Cherry Creek

When I visited Denver, CO, I wanted to ride a trail. Cherry Creek seemed a good choice. I thought the Cherry Creek State Park would be a good place to start. There was a small fee to park my car within the park that I paid at a self service kiosk. I started my ride at 39.63504, -104.85986.

Once I started riding I found it difficult to follow the Cherry Creek Trail. The park had many trails of identical construction and no signage. I gave up and decided to just explore around the park. Eventually I decided to ride around the reservoir. This required riding a bit of residential streets that were equally confusing. Eventually I found an unmarked path between two houses that took me back to the park. I eventually located the trail again after some distance. I was using Google maps bike layer for navigation but that helped only marginally. 

Regardless of the navigation issues the ride was pleasant and I enjoyed the landscape. It was basically flat and no cars except the short section on the streets that were devoid of cars when I rode. The park had several rest room facilities. Most of the trail I rode was paved except a short section along the reservoir. 

I accidentally stumbled upon the Piney Creek Trail but did not have time to ride it more than a half mile or so. Except for the lack of signs that made navigation difficult it was a very pleasant ride.

For more information about the trail visit Arapahoe County website. 

Screen Savers

Below are some pictures I have taken while riding along trails that you may want to use as a computer background or screen saver. Panoramic images are good for dual (side by side) monitors. Click on the picture for full screen view then right click to download.

Nickel Plate

The Nickel Plate Trail stretches from Kokomo, IN to Rochester, IN. There is a gap in the middle of the trail at Peru, IN. It is part of the Great American Trail. The entire length is paved, flat, straight and mostly smooth. I parked on the northern end, at the trailhead,  41.05488, -86.20243.

The trail's northern segment ended at Lover's Lane in Peru and the road didn't have any shoulders but it was only a few hundred yards to a much safer road. The remaining streets were much safer. Broadway was busy but fairly wide and only a couple of blocks. The route I used in town was given on Google maps, bike layer. The streets are not marked with trail signage and there were quite a few turns.

I stopped at the southern edge of town to eat at Wings Etc. The manager invited me to park my bike inside, near the kitchen door. After a nice lunch I was ready to tackle the southern portion of the trail.

I turned around just outside of Kokomo at a busy road crossing, 40.53453, -86.12582. There is another trailhead here. I didn't enter town but the trail ends there. Then it was 41 miles back to the car.

This trail has been on my to do list for some time. I was excited to finally ride it. The trail did not disappoint. It was a very enjoyable ride. The few road crossings were mostly driveways or very quiet roads. There were benches, maps and repair stations along the way. Adjacent to the trail were pastures with horses grazing and a landscaping business with an incredibly landscaped pond. I spotted four deer during my ride along with numerous small animals. I would definitely ride this again if I return to the area.