Denver's Bike Paths: MAY 2008 Platte River South to Platte River North, end to end

Today we're going to ride the Platte River Trail from the Chatfield Dam to the end of the trail North of Denver, roughly 28 miles.

You can ride the whole route one way from either direction and be dropped off and picked up by RTD at each end.

I decided to start at the South end at Chatfield Dam.

I took the RTD Light Rail to the Mineral Station on the South West line.

When you're standing on the platform look down, the doors you can enter with a bike are marked. Once you're on the train, stand with your bike to keep it from falling.

The Mineral Avenue stop is at the end of the South West line. Once you're off the train take the bridge over Santa Fe and it's only a few hundred feet to the Platte River Trail.

I rode 4 miles South into Chatfield State Park so I could start at the base of the dam.

Welcome to Chatfield State Park.

There's the dam, nothing coming over the spillway today.

I read in the paper they're releasing a bunch of water from Cheeseman Dam, which is up the Platte, up through Waterton Canyon near Deckers.

So the flow is high and Chatfield Reservoir behind this dam is filling up right now. A cool Spring has kept runoff moderate so far.

It sure is a peaceful ride. Now I've turned around and we're heading North to Denver.

The good ol' South Platte River.

Welcome to the South Suburban Parks & Recreation turf. They do an excellent job of maintaining the trail.

This traffic circle is next to the South Suburban Nature Center.

This one's at the Lee Gulch Trail junction

Here's a look up the Lee Gulch Trail from the traffic circle. I haven't ridden Lee Gulch since March, when it was choked with mud & snow.

Gotta include Lee Gulch in a ride one of these days.

Not far from the Lee Gulch junction you pass Hudson Gardens.

You can see the snack shack but there's also a Botanical Garden, a garden model railroad and a natural amphitheater where they hold a Summer Concert series.
http://www.hudsongardens.org/

I think Spring is so awesome, what with the re awakening of dormant flora and stuff.

The Platte River Trail has some historic significance.

Art on the Platte.

There are easy access restaurants along the Platte River Trail.

Of all the metro bike paths the Platte has the most dining options.

Here's one that just opened, it has a path from the Platte Trail.

I can picture myself on that patio with a drink with an umbrella in it sometime this Summer.

There's a memorial along this section of the trail. I always stop and pay my respects. I moved to Denver in April 1997. In December 1997 a drunk driver was in a wreck on Santa Fe just across the Platte River from here.

A woman and girl were killed. A Flight for Life helicopter was brought in to get the lone survivor.

When the chopper took off it hit the power lines on the other side of the river and crashed, killing all on board.

What a waste. Six lives lost that night.

I remember seeing it on the news and I knew that spot having ridden the Platte a lot that summer.

Here's the crash site. You can see the power lines, if you look closely you'll notice the tree in the center of the picture was sheared off. The yellow patch of grass is where the memorial is.

This is right off the trail. There's a plaque with the names, a bench carved out of stone and a fountain.

The stone steps in the center of the picture lead to the crash site.

Here it is. You can see other stones were laid in a circle to outline the site. There's another stone bench and this inscription:

When you awake in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

of quiet birds in circled flight

I am the soft star that shines at night

Do not stand at my grave and cry

I am not there, I did not die.

OK, so it's a good place to stop and contemplate how lucky you are to be alive. The fact that you're riding your bike on the Platte River Trail means you're experiencing life instead of sitting on the couch watching television. Maybe you're getting Jerry Springer on the DVR, but at least you're out riding now. Life is precious, don't waste it.

Continuing North you come to the Big Dry Creek Trail junction. That bridge across the Platte is at the confluence.

Gotta ride the Big Dry Creek Trail soon, in the Summertime there's a train ride and a mini zoo in a park up that trail.

Here's the Union Avenue Boat Chutes, a series of chutes for kayakers. I took a few pictures:

This looks like a passing lane on this hill.

Slower traffic keep right.

This is the section where the new Mega Mall is being built.

The trail used to go next to that line of trees. It will again soon.

Little Dry Creek Trail, haven't ridden that before. Until I slowed down to take a picture of this sign I never knew it was there.

In my defense, the trail might be brand new. The sign is brand new. How can I tell? Hasn't been tagged yet.

Looking North on the Platte River Trail North of Alameda.

On a calm day sometimes they turn on these fountains which I have seen before but not photographed yet.

This shot was rare enough because the usually closed gate was open this paticular day.

Normally it looks like this.

One day soon I'll get a picture of the water works in action.

You know you're getting close to downtown when you see Mile High Stadium...

And the fabulous Elitch Gardens. That big white wooden Roller Coaster is the Twister II.

I get a season pass every year. I use the waterpark on really hot days and Ride the T-2 as often as possible.

Then you pass through Confluence Park. The one at Cherry Creek. There's another one at Clear Creek.

This picture shows Cherry Creek on the left and the Platte flowing along from the right.

There's a kayak course on the farther diversion. Too cool.

What a great city.

This is Commons Park in Downtown Denver. The building on the right used to an old empty building and the lush lawns you see were weeds, dirt and debris.

Now they're trendy lofts selling in the low 300's.

The trail through this section has changed too. For the better.

Ride on for a bit and you'll pass Globeville Landing Park.

After this park services are limited. There's a convienience store and a McDonald's after you leave the park and cross the river.

Let's take another look at the great new underpass next to the National Guard Complex. Before this you had to mingle with cars trucks and trains to get to the next section of the trail across Franklin Street.