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Chavez and Beaver Brook Trail Loop
4.7 ★★★★★ 187 Google reviews · Running trail in Golden, Colorado · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- 5 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Not reported
Confirmed from Chavez and Beaver Brook Trail Loop's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Scenic hiking area featuring a shady loop trail with stream crossings and views.
What runners say about Chavez and Beaver Brook Trail Loop
“Took off one star because people don’t clean up after their pets, or if they do they leave little bags of poop hanging off of trees.”
“Flora and Fauna: The trail is adorned with stunning native wildflowers such as Colorado blue columbine, wild rose, and Indian paintbrush.”
“Bring plenty of water, and go early in the day, as part of the trail is shaded, & lots of it is in the sun.”
“There is also a rock scramble near the 3 mile marker that was a little too challenging for my toddler and tiny dog, so we had to turn around.”
5-7mile loop pending on which way you take. If you want to struggle and almost die at then end from exhaustion, go left to start, if you want a more enjoyable not so hard path and not so challenging 2 mile uphill at the end of a already challenging hike. Go right, down the stairs!!! You'll enjoy it more.
We ended up doing the entire 5 mile loop. Great workout with beautiful resting spots. Completed in about 3 hours. I wouldn’t recommend this trail to any beginners. Not a far drive from Denver and not many people hiking at this location.
We hiked this trail during a gals hiking trip (with Profound Purpose: An Outdoor Wellness Company) and it was wonderful! We started down the canyon on Beaver Brook Trail and looped back up the canyon on Chavez. Shaded trail with pockets of sunshine along the water. 5mi with just over 500 ft of elevation gain.
Parking: Definitely get there early on weekends like before 8am, because the parking lot will fill up! The parking lot consists of a lot with unmarked spots, so some times people will try to squeeze their car into tight spots, or others unintentionally park crooked, which takes up a spot. Trail: Not a bad trail.
Trail conditions & character
“Flora and Fauna: The trail is adorned with stunning native wildflowers such as Colorado blue columbine, wild rose, and Indian paintbrush.”
“Parking: Definitely get there early on weekends like before 8am, because the parking lot will fill up!”
“If you want to start on the Chavez side, follow the sign that takes you over the dirt road, follow the braille trail for about a mile and then you’ll see a sign for the loop.”
“I tried starting on the Chavez side to avoid the need to hike up the steep rocky parts but quickly got lost and turned back and went the other way.”
“Trail Overview: The Chavez and Beaver Brook Loop is approximately 5.5 miles with an elevation gain of around 1,200 feet.”
“There is also a rock scramble near the 3 mile marker that was a little too challenging for my toddler and tiny dog, so we had to turn around.”
“Bring plenty of water, and go early in the day, as part of the trail is shaded, & lots of it is in the sun.”
“I tried starting on the Chavez side to avoid the need to hike up the steep rocky parts but quickly got lost and turned back and went the other way.”
“There is also a rock scramble near the 3 mile marker that was a little too challenging for my toddler and tiny dog, so we had to turn around.”
Plan your run at Chavez and Beaver Brook Trail Loop
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- Loop distance5 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
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