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Running trails in Colorado
615 trails across 72 cities in Colorado, with the most in Colorado Springs, Denver, and Longmont — including 99 natural surface, 113 loops, 104 shaded, and 52 long enough for a 5-mile run. Every listing shows the things runners actually decide on: surface, loop distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and trailhead parking. Pick a city for the full local list, or filter the Colorado trails below.
Cities in Colorado
Every city and town in Colorado with a running trail in the directory, most trails first.
- Colorado Springs
- Denver
- Longmont
- Fort Collins
- Loveland
- Aurora
- Steamboat Springs
- Arvada
- Golden
- Grand Junction
- Littleton
- Montrose
- Broomfield
- Cañon City
- Fruita
- Boulder
- Lakewood
- Parker
- Windsor
- Glenwood Springs
- Greeley
- Rifle
- Thornton
- Westminster
- Castle Rock
- Greenwood Village
- Pueblo
- Centennial
- Englewood
- Lafayette
- Superior
- Commerce City
- Durango
- Fountain
- Lone Tree
- Northglenn
- Sterling
- Wheat Ridge
- Brighton
- Erie
- Evans
- Monument
- Louisville
- Timnath
- Berthoud
- Fort Morgan
- Highlands Ranch
- Morrison
- Castle Pines
- Cherry Hills Village
- Franktown
- Johnstown
- Palmer Lake
- Sheridan
- Wellington
- Bailey
- Bellvue
- Beulah
- Dacono
- Eldorado Springs
- Federal Heights
- Firestone
- Frederick
- Henderson
- Idledale
- Larkspur
- Leadville
- Manitou Springs
- Nederland
- Niwot
- Pueblo West
- Sedalia
Notable running trails in Colorado
The Colorado trails runners review most, ranked by rating weighted by review volume. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to narrow to the run you're actually planning. See the full best-of-Colorado ranking →
Garden of the Gods
4.9 ★★★★★ 58,076 reviews
Comprising 1,300 acres of sandstone formations, this park offers a visitor center & hiking trails.
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.
Lookout Mountain Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 8,155 reviews
Park boasting wooded foothills, scenic road, picnic shelter & Buffalo Bill burial site & museum.
Red Rock Canyon
4.8 ★★★★★ 7,117 reviews
City preserve with marked walking & biking trails, as well as scenic views of red-rock formations.
Sloan's Lake Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 6,444 reviews
Denver's 2nd largest park, with jogging paths & grassy spots around a boating-friendly lake.
The Broadmoor Seven Falls
4.4 ★★★★☆ 6,678 reviews
Park focused on scenic waterfalls & geologic monuments that also has a historic gravesite.
Palmer Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 5,760 reviews
737-acre wildlife preserve offering hiking, biking & sports fields on a mesa overlooking the city.
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
4.7 ★★★★★ 5,686 reviews
Open lakes, wetlands, prairie grasslands & woodlands home to more than 330 species.
Lake Pueblo State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 4,524 reviews
Wilderness area known for fishing, with 60 miles of shoreline & 2 marinas, plus a swimming beach.
Eldorado Canyon State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 4,122 reviews
Park known for rock-climbing & outdoor activities, thanks to sandstone cliffs & natural attractions.
Historic Arkansas Riverwalk
4.6 ★★★★★ 3,904 reviews
Riverfront promenade with family-oriented activities & events including boat rides & concerts.
Castlewood Canyon State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,590 reviews
Expansive park with hiking trails, rock climbing walls, wildlife viewing opportunities & more.
E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 3,424 reviews
Green space offering athletic fields, a lake with pedal boat rentals, plus a skatepark & play areas.
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.
Boyd Lake State Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 3,070 reviews
Placid lakeside park featuring boating, fishing & other water sports plus a campground & more.
Roxborough State Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,717 reviews
Geological site with wildlife, hiking trails overlooking red-rock formations & a visitor's center.
Centennial Center Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 2,676 reviews
11-acre city park with a kids' water playground, nature areas & an amphitheater.
Cheyenne Mountain State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,556 reviews
Huge, scenic state park with biking & hiking trails, picnicking, a campground & other features.
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.
Barr Lake State Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 2,355 reviews
Lake & wetlands with miles of nature trails, birdwatching, boating & fishing, plus a Nature Center.
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.
Windy Saddle Park Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,923 reviews
Mountainous park offering 3.5 miles of hiking & biking trails & a launching point for hang gliders.
Uncompahgre National Forest
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,870 reviews
Soaring green space with mountains, lakes & many scenic views, plus hiking trails & campgrounds.
No trails match those filters.
Colorado trails by surface
Surface is the biggest split in trail running — asphalt is fast and predictable, crushed limestone is softer but still smooth, dirt is easiest on the joints and the most fun, boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick when wet.
More ways to find a trail in Colorado
- Best running trails in Colorado — the state-wide ranking from runner reviews
- Loop trails — 113 in Colorado come back to the trailhead without backtracking
- Long-run trails (5+ miles) — 52 in Colorado are long enough for a proper long run
- Shaded trails — 104 in Colorado keep tree cover over the path for summer miles
- Lit trails — 36 in Colorado have lighting for pre-dawn and post-work runs
- Trails with restrooms — 302 in Colorado, and 85 with water fountains
- Trailhead parking — 364 in Colorado have parking at the trailhead
- Dog-friendly trails — 327 in Colorado you can run with a dog
- Stroller & wheelchair-accessible — 127 in Colorado are smooth and wide enough
- Scenic trails — 414 in Colorado runners single out for the views
- Browse by surface — paved, crushed limestone, natural dirt or boardwalk
- All trail features — loops, shade, lighting, restrooms, mile markers and more
- Running trails by state — the rest of the country
- Trail-running guides — surfaces and your knees, loop vs out-and-back, trail etiquette, running before dawn
Trail features in Colorado
- Scenic Running Trails
- Trails with Trailhead Parking
- Dog-Friendly Running Trails
- Trails with Restrooms
- Quiet, Uncrowded Trails
- Stroller & Wheelchair-Accessible Trails
- Hilly Trails & Hill Workouts
- Loop Trails (No Backtracking)
- Shaded Running Trails
- Trails with Water Fountains
- Flat & Fast Running Trails
- Long-Run Trails (5+ Miles)
- Lit Trails for Early & Night Runs
- Trails with Mile Markers