Boulder trails
Want a trail that’s a little longer than the 10k? Look no further than Boulder Creek! Following the scenic waterway for most of its journey, the very popular Boulder Creek Path runs east from Boulder Canyon to the edge of the Valmont Reservoir. The western end is dirt and gravel, which changes to pavement as you enter the city and travel through downtown Boulder, local parks, and the University of Colorado campus.
Bear Creek Path begins just south of the University of Colorado Research Park and runs southwest to the Martin Acres community. Paved and generally flat, this trail is great for training without steep slopes. However, you will find that there is a steady incline up to S. Broadway Street at the south end of the trail.
Goose Creek grants you sights of East Mapleton Park as you trot along this major east-west route through Boulder. If you end your path to the south, you can extend the run by hopping onto the Boulder Creek Path. Note that there is little shade along the trail, and the pathway runs through busy commercial areas.
Denver trails
Want a different kind of scenery, bringing you the newest sights and sounds of railway life? If so, Colorado's West Rail Line Bike Path will be perfect! Just a bit more than 6.2 miles (the length of a 10k), this path runs parallel to the “W Line,” a light rail corridor through Denver and Lakewood that was known during construction as the “West Rail Line.” Run fast enough, and you might even get that “whooshing” effect as you dash past the trail marker signs!
On the other end of the spectrum, Willow Creek Greenbelt is just shy of a full 10k distance. This would be a good one for if you wanted to really sprint, push yourself, and try to get a Personal Record (PR) on race day! The six-mile, paved and soft-surface trail runs along a creek bed in the suburban area around Centennial. It's also quite common to catch sight of foxes and other wildlife along the route!
Care for some company along your trail? Then, step onto East Plum Creek trail! This 8-foot-wide, multi-use, paved trail covers more than 6 miles between Castle View High School and Crystal Valley Parkway.
Other trails in the area
This greenway is considered the "crown jewel" of Longmont's trail system with its many jumping-off points at a variety of parks, schools, other trails, and commercial areas. Miles of concrete bike paths and gravel walking paths, as well as nature trails, welcome visitors of all kinds to the Greenway.
The relatively flat but still challenging Mesa Trail spans a beautiful area, with breathtaking views of the amazing landscape just below the flatirons and foothill peaks. This is definitely a longer trail if you choose to take on the entire thing, but a few different trailhead options along the way make it very customizable. The northern half can be pretty busy with hikers and trail runners while the half closer to the El Dorado/South Mesa trailhead is often less trafficked.
Eldorado Canyon is a hidden treasure right here in our Boulder backyard! From hiking among the towering sandstone cliffs, to picnicking along the gently streaming South Boulder Creek, and even climbing Eldo's sheer golden walls - this park will have you gazing for days! Be aware, Eldorado Canyon is a very popular spot, and parking capacity regularly fills before 10am. It might be worth calling or checking their website before getting all dressed and ready to run.
This trail is less than a full 10k, but makes for a pleasant stroll with history. This area, approximately 20-30 minutes south of Boulder, was rich with mining and agriculture. In our dry landscape, irrigation is a necessity for providing water to farms and pasture land. In the early 1900s, the flow of South Boulder Creek was diverted by the construction of a series of ditches. Community Ditch, which constitutes a majority of the Doudy Draw Trail, was one of the last water diversion projects along the creek.
This trail is one of the best if you want your distance to be just about the same as the 10k, with one-tenth of a mile extra for your “warm up.” You will see tons of recreational opportunities along the path as the trail continues south along a pretty creek and passes Tollgate Park, Horseshoe Park and Hampden Run Park.
Running this relatively easy loop one time gets you almost to the 5k length, which is 3.1 miles. The trail is a popular one for fishing, hiking, and mountain biking, but you can still enjoy some meditative running solitude during quieter times of the day.