C-470> Highline Canal>Lee Gulch> Platte River trails

Ok, I'm finally back on my bike. I haven't ridden since August. I was all caught up in the election in the fall, then I got lazy. When you get out of a habit it can be hard to get back in.
So today I took a fun ride. First, I caught an RTD bus #O going south on Broadway towards Highlands Ranch. I got off at Broadway and C-470.

Here's a shot of the C-470 trail looking West from Broadway.
It's about a half mile from Broadway to the intersection with the High Line Canal Trail, the grand daddy trail in the metro area.

We're going top turn right at the High Line Canal. We're looking at an aqueduct that carries the canal over a stream. The canal is dry in winter.



Here's a closer view. In spring & summer this is full of water. There is a diversion to the stream too.

Under the aqueduct next to the stream I found some tracks. Maybe a Fox?
I saw some really strange tracks later on.


So down the High Line Canal Trail. This shot is looking West. We're headed East.


Bird zone.




Here's a big old tree with a couple hidey holes.





One at the bottom





And one about eight feet up.



The High Line Canal Trail has old trees all along the way.




Good views of the mountains too.


You ride the High Line Canal about 3.4 miles to Lee Gulch. Here's another aqueduct that carries the High Line Canal over Lee Gulch.
We're going to turn left and go down the Lee Gulch Trail.




The trail is well marked. Lee Gulch leads to the Platte River.




It was February 5th but the weather was warm, 69 degrees. There was still snow in shady spots.



Lee Gulch Trail is dirt but I think it's a nice ride. Some good downhill sections.
















Thin ice on this pond.






Coyote zone.




Construction along Lee Gulch. Looking downstream.






Looking upsteam.















Here's an aqueduct over the stream in Lee Gulch. I think it's City Ditch.





The stream in Lee Gulch.
Here's an old tunnel under train & light rail tracks. A coal train was going by.




Here's the other end. The tunnel has been extended to accommodate a light rail line and a road.



Here's the other end of the tunnel.




Here's the end of the trail, ahead is the Platte River Trail.

There's a rest area at the end of the Lee Gulch Trail.





There is art all along the Platte River Trail.






This section is the Mary Carter Greenway on the Platte.

There are a lot of turn outs to rest at along the Platte.




Hudson Gardens snack shack is closed for the winter. In warmer weather it's a good place to stop for a snack.





There it is, Hudson Gardens. Jewel of the Platte.






When you ride the Platte River Trail you're following an old trapper & trader trail. Heck, Kit Carson used this same trail.



More art along the Platte. I noticed the brass plaque describing it has been stolen. The concrete base is still there.

I saw a muskrat swimming across a pond.





More art along the Platte. It's plaque is also missing.





Next I took a moment to reflect at the memorial dedicated to the flight for life crew that died here in December 1997.


















It's a nice place to pause and reflect.



There's the moon. February 5th was a great day. I was in shorts & a t shirt.

Pretty soon you come top the Bear Creek confluence.



At the Bear Creek confluence I noticed a memorial for Mike the homeless vet who died here at age 70. Let's see, born in 1938 he was 30 in 1968. Viet Nam vet. Very sad.




It says Mike was a tunnel rat. He must have been very brave. The Viet Cong built elaborate tunnel systems and US soldiers had to go down in there.






Now Mike's in Vet Heaven. Rest in peace Mike.

I also found some unusual tracks near where Mike died. At first I thought it was a partial print from a lug soled boot but they were too close together and that was the complete print. Never seen anything like it. Aliens?





Camera case added to show scale.











There's the prints next to my foot.




Strange.

There were also prints from lug sole bboots but the pattern was different and not as deep.


In this picture the ground near the odd prints appears to have cracked.


Not sure what that means.

Next we go by the new mega mall. It opened last summer. Parts of it are still under construction. Here's a few pictures.



This place not done yet.
New buildings still unoccupied. Bad time to open a mega mall I guess.








Looks like a future movie theatre to me.









After passing the mall there is a short detour.



It wasn't long before the trail resumed.


Entering Denver. I noticed these signs, which were heavily spray painted a year ago, have been cleaned up.


This sign was cleaned up too. Good job Denver!


So here's a look at the South Platte River from the bike bridge.





We go by a VFW hall. Not even a mile from where Mike the homeless vet died.


Looks like this post is dying too.



War mementos.





Anti tank gun.





Field artillery.

There's the front door. metal door with a window. The parking lot was full.




Nice big Army truck for sale. Here's a few pictures.













There's the number.
Then further along the Platte I found another memorial for a homeless person. Liz died September 5th 2008 at 13th & Platte. About 1.5 miles from my house. September 5th is my birthday.

I was celebrating while a homeless person was dying. Bummer.
So I rode the Platte towards Denver. I got off at Alameda Avenue because that's how I go home. Your route may vary. The Platte River Trail goes to Denver and beyond.
I give this ride 4 stars. I used to live in Lone Tree and rode this route to Denver once or twice a week.