Best running trails in Colorado
Ranked by the runners who actually run there — Google rating weighted by review volume, across 339,121 reviews of Colorado trails. A trail needs at least 25 reviews to qualify (255 in Colorado do) and each name appears once. Nobody pays for a place. Updated 2026.
The 20 below run across 13 cities, 5 of them paved, 5 loops, 4 shaded, and 4 with a stated distance. This is a popularity ranking, not a difficulty score — for what a trail is actually like underfoot, open its page for surface, loop distance, shade, lighting, restrooms and parking.
Denver City Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 12,443 reviews
This expansive greenspace has amenities such as a zoo, museum & golf course, plus areas for hiking.
Cherry Creek State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 9,683 reviews
Large park around a reservoir with camping, water sports & many other outdoor leisure activities.
Sloan's Lake Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 6,444 reviews
Denver's 2nd largest park, with jogging paths & grassy spots around a boating-friendly lake.
Palmer Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 5,760 reviews
737-acre wildlife preserve offering hiking, biking & sports fields on a mesa overlooking the city.
Lair o’ the Bear Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,227 reviews
Featuring a creek with diverse wildlife, this park offers hiking trails, fishing & picnic tables.
Confluence Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,180 reviews
Placid riverside park featuring benches, grassy lawns, biking & walking trails, plus a kayak run.
Mineral Palace Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 2,575 reviews
This 57-acre park features an arboretum, a pool, a playground, a fitness trail, fishing & more.
Carpenter Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,445 reviews
Park featuring an amphitheater, a carousel, a boat house, a playground, a skate park & sports.
Canyon View Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,399 reviews
This 110-acre recreation space has baseball, tennis & volleyball courts, plus a pond & paved paths.
Fox Run Regional Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,154 reviews
Wooded park offering lake & mountain views, plus hiking & biking trails, horseback riding & more.
Westminster City Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,106 reviews
Regional 205-acre park with soccer & softball fields, disc golf, a playground, pavilions & trail.
Spring Canyon Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,850 reviews
Big, grassy park with athletic facilities, a unique ADA playground, a mountain biking course & more.
Crown Hill Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,867 reviews
Trails for walking, biking, skating, bird-watching & horseback riding surround a fishing lake.
Fountain Creek Regional Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,852 reviews
Green space on 460 acres with a fishing pond, multi-use trails, playing fields & picnic spots.
Monument Valley Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,893 reviews
Century-old park with ballfields & paths for running & cycling, plus a pool & formal gardens.
Horsetooth Mountain Open Space
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,735 reviews
2,711-acre mountainous park offers 29 miles of hiking, biking & equestrian trails & scenic vistas.
Berkeley Lake Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,789 reviews
Outdoor recreation area encircling a fishing lake with a paved path, tennis courts & a dog run.
Belmar Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,745 reviews
Tree-filled park offering hiking & biking paths, a playground & facilities, plus stone artwork.
Waneka Lake Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,741 reviews
Tree-dotted park with a small lake offering paddle boats, fishing & trails for bird-watching & jogs.
Rocky Mountain Lake Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,732 reviews
A park with a looped trail around a lake, plus a playground & baseball, football & softball fields.
Where these trails are
The cities in this ranking, if you'd rather start from where you live.
- Running trails in Denver, CO
- Running trails in Aurora, CO
- Running trails in Colorado Springs, CO
- Running trails in Idledale, CO
- Running trails in Pueblo, CO
- Running trails in Thornton, CO
- Running trails in Grand Junction, CO
- Running trails in Westminster, CO
- Running trails in Fort Collins, CO
- Running trails in Wheat Ridge, CO
- Running trails in Fountain, CO
- Running trails in Lakewood, CO
- Running trails in Lafayette, CO