Denver is renowned for its vibrant urban atmosphere, proximity to the stunning Rocky Mountains, and its exceptional outdoor lifestyle. One of the most popular outdoor activities in the city is mountain biking, which draws thousands of biking enthusiasts every year. Whether you’re a beginner, an intermediate rider, or a seasoned professional, Denver has a wide variety of trails that cater to all skill levels.

In this post, we’ll take a deep dive into the best mountain biking trails in Denver. From scenic beginner trails to challenging expert routes, we’ll help you discover where to ride and what makes each trail so unique. So, saddle up and get ready to explore the best trails in the Mile-High City!

Why Mountain Biking in Denver?

Before we dive into the trails, let’s take a look at why mountain biking in Denver is such a sought-after experience. Denver’s geographic location at the foot of the Rocky Mountains provides riders with access to a wide variety of terrain. From flat, fast trails to rocky, technical routes, the city offers something for every type of rider.

Accessibility and Proximity

One of the major advantages of mountain biking in Denver is how accessible the trails are. Within a short drive or even a bike ride from downtown, riders can find themselves in some of the most breathtaking natural environments in the country. The city’s location offers easy access to both beginner-friendly trails and challenging, rugged paths for more advanced riders.

Scenic Views and Unique Landscapes

Denver’s mountain biking trails are known for their scenic beauty. Whether you’re cruising through the foothills of the Rockies or navigating the urban wilderness, there are ample opportunities to take in breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and valleys. Along the way, you might even spot some local wildlife like deer, foxes, or various bird species.

Vibrant Mountain Biking Community

Denver has cultivated a strong mountain biking community, offering events, clubs, and opportunities to connect with fellow enthusiasts. Local bike shops and groups regularly organize rides, lessons, and social gatherings, creating a welcoming environment for riders of all skill levels.

Now, let’s break down some of the best mountain biking trails in and around Denver, so you can plan your next adventure!

Best Trails for Beginners

If you’re new to mountain biking or just getting back into the sport, Denver offers a plethora of beginner-friendly trails that provide a smooth entry into the world of mountain biking. These trails are perfect for building confidence, learning the basics, and enjoying the scenery without feeling overwhelmed. Whether you’re looking for an easy ride or a trail with a few mild challenges, the options in Denver cater to all abilities and offer varied landscapes that will keep you coming back for more.

1. Cherry Creek Trail

  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Distance: 20 miles (one-way)
  • Location: Starts in downtown Denver, extends through Cherry Creek State Park

The Cherry Creek Trail is an iconic, highly accessible trail in Denver, making it a top choice for beginners. It’s an excellent mix of urban and natural landscapes that offers a peaceful and scenic escape without leaving the city limits. The trail is mostly paved, making it smooth and ideal for riders who are still learning how to handle a mountain bike. There are also some off-road segments along the route where riders can experience dirt paths and some slightly uneven terrain, which is a great way to build confidence for more rugged trails in the future.

The path weaves through parks, nature reserves, and beside Cherry Creek, offering stunning views of the surrounding city skyline, local wildlife, and urban parks. Beginners will appreciate how the trail’s flat terrain provides an opportunity to get comfortable on the bike while experiencing a variety of beautiful settings. The route is incredibly safe and well-maintained, and it includes markers and signage, so it’s easy to follow.

Why it’s great for beginners:

  • Flat Terrain: Most of the trail is flat, meaning minimal strain on your legs and an easy ride for new bikers. The gentle slopes make it approachable for anyone new to the sport.
  • Urban Access: Starting in downtown Denver, the trail is easy to access for locals and visitors alike. You can jump on it without much hassle.
  • Varied Scenery: From the hustle and bustle of Denver’s downtown to the peaceful nature spots along Cherry Creek, the trail offers a fun, diverse experience that doesn’t feel like a typical “beginner” route.

Tip: Since Cherry Creek Trail is part of the city’s extensive bike network, you’ll have easy access to amenities such as water stations, restrooms, and cafes along the way. It’s perfect for those looking to take a break or hydrate during their ride.

2. Sloan’s Lake Park Loop

  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Distance: 2.5 miles
  • Location: Sloan’s Lake Park

For those new to mountain biking who may want to take it easy or who are pressed for time, Sloan’s Lake Park Loop is a fantastic, laid-back option. Just west of downtown Denver, Sloan’s Lake Park provides an easy and scenic ride with virtually no elevation change. The trail is mostly flat and made up of smooth dirt and gravel paths, making it perfect for beginners who want to familiarize themselves with the basics of mountain biking. This is also a great option if you’re looking for a short, refreshing ride in the middle of your day.

The loop around Sloan’s Lake offers beautiful water views, with the downtown Denver skyline towering in the background. The natural beauty of the lake and the park creates a peaceful, serene atmosphere that makes for a relaxing cycling experience. If you’re a local, it’s a great option for a quick ride during lunch breaks or a casual weekend outing. It’s also easy for visitors to navigate and gives a unique view of Denver’s urban surroundings, providing an enjoyable ride in a city park.

Why it’s great for beginners:

  • Flat Terrain: The trail is primarily flat, making it easy on your legs and perfect for getting comfortable with the bike.
  • Easy Access: Located just a few miles from downtown, the trail is easy to find and ideal for a quick ride in the city.
  • Relaxing Environment: The natural beauty of the park and lake provides a peaceful environment where you can enjoy biking without the stress of navigating more difficult terrain.

Tip: Sloan’s Lake Park is home to several bike rental shops, so if you’re visiting or don’t own a bike, this is a great place to rent one. It’s an easy way to experience mountain biking in an accessible, beginner-friendly setting.

3. Bear Creek Trail

  • Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
  • Distance: 5 miles (one-way)
  • Location: Bear Creek Lake Park, Lakewood (about 20 minutes from Denver)

For beginners who are ready to venture a little farther out of the city, Bear Creek Trail is an excellent choice. Located in Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood, just 20 minutes outside of Denver, this trail offers a peaceful and scenic experience with a touch more elevation change, but still very manageable for beginners. The trail is relatively flat but includes some gentle inclines, so it’s a great spot to practice your climbing technique without feeling overwhelmed.

As you ride along Bear Creek, you’ll enjoy views of the creek and surrounding nature, including birds and wildlife. The trail is mostly dirt and gravel paths, with a few rocky sections that allow beginners to experience a bit of technical terrain without facing something too difficult. Whether you’re looking for a casual ride or wanting to practice some climbing, this trail offers variety and scenery while keeping the difficulty level beginner-friendly.

Why it’s great for beginners:

  • Peaceful, Scenic Environment: The trail winds alongside Bear Creek, offering beautiful nature views that make the ride feel like an outdoor adventure.
  • Gentle Inclines: Bear Creek Trail is not overly steep, so it’s ideal for beginners who are working on building endurance without overtaxing their muscles.
  • Variety of Terrain: The trail is made up of dirt and gravel paths with a few rocky sections, so it gives new riders a chance to familiarize themselves with different types of terrain without jumping straight into technical difficulty.

Tip: If you’re feeling adventurous, you can extend your ride by exploring additional trails that loop through Bear Creek Lake Park. The park has several connecting paths that allow you to mix up your ride and explore even more of the area’s natural beauty.

Best Trails for Intermediate Riders

Once you’ve built a solid foundation of mountain biking skills, it’s time to push yourself to the next level. Denver offers a fantastic selection of intermediate trails that provide the perfect blend of technical challenges and scenic views, helping riders improve their skills while enjoying the beauty of the surrounding landscape. These trails introduce more steep climbs, varied terrain, and obstacles that will test your control, endurance, and bike handling abilities.

If you’re ready to step up your mountain biking game, here’s a detailed look at three of the best intermediate-level trails in the Denver area:

4. Green Mountain Trail

  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Distance: 7.5 miles
  • Location: Green Mountain Open Space, Lakewood (about 20 minutes from Denver)

Green Mountain Trail is one of Denver’s most beloved intermediate mountain biking trails, and for good reason. Situated in the Green Mountain Open Space in Lakewood, just a short drive from downtown Denver, this trail offers an exciting blend of technical terrain, moderate elevation gain, and rewarding panoramic views of the surrounding foothills, valleys, and even downtown Denver in the distance.

As you ascend the trail, you’ll encounter a mix of dirt, gravel, and rocky sections, providing the perfect challenge for intermediate riders who are ready to test their climbing and descending skills. The trail’s winding switchbacks, moderate elevation gains, and occasional loose rock sections will help you sharpen your bike handling abilities while providing a fun, diverse experience.

The real reward comes when you reach the summit of Green Mountain. From the top, you’ll be treated to incredible 360-degree views that stretch all the way to the Rocky Mountains. This is a great spot to stop, catch your breath, and take in the scenery before heading back down.

Why it’s great for intermediate riders:

  • Diverse Terrain: The trail offers a mix of dirt, gravel, and rocky sections, allowing you to practice technical skills like navigating loose rocks and adjusting your bike handling.
  • Elevation Gain: The moderate climb up Green Mountain helps you build endurance and provides an excellent opportunity to improve your climbing technique.
  • Scenic Views: The summit offers stunning panoramic views of the Denver area, providing both a visual and physical reward for your efforts.

Tip: The summit of Green Mountain is an excellent spot to pause for a break and enjoy the views. Bring some water and a snack to recharge before continuing your ride.

5. North Table Mountain Trail

  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Distance: 8.5 miles
  • Location: North Table Mountain Park, Golden (about 20 minutes from Denver)

For intermediate riders looking for a trail that offers more of a technical challenge, the North Table Mountain Trail in Golden is the perfect option. This 8.5-mile loop takes you around both the base and summit of North Table Mountain, offering a diverse range of terrain, from rocky climbs to steep descents, ensuring an exciting and rewarding ride.

The trail’s rocky, technical nature makes it ideal for riders who want to build their bike handling skills. Expect loose rocks, technical ascents, and some fast, thrilling downhill sections that require good bike control. While the trail has some tough sections, it is still manageable for intermediate riders with some experience under their belts. The rock gardens, switchbacks, and occasional steep inclines provide opportunities to hone skills like braking, cornering, and navigating technical obstacles.

Along the way, you’ll be treated to some breathtaking views of Golden, the nearby foothills, and the far-off Rocky Mountains, with sunset being a particularly spectacular time to experience the vistas.

Why it’s great for intermediate riders:

  • Technical Terrain: The rocky and uneven surfaces challenge riders to develop their technical skills, particularly when it comes to handling loose terrain and sharp descents.
  • Variety of Riding: With a mix of climbing, descending, and technical features, the trail gives you the chance to improve your overall bike handling, making it an ideal intermediate challenge.
  • Incredible Views: The views of Golden and the surrounding landscape are unmatched, especially as the sun sets behind the mountains.

Tip: This trail can be more strenuous, particularly on hot summer days, so be sure to bring plenty of water and take breaks as needed. The elevation and technical challenges can be taxing, so pacing yourself is key.

6. Chatfield Reservoir Loop

  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Distance: 8 miles
  • Location: Chatfield State Park, Littleton (about 30 minutes from Denver)

The Chatfield Reservoir Loop is another fantastic intermediate trail that offers a balanced mix of dirt paths, gravel roads, and some more technical riding elements. Situated in Chatfield State Park in Littleton, this 8-mile loop takes riders around Chatfield Reservoir, providing not only a challenging ride but also an opportunity to enjoy the park’s stunning natural beauty.

The trail is moderately technical with a few mild climbs, descents, and tight turns, making it a great route for riders looking to improve their bike handling and endurance. The terrain includes dirt and gravel paths, as well as some rocky areas, ensuring a bit of variety in your riding experience. As you ride, you’ll also pass by the Chatfield Reservoir, giving you scenic water views and the chance to see wildlife like birds, deer, and other creatures along the way.

The trail offers enough of a challenge for intermediate riders, but it is not overly difficult, making it a great option to build your stamina while still enjoying a scenic, outdoor experience. There are also several connecting trails within Chatfield State Park that allow you to extend your ride and explore more of the park if you’re looking for more of a challenge.

Why it’s great for intermediate riders:

  • Moderate Technical Features: The trail provides enough technical features like climbs and rocky sections to help you work on your bike handling without overwhelming you.
  • Scenic Environment: The reservoir, surrounded by natural beauty, offers a peaceful backdrop for a challenging ride. You can even spot wildlife along the way.
  • Variety of Trails: In addition to the main loop, there are other trails in the park that you can explore, making it easy to tailor your ride to your preferences.

Tip: If you’re up for a longer ride, Chatfield State Park offers a variety of connecting trails that allow you to extend your ride beyond the 8-mile loop, giving you more variety and options depending on your energy levels.

Best Trails for Advanced Riders

Denver is a haven for mountain biking enthusiasts, offering a range of trails for all skill levels. However, for those who have honed their skills and are seeking an adrenaline-pumping challenge, the advanced trails in the area will push your limits and offer technical descents, rugged terrain, and demanding climbs. These trails are not for the faint of heart, but they reward those with the experience and determination to take on their challenges. Here are two of the best advanced trails around Denver that will truly test your mountain biking abilities:

7. Apex Park Trail

  • Difficulty: Advanced
  • Distance: 10 miles
  • Location: Apex Park, Golden (about 30 minutes from Denver)

Located in Apex Park in Golden, just a short drive from downtown Denver, this 10-mile trail is a local favorite for advanced riders who are seeking a challenging, technical ride. Apex Park is known for its rugged terrain and offers some of the most exciting and demanding mountain biking in the area. The Apex Park Trail is a thrilling combination of steep climbs, rock gardens, sharp turns, and technical descents that will push even the most seasoned bikers to their limits.

The trail starts with a steady climb that gradually increases in difficulty, leading you into technical sections with loose rocks and challenging ascents. You’ll need solid bike handling and climbing skills to navigate the trail effectively. As you work your way toward the summit, the landscape opens up, providing breathtaking views of the surrounding foothills and mountains.

However, the real excitement begins on the downhill sections. The trail features fast, technical descents where quick reflexes and precise bike control are required. With sharp turns, rocky drops, and a variety of obstacles, these descents are designed to challenge your skills, test your agility, and give you the thrill of riding at high speeds through a rugged landscape.

Why it’s great for advanced riders:

  • Technical Terrain: The trail offers a variety of technical challenges, including rock gardens, steep climbs, and fast, demanding descents. This makes it a perfect place to improve and test your bike handling, braking, and climbing abilities.
  • Varied Riding: The Apex Park Trail provides a combination of uphill and downhill sections, with each offering different challenges. The mix of terrain keeps the ride exciting and engaging.
  • Scenic Views: Once you reach the summit, the views of the surrounding mountains and foothills are spectacular, offering a perfect reward for the effort put into the climb.

Tip: This trail is very technical, and it’s important to have strong bike-handling skills and solid physical fitness before attempting it. The downhill sections are fast and require precision, so make sure to ride cautiously and stay focused.

8. Marshall Mesa Trail

  • Difficulty: Advanced
  • Distance: 10 miles
  • Location: Marshall Mesa, Boulder (about 45 minutes from Denver)

If you’re an advanced rider seeking a truly challenging trail that will test your technical skills, Marshall Mesa Trail in Boulder is a must-ride. Located just outside of Boulder, Colorado, this trail is considered one of the most challenging and exhilarating mountain biking trails in the region. Spanning 10 miles, the Marshall Mesa Trail is packed with difficult climbs, rocky sections, loose gravel, and technical obstacles, making it a perfect challenge for expert riders.

The trail begins with steep, rocky climbs that demand significant strength and stamina. As you climb, you’ll encounter a series of obstacles, including rock gardens, loose gravel, and sharp switchbacks that test your ability to maintain control and momentum. The rocky terrain requires excellent bike-handling skills, as navigating through uneven ground and rocks can be tricky, especially at higher speeds.

The descents on Marshall Mesa are no less challenging. Fast and steep, they require precise control as you maneuver through loose dirt, rocks, and sharp turns. The trail is not only physically demanding but mentally challenging as well, as it requires riders to be alert and prepared for the technical obstacles that lie ahead.

Why it’s great for advanced riders:

  • Steep Climbs and Technical Terrain: The climbs are steep and rocky, requiring both endurance and technical skills. If you love tackling challenging ascents, this trail is ideal for you.
  • Fast and Rocky Descents: The descents on Marshall Mesa are thrilling and challenging, with fast speeds and rugged terrain that demand precision and control. It’s a great trail for riders who enjoy downhill riding.
  • Technical Obstacles: The rock gardens, sharp switchbacks, and loose gravel sections provide plenty of technical challenges to work on and improve your riding abilities.

Tip: The conditions on Marshall Mesa can be dry and dusty, so be prepared for loose terrain and rocky sections. Make sure to pack plenty of water and be prepared for a physically demanding ride. Due to the technical nature of the trail, it’s recommended to approach the more difficult sections cautiously if you’re not yet comfortable with advanced-level mountain biking.

Conclusion: Ride Denver’s Best Trails!

From scenic beginner paths to technical advanced routes, Denver offers a diverse range of mountain biking trails that cater to riders of all skill levels. Whether you’re exploring urban trails with city views or tackling rugged mountain paths with incredible vistas, Denver has something to offer every cyclist.

With the breathtaking Rocky Mountain backdrop and the vibrant outdoor culture, mountain biking in Denver is an unforgettable experience. The best part is that no matter your level of experience, there’s a trail waiting for you. So, grab your bike, hit the trail, and get ready to discover the beauty of the Mile-High City from a whole new perspective!

Happy riding!