Bike trail question - S. Platte River Trail to Chatfield (Lakewood: cinema, live)

[BarryK123]

I'm trying to find the way to Chatfield Reservoir. I have the 2008 bike trial map, but I still don't get it.

I started on Bear Creek Trail, heading east from Lakewood. It turned into the S Platte River Trail. I made a right (south) over the S. Platte at a sign labeled Little Dry Gulch Trail (or something similar), crossed a street and went through a park. There were RR tracks on my left with a long, stopped freight train and also a sign for Englewood light rail Park n Ride nearby. Then the trail split and I would have had to cross a busy street. The map shows this as a major paved off-street trial, so i wonder if I made a wrong turn. Any ideas?

[maximusmgm]

You made a wrong turn somewhere. I'd help but I don't know the trail that far north.

[steveindenver]

Yeah your directions confuse me.

The Bear Creek turns into the Platte trail headed north. If you cross the bridge where they meet you are on the Platte trail and really it is pretty straightforward.

It sounds to me like you managed to take a spur that headed east instead of the main trail.

Thing is though, I can't think of that many of them. There is one intersection further south that is circular and connects with another rather large path that heads off east ...

[BarryK123]

I know if I continue on the Platte River trial from Bear Creek trial, it turns north to downtown. How do I pick it up going south?

[livecontent]

Now this interested me--positive information about a good activity.

There have been many changes in this area where Bear Creek and the Platte meet and that is part of the confusion. Part of it is with the development in the city of Sheridan and the overall improvement of trails. In fact, new bridges are now ready to open to help transit this area of the trails City of Englewood : News The grand opening is this week.

To give you some idea of the overall trails in this area I would suggest this link to the South Suburban Park District SSPF and specifically this download PDF http://www.sspf.org/documents/Maps/S...ionTrls3b1.pdf

This area is called the Mary Carter Greenway along the South Platte Mary Carter Greenway

I hope all this information helps. If you go to the Grand Opening Celebrations of the new bridges, you probably can get some new good printed trail maps.

Livecontent

[BarryK123]

Thanks. I'm in the right general area because I saw signs for and was on part of the Mary Carter Greenway. I'll head that way again this weekend and see what happens. Being a weekend with more cyclists out, maybe I'll get some directions from someone once in the area. When I was there earlier this week, nobody else was around.

[BarryK123]

Time to answer my own question!

Went out biking today and found the correct bridge across the Platte to get the the southbound trail. It's directly across from the Regal Cinema Stadium 14. The problem, going eastbound, is the bridge is not labeled. After passing it, I noted the back of a sign facing westbound. So, I stopped, turned around, and saw it said welcome to the Mary Carter Greenway. Figured that was the right place turn-off and it was. I was going several miles too far.

[suzco]

Originally Posted by BarryK123

Time to answer my own question!

Went out biking today and found the correct bridge across the Platte to get the the southbound trail. It's directly across from the Regal Cinema Stadium 14. The problem, going eastbound, is the bridge is not labeled. After passing it, I noted the back of a sign facing westbound. So, I stopped, turned around, and saw it said welcome to the Mary Carter Greenway. Figured that was the right place turn-off and it was. I was going several miles too far.

Beautiful day for a bike ride today, too. Hope you're enjoying discovering life in Colorado.