Bicycling and Jogging in Colorado Can Be Great Fun in the Summer

Bicycling

Get on a bicycle, pedal up and down the street. It gets boring fast, don't it? If you take the time to find all the great locations in Colorado for bicycling, you'll find there's a lot of places and things you can see that keep you interested. I looked into it. I found many great choices. I took out my 10-speed, I drove it down to several of the bike paths I read about, and I had myself a damn good time.

First and foremost, one of the best places to ride your bicycle in Denver is the High Line Canal through Western Arapahoe County or more commonly known as the Lee Gultch trail. It's an easy ride. The path is a mix of smooth concrete and crushed gravel. It's been called a paradise for bicyclists. The path snakes its way northeast, away from the Columbine Memorial Trail. Both of these great bike paths are like two legs of a triangle. You pass by several awesome creeks that define the round-trip routes. The Lee Gultch trail starts from the Platte River Greenway and runs south of the Hudson Gardens. These trails all have a true country feel. You get to see some amazing tree lines, foliage of all kinds, and plenty of singing birds. It's truly breathtaking.

Another cool, extensive trail to ride is the Kettner/Countryside Loop. This is one long ride. It's got this one hill to climb, but other than that, it's one smooth path. There are patches of gravel but it's mostly smooth concrete. The entire trail goes from Holland Way and 104th, just behind the high school there around in several loops and you end up right back where you started. You can see a lot of Westminster, a lot of the countryside, and enjoy yourself. I didn't really like being so close to so much city activity. It takes the peace and quiet out of the experience. I swear I heard honking from a neighboring street. But other than that minor quibble, it's a fantastic ride. You might be worn out by the time you're ready to go home. It's that long.