Sand Creek Regional Greenway Trail

A near-13-mile creek-and-cottonwood corridor that threads straight through Denver's industrial north — past rail yards, refineries, and the backs of warehouses — yet quietly harbors hawks, deer, beaver, and prairie dogs the whole way. Most Denverites never set foot up here because there's no reason to drive into Globeville or Commerce City; that's exactly why it stays empty. String together Bluff Lake Nature Center, the Urban Farm, and Star K Ranch and you've got hours of wild creekside with the skyline at your back. Open sunup to sundown, multiple trailheads, paved on the Denver/Commerce City stretches.

The move: Bike or walk a quiet stretch from the Bluff Lake trailhead at golden hour, watch for herons and beaver along the creek, and end with tacos somewhere in Commerce City on the way out.

• 📍 Globeville / Commerce City / Aurora corridor
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Multiple trailheads; Bluff Lake Nature Center / Stapleton area is the easiest access point. Confluence with the South Platte in Commerce City marks the north end; Triple Creek Trailhead in Aurora marks the south.

Hours: Open daily sunup to sundown; free. Paved through Denver and Commerce City, part gravel/soft surface in Aurora.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3

Verified 2026-06-07.