- Hike Distance: 1.7 Miles
- Denver Drive Time: 30min
- Difficulty: Easy
- Duration: 1hr 15min
- Activities: Hiking, Birdwatching, Mountain Biking, Fly Fishing, Picnics
- Directions: Click for Google Map
- Trail Type: Out & Back
- Seasons: All Season
- Beauty: Bear Creek, Meadows, Wildlife: Beaver, American Dippers aka Water Ouzel
Fantastic for families because this hike has lot of shade, a mostly level path,the sounds and sights of water, and a few great areas for picnics in this Colorado park. On top of all of that, it’s one of the most accessible Denver trails just out of town in the foothills. You can also fish Bear Creek in Lair ‘O the Bear. I’ve not had any luck yet, so I’d appreciate any tips in the comment section below. And don’t be limited by the 1.7 mile trail trail in the park, it keeps going in both directions.
Tips:
- There are some hiker only trail segments, but most are open to mountain bikes – and there are A LOT of them, especially on the weekends. So, just hike aware and let your kids know that bikes may be zipping by.
- Take a picnic lunch
- This is a great place to teach your kids (or yourself) some tree and bird ID. The riparian ecosystem is pretty diverse
Thanks, Aaron + Jenah! Great spot for the kiddos!
We did this hike with our 2 & 5 year olds on a hot day – it was shady and they had a blast wading in the creek. We made it to the castle then turned around.