonwood trees and marshes along the trails. Wildlife watchers can admire the mule deer and great horned owls year-round.

Bike lanes provide a popular year-round workout.

Cherry Creek Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot, horse and bike
• Length: 4.75 miles paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Cherry Creek Crossing or Cottonwood Creek trailhead
• Usage: High
• ADA accessible: Yes
• Comments: Part of a regional trail system from Denver to Castlewood Canyon
• Pets: Yes, on a 6’ leash at all times

Dam Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot and bike
• Length: .36 miles non-paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Parking lot on north side of Marina
• Usage: Low
• ADA accessible: No
• Comments: Access along face of Cherry Creek dam
• Pets: Yes, on a 6’ leash at all times

Pope Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot, horse and bike
• Length: 1.04 miles non-paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Pope trailhead
• Usage: Medium
• ADA accessible: No
• Comments: Runs through short grass prairie, rolling hills and past a historical site
• Pets: Yes, on a 6’ leash at all times

Butterfly Hill Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot, horse and bike
• Length: 1.08 miles non-paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Via Pope or Cottonwood Creek trailheads
• Usage: Medium
• ADA accessible: No
• Comments: Runs through short grass prairie and over rolling hills
• Pets: Yes, on a 6’ leash at all times

Prairie Loop Nature Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot only
• Length: .25 miles non-paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Prairie Loop parking lot
• Usage: Low
• ADA accessible: No
• Comments: Self guiding nature trail through wetlands ecosystem
• Pets: No

Vista Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot, horse and bike
• Length: .65 miles non-paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Via Cottonwood Creek trailhead
• Usage: Low
• ADA accessible: No
• Comments: Runs through short grass prairie and over rolling hills
• Pets: Yes, on a 6’ leash at all times

Cottonwood Creek Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot, horse and bike
• Length: 1.88 miles non-paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Cottonwood Creek trailhead
• Usage: Medium
• ADA accessible: No
• Comments: Runs along a restored riparian corridor with excellent habitat
• Pets: Yes, on a 6’ leash at all times

Windmill Creek Loop Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot, horse and bike
• Length: .37 miles non-paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Cottonwood Creek trailhead
• Usage: Low
• ADA accessible: No
• Comments: Runs through wetland and short grass prairie environments in a remote part of the Park
• Pets: Yes, on a 6’ leash at all times

Railroad Bed Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot, horse and bike
• Length: 2.11 miles non-paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Cottonwood Creek trailhead
• Usage: Low
• ADA accessible: No
• Comments: Runs on top of a historical railroad bed with excellent single track
• Pets: Yes, on a 6’ leash at all times

Pipeline Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot only
• Length: .71 miles non-paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Via Cottonwood Creek or Shop Creek trailheads
• Usage: Medium
• ADA accessible: No
• Comments: Main access trail through protected wetlands
• Pets: No

South Connector Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot only
• Length: .44 miles non-paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Via Cottonwood Creek or Shop Creek trailheads
• Usage: Low
• ADA accessible: No
• Comments: Spur trail through protected wetlands
• Pets: No

Wetland Loop Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot only
• Length: 1.22 miles non-paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Via Cottonwood Creek or Shop Creek trailheads
• Usage: Low
• ADA accessible: No
• Comments: Loop trail through protected wetlands
• Pets: No

North Connector Spur Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot only
• Length: 0.27 miles non-paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: This trail can only be accessed from the Wetland Loop and does not cross Cherry Creek.
• Usage: Low
• ADA accessible: No
• Comments: Spur trail goes through protected wetlands
• Pets: No

Updated: 8/22/2026 3:05 PM MT

Campground Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot, horse and bike
• Length: .89 miles paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Via Campground or Swim Beach parking lots
• Usage: Medium
• ADA accessible: Yes
• Comments: Concrete trail around north side of campground
• Pets: Yes, on a 6’ leash at all times

Smoky Hill Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot, horse and bike
• Length: 1.65 miles paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Dixon Grove, Swim Beach, Smoky Hill or old jet-ski parking lots
• Usage: High
• ADA accessible: No
• Comments: Asphalt trail along the east side of the reservoir
• Pets: Yes, on a 6’ leash at all times

Parker Road Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot, horse and bike
• Length: 2.49 miles paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Shop Creek parking lot
• Usage: High
• ADA accessible: No
• Comments: Concrete and asphalt trail along the east side of the Park
• Pets: Yes, on a 6’ leash at all times

Shop Creek Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot, horse and bike
• Length: .47 miles paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Shop Creek parking lot
• Usage: High
• ADA accessible: Yes
• Comments: Concrete trail along Shop Creek
• Pets: Yes, on a 6’ leash at all times

12-Mile Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot, horse and bike
• Length: 2.81 miles non-paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: 12-mile north and south parking lots
• Usage: High
• ADA accessible: No
• Comments: trail system for the dog off leash area and the southeast side of the Park
• Pets: Yes, on a 6’ leash except when inside designated dog off leash area

Beaver Pond Nature Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot only
• Length: .42 miles non-paved (one way .84 miles round trip)
• Trailhead / Access Point: 12-mile north parking lot
• Usage: Low
• ADA accessible: No
• Pets: No

Piney Creek Trail

• Permitted usages: Foot, horse and bike
• Length: .38 miles paved
• Trailhead / Access Point: Via 12-mile south parking lot
• Usage: Medium
• ADA accessible: Yes
• Comments: Concrete trail that accesses the Cherry Creek trail system
• Pets: Yes, on a 6’ leash at all times