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Filed Under: Cycling, Running
Begin at the Superior Town Hall, with nearby remnants of original settlers and farmers. This beautiful route of crushed-stone is relatively flat and has several small sections of concrete path and street. It offers beautiful views, plenty of opportunity to see wildlife, and is easy to follow with the blue trail signs.
Jump on the trail and take it north, under McCaslin and US-36. Follow the crushed-stone trail along the Coal Creek as it winds around Coal Creek Golf Course. The trail goes under Dillon Road (to the parking lot of the golf course), and then loops up to street level. Turn left at the street and go 25 yards to where the trail continues on your left side. (Distance run: 1 mile.)
Turn left onto the concrete path with the golf course on your left. Follow the path past the golf course and through the houses, to pop out onto St. Andrews Lane. Take the crosswalk and turn left following the wider-than-normal sidewalk/path for the next 0.7 miles as it winds through the neighborhood. (You will turn left onto Augusta Lane from St. Andrews.) At the end of Augusta, you will see the crushed-stone trail continue back down to the golf course. Follow the trail to an open space past the golf course, with a connecting trail to the street. (Distance run: 2 miles.)
Bear to your right and continue on the trail as it goes to the right of the houses. After 0.5 miles, the trail pops up onto Aspen Way. Turn right on Aspen way (running on the street), and follow it as it immediately turns left and the street becomes Roosevelt Ave. Stay on Roosevelt Ave. heading north. (Currently the adjacent park is under construction, and upon completion the trail will go through the park.) You will run around the future park on the neighborhood streets. Turn right on Rex Street and run east until Rex dead-ends into S. 96th Street. Turn right and go about 50 yards on 96th until you see Lock Street and the RR tracks on your left. At Lock you will see the crushed stone trail continuing south along the right side of the RR tracks. Follow the trail as it goes under the RR trestle. (Distance run: 3 miles.)
Continue on the crushed-stone trail as it goes through two tunnels. Emerging from the second tunnel on the north side of Hwy 42, the trail leaves the creek and gradually climbs for the next 0.4 miles. Arriving at the plateau of this climb at the Aquarius trailhead, turn and take in the amazing views of the Flatirons & Front Range. (Distance run: 4 miles.)
Descend down the backside of the plateau and cross Empire Road, continuing on the crushed-stone trail where it joins back with the creek. 0.5 miles after leaving the Aquarius trailhead, the trail diverges - Cross the bridge and continue on the trail following the creek. Stay on the trail keeping the creek on your right side and houses on your left. You will see several connecting trails out to the street, including one to adjacent tennis courts. (Distance run: 5 miles.)
The trail closely follows the windy creek as you run through a couple of livestock gates and under Hwy 287. After coming out from under the tunnel, look for the trail continuing on your right, through the gate. Continue along the crushed stone trail and creek as it flows east towards Lafayette. You will reach another trailhead at 112th Street. Continue on the trail under 112th. (Distance run: 6 miles.)
At this point the foliage opens up a bit and the trail runs due east through open space. This section of the run includes an eagle viewing area called the "Raptor Rapture". The trail criss-crosses over the creek a few times and ducks under another wooden RR trestle, eventually terminating at 120th Street. (Distance run: 7.05 miles.)
(Map to start:) http://maps.yahoo.com/mapsresult?ed=ObvI0Op0TpvuOc8tcRTrSBM6cCxrCbXNtV29OkWYUapCA--&csz=Superior%2C+CO&country=us&resize=s
If you are looking to access the trail in Louisville, park at the Aquarius trailhead parking lot on Highway 42, just west of the Louisville cemetery.
If you are looking to leave a car at the finish of the run in Lafayette, park at the small Rock Creek trailhead on 120th Street, 0.5 miles south of S. Boulder Road.
Posted by: colomarathoners@earthlink and last modified on Feb 15, 2007 by sean
Comments
biggest_toes said ...
The new Louisville Community Park is now just a block north of where the Coal Creek trail comes to Aspen Way. The park has bathrooms and a drinking fountain, which aren't scheduled to open until spring, 2006. Eastbound, follow the road north from Aspen Way, and at the stop sign, you can now turn right and run along a cinder trail on the new extension of Bella Vista, at the south end of the park. This will connect up with the Coal Creek trail just across the old county road.
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