HomeColoradoParker › Preservation Park & Trailhead

Preservation Park & Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 30 Google reviews · Running trail in Parker, Colorado · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
17 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Preservation Park & 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.

17 miLit at nightScenicStroller / ADATrailhead parkingMile markers

What runners say about Preservation Park & Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (30 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“A beautiful trail for watching sunsets, with a great view of the mountains.”

A beautiful trail for watching sunsets, with a great view of the mountains. The only structures being preserved at this time are the Hood house and a marker for old camps. The trail connects to the 17 Mile house nearby and to the Cherry Creek trail.

★★★★☆ — Joanne , Dec 2021

Preservation park is nice because it's used to preserve the wild and open spaces in an area that would otherwise be over taken by urban sprawl. This park is also used as a trailhead for the southern end of the Cherry Creek Trail.

★★★★☆ — Christian , Mar 2022

Beautiful trail! It is super easy to walk, bike or take a stroller. Beautiful spot to take photos!

★★★★★ — Leanne , Jan 2024

Good place to park and start a walk around. No trees to speak of so the wind was hitting hard that November afternoon! However, it’s a nice place to park and walk to either the 17mile farm or to the Cottonwood paths.

★★★★★ — A , Nov 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 30 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 7 mentions

“A beautiful trail for watching sunsets, with a great view of the mountains.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“Nice place, portapotty, and parking lot with access to the cherry creek trail via gravel trails.”

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Stroller / ADA accessible 2 mentions

“It is super easy to walk, bike or take a stroller.”

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📏 Mile markers 2 mentions

“Further into the trail this area is used as a historical land marker to mark one of the first houses and farms built in the area.”

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🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+) 2 mentions

“However, it’s a nice place to park and walk to either the 17mile farm or to the Cottonwood paths.”

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💡 Lit for night running

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Plan your run at Preservation Park & Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • Distance17 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websiteparkerrec.com
  • Phone(303) 841-0353

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

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Preservation Park & Trailhead

17710 E Valley Hi Dr, Parker, CO 80134

Get directions

Running trails near Parker

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

High Plains Trail bridge

4.8 ★★★★★ 9 reviews

Parker, CO

under a mile away

Parker Jordan Centennial Open Space

4.6 ★★★★★ 118 reviews

Centennial, CO

LoopMixedShadedScenic

Paved walking paths and trails for biking, hiking and jogging, plus workout stations.

1.1 miles away

Cherry Creek Trail

5 ★★★★★ 5 reviews

Parker, CO

1.2 miles away

Broncos Parkway Trailhead at Cherry Creek

4.6 ★★★★★ 40 reviews

Centennial, CO

Mixed

1.3 miles away

Cherry Creek Valley Ecological Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 569 reviews

Centennial, CO

83 miMixedScenicDog-friendly

Winding trails along Cherry Creek featuring informational signs on native plants and wildlife.

1.7 miles away

Dove Valley Regional Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 694 reviews

Centennial, CO

PavedShadedDog-friendly

A 52-acre park offering a playground & sports opportunities from volleyball courts to soccer fields.

2.4 miles away

All running trails in Parker, CO →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.