Clear Creek Trail

The Clear Creek Trail follows the creek from Wheat Ridge to Golden in the western Denver suburbs, passing between North and South Table Mountain Parks along the way. The core Clear Creek Trail extends for 4.5 miles, and the additional Wheat Ridge Greenway brings the entire journey to 6.5 miles in each direction.

With trailheads at four major parks and plenty of streetside access points, the Clear Creek Trail hike can be customized to your pack's pawticular tastes and fitness levels. This smooth, paved trail is furrific for those pets whose parents use wheelchairs or whose human siblings use strollers. The trail links to a raised wooden boardwalk at Bass Lake, providing an ADA-accessible wildlife viewing area to enjoy this oasis in the high desert.

The Creekside Park trailhead is the eastern boundary of the Wheat Ridge Greenway and the beginning of your trail. From here, it's only a two-mile stretch to the next seasonal restrooms and water fountain at Anderson Park.

To skip to the more wild and scenic parts of the journey, catch the trail at Prospect Park in western Wheat Ridge and head through the valley toward Golden. You'll begin with a view of Prospect Lake and then follow the creek out of town.

Any chance your pup has a nose for treasure? Gold panning is allowed at the Arapaho Bay area just west of town. Just think of all the treats and toys you'll be able to afford once you strike it rich! If nothing pans out, just splash in the creek or enjoy the views of the Table Mountain mesas to either side.

The trail runs directly into Downtown Golden, so you can rest your paws at a coffee shop or window-shop in this historic commercial district. You'll have 18 dog-friendly restaurant patios to choose from in Golden.

Park rangers are available to help if your fur family runs into trouble on the trail; keep an eye out for khaki pants with green shirts. Note that the Clear Creek rangers are serious about the leash and poop-scoop ordinances, and obeying leash law is #1 on the Clear Creek Trail "Golden Rules." If Fido and Fifi complain, just show them the signs posted at the Golden trailheads.