The best traffic-free bike rides in Cherry Creek State Park

Cherry Creek State Park offers a diverse network of trails, with 13 dedicated no-traffic gravel bike routes featured in this guide. These range from easy loops to more challenging rides, ensuring options for various skill levels.

The park's gravel trails traverse a natural prairie and wetland environment, featuring gently rolling hills and varied surfaces. You'll encounter crushed gravel paths, some singletrack, and doubletrack sections. The landscape often provides picturesque views of the 880-acre Cherry Creek Reservoir and, on clear days, the distant mountains.

Yes, Cherry Creek State Park has several easy gravel bike routes. For a relaxed ride, consider the Cherry Creek Reservoir – View of Cherry Creek Reservoir loop from Sunset Park, which offers a pleasant 17 km ride with minimal elevation gain. Another accessible option is the Blackmer Lake – Blackmer Lake Trail loop from Yale, covering about 19.6 km.

Many trails offer views of the expansive Cherry Creek Reservoir. You can also explore the Cottonwood Creek Wetlands, which are rich in diverse plant life and provide excellent opportunities for birdwatching. The park itself is a natural prairie, offering open vistas and a chance to spot local wildlife.

Cherry Creek State Park is known for being dog-friendly, featuring a large off-leash dog area with water access. While dogs are generally welcome on trails, it's always best to check specific trail regulations and ensure your dog is leashed where required. Always practice responsible pet ownership and clean up after your dog.

The park is accessible year-round, but spring and fall generally offer the most pleasant conditions for gravel biking, with milder temperatures and beautiful scenery. Summer can be warm, so early mornings or late afternoons are preferable. In winter, some trails may be used for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, so check conditions before you go.

Yes, for those seeking a greater challenge, routes like the Chatfield Reservoir – Wetlands View loop from Orchard offer a significant distance of over 105 km and considerable elevation gain, making it a difficult-grade ride. Another challenging option is the Sumac Hill Farm viewpoint – Mineral Avenue Trail loop from Orchard, which is over 65 km long.

Yes, Cherry Creek State Park has numerous parking areas throughout the park. There are multiple access points, and parking is generally available. Cyclists and pedestrians can typically enter the park without a fee, but vehicle entry may require a park pass or daily fee.

The komoot community highly rates the gravel biking experience in Cherry Creek State Park, with an average score of 4.6 stars. Reviewers often praise the park's extensive network of multi-use trails, the scenic views of the reservoir, and the feeling of being immersed in nature despite being close to the city. The variety of terrain and the traffic-free environment are also frequently highlighted.

Many of the gravel bike trails in Cherry Creek State Park are designed as loops, allowing you to start and end at the same point. Examples include the Cherry Creek Reservoir loop and the Blackmer Lake loop, providing convenient circular rides.

While the park is within the Denver metropolitan area, direct public transport access to specific trailheads for gravel biking might be limited. It's advisable to check local RTD (Regional Transportation District) routes and schedules for the closest bus stops or light rail stations, and plan for a short ride or walk to the park's entrances.