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Clear Creek Canyon Park, Gateway Trailhead
4.9 ★★★★★ 246 Google reviews · Running trail in Golden, Colorado · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Loop distance
- 65 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Clear Creek Canyon Park, Gateway Trailhead'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.
Popular trail and riverside area for hiking, climbing, fishing and tubing.
What runners say about Clear Creek Canyon Park, Gateway Trailhead
“The trails are well-maintained and cater to all skill levels, from casual hikers to experienced adventurers.”
“Beautiful place to hike, dog friendly, but some do not pick up after their dog or if they do they leave bags everywhere .”
“The main trail is very easy to navigate and offers several Segway options.”
Clear Creek Canyon Park Trailhead is an easily overlooked gem. I can’t say how many times I’ve driven by this trailhead on the way to others and never given it a thought. This gateway to multiple trail opportunities is definitely worth stopping for. I arrived on a Thursday morning around 9:30 to find plenty of parking.
The Peaks to Plains and Welch Ditch Loop near Golden offered a lovely hike this past Saturday, April 26th, with plenty of parking. We began our journey on the paved section of the trail and opted for a return via the fascinating Flume Trail.
Clear creek is the clear choice for your first hike in Golden! Wow - just wow!! The versatility of this trail knows no bounds. A level for every version of hiker- I found this place via instagram. And was second recommended by a local friend. And I am telling you this was definitely a great experience!!
Beautiful canyon and trails. There was still a lot of construction happening when we were there. Be careful of the traffic as there are many people speeding and not anticipating others turning off. You will find parking along the canyon at various places.
Trail conditions & character
“June 11, 2024 June 11, 2024 Ashley and I stopped at Clear Creek Canyon Gateway Trailhead before heading to The Golden Mill to meet Angela and Chris for the Maren Morris concert!”
“This trailhead gives you access to lots of activities; paved walking trails, biking, hiking trails, fishing and rock climbing are at the top of the list.”
“Beautiful place to hike, dog friendly, but some do not pick up after their dog or if they do they leave bags everywhere .”
“Trailhead to creek where left side leads to Golden downtown and right side leads to Welch Ditch trail, river below is accessible at several points and its a good cooling spot.”
“The Peaks to Plains and Welch Ditch Loop near Golden offered a lovely hike this past Saturday, April 26th, with plenty of parking.”
“The trail was great, and I really appreciated the public bathroom and the fantastic water fountain, which even had a dog bowl you could fill up!”
“The trail was great, and I really appreciated the public bathroom and the fantastic water fountain, which even had a dog bowl you could fill up!”
“The trail was great, and I really appreciated the public bathroom and the fantastic water fountain, which even had a dog bowl you could fill up!”
“Someday this trail will span 65 miles connecting the South Platte Trail in Denver to the Loveland Pass Summit for a total elevation gain of 6,720 feet.”
Plan your run at Clear Creek Canyon Park, Gateway Trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- Loop distance65 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitejeffco.us
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–10 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–10 pm |
Running trails near Golden
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