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Trail Runs along the Front Range

During spring and summer months. . .  

join us along the Front Range for trail runs 

on Wednesdays at 6:30pm.

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During fall and winter months . . .

join us for trail runs scheduled periodically and weather permitting.

 

For more information, email contact@coloradofrontrunners.org

 

Where: Location varies each week. Check out our Facebook page for the latest information.

 

Some of our favorite trail runs are . . .

(click for more information and directions)

 

Apex Park/ Heritage Park, in Golden

Chimney Gulch at Lookout Mountain, in Golden

Mt. Falcon Park, in Morrison

Green Mountain, in Lakewood

Lair o' the Bear, near Morrison

Marshall Mesa, in Boulder

Matthews/Winters Park, in Morrison

North Table Mountain, near Golden

South Table Mountain, in Golden

White Ranch, in Golden

 

When: Wednesday at 6:30 pm

Weather and daylight permitting during spring and summer. Trail runs are announced periodically weather permitting during fall and winter. Watch weekly emails and calendar for updates on trail runs.

 

Course: We meet regularly to do trail runs and walks in the foothills at various locations along the Front Range. The locations, course, and distances vary each week. Emails are sent to members on a weekly basis detailing the weekly trail run locations. Check out the calendar for updated information on the weekly trail runs or sign up on the contact page to be added to our weekly email notices for running locations.

 

Meet and Visit Afterwards:  After each trail run a local restaurant is selected so the group can eat and drink and enjoy the company of other runners. 

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Apex Park

Information on the Trails

Apex Park, in Golden

Meeting Location:  East Access Trailhead at the lower Heritage Square Parking lot, northeast corner.

 

Driving Directions from Denver:

  1. Take the 6th Ave freeway to I-70 West

  2. Exit I-70 just past the Morrison cut, taking exit 259 (US Hwy 40 at County Road 93)

  3. At the end of the exit ramp, go right and continue down the hill on US 40 about one mile

  4. Take the right for Heritage Rd.

  5. In about 75 feet, take the first left onto a dirt road.

  6. Follow the road into the parking lot. The trailhead is in the northeast corner. The trail is immediately next to Heritage Square.

Additional directions can be found at their website.

 

The trails at Apex are bit more challenging than the trails at Marshall Mesa, but it’s still suitable for runners and walkers of all abilities. It’s mostly single track trails with several different ways we can go. Depending on the route we choose, plan on approx 6 miles total with about 1000 feet elevation gain

Apex Park Trailhead, East Access

121 Heritage Rd.
Golden, CO 80401

Chimney Gulch
Chimney Gulch, in Golden

 

Chimney Gulch is a challenging run, starting just above Golden and climbing Lookout Mountain via the single track Chimney Gulch trail. Open meadows and steep hillsides at the beginning, shady forest at the top.

~ About 5.5 miles round trip

~ Approx. 1500 feet elevation gain

 

Meeting Location: First parking lot past the stone arches, just past where 19th Street becomes Lookout Mountain Rd.

 

Directions from Denver:

  1. Take 6th Ave freeway west

  2. Keep going past I-70 and the freeway gradually turns into a surface road w/ traffic lights.

  3. Continue as the road curves North towards Golden.

  4. In Golden, turn left at the traffic signal at 19th Ave

  5. Go West on 19th Ave which will start to climb and curve and continue until you see the two big stone arches on either side of the road.

  6. The parking lot entrance will be on your left before the arches.

Directions from Boulder:

  1. Take Hwy 93 South.

  2. Proceed South through the intersection w/ Hwy 6 and continue going South.

  3. Turn right at the traffic signal at 19th Ave.

  4. Go West on 19th which will start to climb and curve and continue until you see the two big stone arches on either side of the road.

  5. The parking lot entrance will be on your left before the arches.

 

 

 

Lookout Mountain Lower Parking Lot

Approx: 2190 Lookout Mountain Rd.

Golden, CO 80401

Mount Falcon East Parking Lot

3922 Vine Street

Morrison, CO 80465

Mt. Falcon Park, in Morrison

 

This trail is a challenging run. Mt. Falcon is just south of Red Rocks amphitheater.

 

~ Approx. 7 miles

~ 2000 feet elevation gain

 

Directions from Denver:

  1. From 470, take the Morrison Rd exit going West

  2. Immediately after passing through the tiny town of Morrison, go left (south) on Hwy 8.

  3. Go up the hill about 1 mile, then turn West on Forest Ave.

  4. Then North on Vine Ave.

  5. Vine Ave dead ends into a large parking lot.

  6. The trail head is at the West end of the parking lot.

 

 

Mount Falcon
Green Mountain Lakewood
Green Mountain, in Lakewood

Meeting Location: Meet at the Green Mountain Open Space parking lot on West Alameda, west of Union Blvd. 

 

Driving Directions: From central Denver, go West on 6th Ave., exit at the Simms/Union Exit. Go South on Union to W. Alameda. At Alameda turn right (West) up the hill about 1 mile and you'll see the parking lot on your right. 

Green Mountain Open Space parking lot

13851 West Alameda Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80228

 

(Note: Actual address is 13851, but Google Maps is off by a little bit, might need 13481)

Lair o' the Bear

Lair o' the Bear Park Parking Lot

22645 Bear Creek Rd

Genesee, CO

Lair o' the Bear, in Morrison

 

Lair o’ the Bear Park is in Jefferson County above Morrison. If you’ve never done the trail before, it starts with a flat approach along a creek followed by a climb through some heavily wooded hillside. It’s an out-and-back route so you can turn around at any point.

 

The park is only four miles west of Morrison along Colorado Hwy 74, but feels much further away. NOTE: There is no cell phone coverage at the park.

 

Directions from Denver:

  1. Take 6th Ave Freeway West to I-70 West and then immediately onto 470 South towards Colorado Springs.

  2. Go South about 4.5 miles to the Morrison Exit, CO Hwy 74.

  3. Go West on Hwy 74 past Red Rocks on your right.

  4. Continue on Hwy 74 up the windy canyon about 4 miles.

  5. The sign and parking lot for Lair o’ the Bear will be on your left, on the south side of 74.

 

 

Marshall Mesa Trailhead

5258 Eldorado Springs Dr

Boulder, CO 80303

Marshall Mesa, in Boulder

 

Marshall Mesa in Boulder is a beautiful location especially in the spring, and has fantastic views of the Flatirons and front range.

 

Meeting location: Hwy 93 at Hwy 170 (Marshall Rd.) Southeast corner.

 

Directions from Boulder Turnpike (US 36):

  1. Coming West from Denver, take the Superior/Louisville exit which is McCaslin Rd.

  2. At the end of the ramp, go left over the freeway

  3. After the freeway intersection, take the first right onto Marshall Rd, (which is Colorado Hwy 170.)

  4. Follow 170 as it curves past all the strip malls and parallels the Boulder Turnpike.

  5. Continue on 170 as it enters open space and continues up and then down the hill.

  6. When you reach the stoplight at the intersection of 170 and Hwy 93, the parking lot will be on your left at the Southeast corner of the intersection. (Don’t worry it’s easier than it looks!)

 

Directions from Golden:

  1. Drive North from Golden on Hwy 93 about 10 miles, pass the cement plant.

  2. Go down the hill another mile or so, after the big cement plant, turn right at the 2nd light which S Hwy 170.

 

We will meet at the lot on the east side of Hwy 93 where the bathrooms are located.


 

Marshall Mesa
Matthews/Winters
Matthews/Winters Park, in Morrison

 

Matthews/Winters is a park in the JeffCo open space system located between Golden and Morrison, right off I-70. It’s an easy drive from Denver. There are two trails to choose from, one challenging the other more moderate. The first longer run will be a 6 mile loop with about 3 miles along a challenging hogback. Rocky and steep in parts, but fun and definitely worth the effort. The second run is 4 miles and uses a cutoff to avoid the hogback. There’s one moderate climb, but otherwise rolling hills.

Both trails have fantastic views of Denver.

 

Meeting Location: Trailhead, just off County Rd. 93

 

Directions to Matthews-Winters from Central Denver:

  1. Take the 6th Ave Freeway West

  2. Merge onto I-70 West

  3. From I-70 take exit 259 (Morrison)

  4. At the end of the exit ramp go left (South) and under the freeway

  5. The park entrance is about 1/4 mile South of I-70 on your right

  6. If the main parking lot is full, you can park in the overflow lot just east across the street.

Matthews / Winters Park Trailhead

1103 Co Rd 93

Golden, CO 80401

North Table Mountain
North Table Mountain, in Golden

 

We’ll start by circling the base of the mesa on rolling single track. On the East side, we climb to the top for a flat few miles with excellent view in all directions. The finish is a fast and steep jeep road back to the cars.

 

~ Approx. 7 miles

~ 1300 feet elevation gain

~ mix of single track and jeep road

 

 

Directions from Denver:

  1. Take 6th Ave Freeway west, past I-70

  2. Stay on Hwy 6 as it curves North into Golden.

  3. Just West of downtown Golden, Hwy’s 6, 58, & 93 intersect at the stoplight just past Clear Creek.

  4. Continue North on Hwy 93 towards Boulder about 2 miles

  5. Just after you see the last subdivision on the right, look for the sign for the North Table Mountain trailhead.

  6. The parking lot is just up the hill from Hwy 93.

North Table Mountain Trailhead

4758 Hwy. 93
Golden, CO 80403

Parking Lot to meet:

1829 Denver West Dr.

Golden, CO 80401

South Table Mountain, in Golden

 

Starting at the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), we’ll do an out and back run from the east end of the mesa to the western-most point which overlooks the town of Golden. There’s an initial, fairly short climb to the top of the mesa that’s not very tough at all, then it’s mostly flat on top. Once we make the initial ascent, it’s a fairly easy run. Although many of our runs have great views, some people think this run has some of the best!

 

~ 6 miles total distance, single track & jeep road

~ 500 feet elevation gain

 

Meeting Location:: We will meet near the Denver West Marriott and NREL Lab entrance off I-70. Use the address 1829 Denver West Dr. 80401

 

Directions from Denver:

  1. Go West on I-70 to Exit 263, Denver West Boulevard, and turn north.

  2. Travel toward the Denver West Marriott Hotel and turn left at the traffic light onto Denver West Parkway.

  3. At the first stop sign on Denver West Parkway, turn left onto Denver West Blvd.

  4. Go down the hill about 100 yards and turn into the parking lot on your right. We will use the spaces perpendicular to the street.

  5. If you drive up to the NREL entrance on Denver West Parkway, you’ve gone a bit to far.

South Table Mountain

White Ranch East Access

5611 Glencoe Valley Rd

Golden, CO 80403

White Ranch, in Golden

Meeting Location: White Ranch East Access parking lot, where West 56th Ave in Golden hits a dead end.

 

 

Directions from Denver:

  1. Go West on 6th Ave Freeway

  2. Continue to where it curves north.

  3. As it crosses Clear Creek, you’ll hit the stoplight at the intersection of Hwy 6/58/93.

  4. Continue North onto Hwy 93, BUT DON’T TURN AT THE FIRST WHITE RANCH SIGH. This will take you up Golden Gate Canyon road to the west entrance! It’s a nice place to run but we wont’ be there :-)

  5. Continue North on Hwy 93 abut 1.7 miles north, and TURN LEFT onto West 56th Ave.

  6. Follow the signs to White Ranch

Directions from Boulder/Louisville:

  1. Take Hwy 93 south

  2. Turn right onto West 56th Ave in Golden

  3. Follow the signs to White Ranch

 

We’ll run it from the east entrance. Although there are some steep sections on the way up, we’ll also have some rolling hills and outstanding views.

~ 5 miles total distance, all on a single track

~ 1000 feet elevation gain

 

White Ranch
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