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Length: 6 miles round-trip
Difficulty: Easy
Why we love it: This wide, multi-use trail gives us a fresh perspective on Clear Creek Canyon and is the perfect place to unwind for a post-work walk.
When to go: Open year-round, but best enjoyed during the fall
Pre-hike fuel: Perk up with a pumpkin spice latte from Golden’s Bean Fosters, which doubles as a cozy used bookstore.
Post-hike buzz: Pour as big of a pint as you please at the Golden Mill, where a massive self-pour tap wall lets you play bartender for the night.
Dogs: Allowed on leash
Drive time from Denver: 36 minutes, 24.5 miles
During countless drives on U.S. 6 en route to the high country, many of us have marveled at the beauty of Clear Creek Canyon and wished that we could immerse ourselves in the scenery at a more leisurely pace. The Peaks to Plains Trail in JeffCo’s Clear Creek Canyon Park lets us do just that. The result of a partnership between Clear Creek and Jefferson counties, this trail will eventually span 65 miles and connect the South Platte Trail to the headwaters of Clear Creek on Loveland Pass. But if you’d like a sample of what’s to come, hike this section that stretches westward for three miles from the Mayhem Gulch parking area to a small lot just west of Tunnel 5. Because the Tunnel 5 parking area can only be accessed by eastbound traffic, the logistics are easiest if you park at Mayhem Gulch and walk heading upstream.
Thanks to the wide, paved path and gentle gradient, it’s a pleasure to stroll along the gurgling creek and its verdant riparian corridor. The trail stays mostly on the opposite side of the creek from the road, providing an unexpectedly quiet and peaceful walk, particularly where the path’s western end meanders away from U.S. 6, which takes a shorter path through Tunnel 5.
The path is thoughtfully designed, with several resting spots and convenient shoulders engineered into the three bridges that span the creek. These provide plenty of opportunities to watch the activities of many other recreationists, from Rollerbladers and rafters to modern-day prospectors panning for gold.
Funded by a $4.6 million grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), the initial stretch opened in 2016. The visionary P2P project, one of former Governor Hickenlooper’s highest-priority trails, received a significant boost in 2015, when GOCO awarded JeffCo another $2 million to build an additional 1.75 miles of trail at the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon, which will link up with 24 miles of trails in Golden and extend to Tunnel 1 on U.S. 6.
While much of the proposed trail will remain under construction for years to come, once completed, hikers will have even easier access to the stunning canyon from the quaint streets of downtown Golden.
Getting there: From the CO 93/U.S. 6 junction in Golden, head west on U.S. 6 for 6.2 miles. The Mayhem Gulch trailhead parking lot is located on the north side of the road between mile markers 262.5 and 262.
