The South Platte River Trail

The Bike Streets guide to the trail along the river that made Denver, Denver. The South Platte River Trail features heavily on the Low-Stress Denver Bike Map and you’ll use it frequently when you ride with the Bike Streets App.

History

Parts of the South Platte River Trail follow the historic route of the South Platte Trail of the 1800s that ran from Fort Kearney, Nebraska to Denver, Colorado, and which made possible western migration for thousands of pioneers.

South Platte River Trail Map

Map of the South Platte River Trail: (Blue line parallels the trail which is in green on the Low-Stress Denver Bike Map.)

Today’s trail runs from North Denver all the way to Chatfield Reservoir, which provides access to historic Waterton Canyon, the starting point on the 486-mile Colorado Trail (into the mountains and 71-mile High Line Canal Trail (onto the plains.)

Geography

The South Platte River Trail enters Denver via Commerce City and runs through many Denver neighborhoods: Globeville, Elyria-Swansea, Five Points, the River North Arts District, the Ballpark District, Highland, Lower Downtown, Auraria, Jefferson Park, Sun Valley, Lincoln Park, Baker, Athmar Park, West Wash Park, Platt Park, Rosedale, and College View.

Access to Other Trails

The South Platte River Trail in Denver connects to many trails: 39th Ave Greenway, Cherry Creek Trail, Lakewood Gulch Trail, Weir Gulch Trail, Sanderson Gulch Trail, West Harvard Gulch Trail, and Bear Creek Trail.

Parks

Along the South Platte River Trail, there are lots of great parks. Pack your paniers, lunch basket, or cargo bike, and head to one of these gems in the Denver parks system:

Carpio-Sanguinette Park, Globeville Landing Park, RiNo Promenade, Cuernavaca Park, Denver Skatepark, Commons Park, Confluence Park, Fishback Landing Park, Rude Park, Frog Hollow Park, Valverde Park, Johnson Habitat Park, Vanderbilt Park, Overland Golf Course, Ruby Hill Park, and Grant-Frontier Park.