Matthews/Winters-Dakota Ridge Trail
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
3 reviews for Matthews/Winters-Dakota Ridge Trail
Adding to the two before we took the Red Rocks Trail and it was a great ride. Our two kids (10 &13) came with and while we had to hike a bike a few sections for the most part it was just hard enough to keep it fun. We made it to where the Morrison Slide Trail meets up and then just retraced our steps.
Hikers, runner and other mtn bikers that we've encountered here have all been really courteous and minding the trail maps to preserve the integrity of the trail. This really is a great hiking/running trail.
My only complaint, and it's a small one, is the heavily graveled trail that leads to the actual trail. It's fine for hikers but man! I hate how slidy it is on my bike. That is scary than the rocky part farther up.
Also, bring lots of water. There is no shade and on a warm day you notice!
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Trail running rocks. This course is a bit tough if you're used to Denver's flat, paved streets and even sidewalks. But worth it if you like to kick your own arse. Lots of mountain bikers too but they are courteous to runners. Lots of hills and stuff. Fun run. You can split it up too and do just Matthews/Winters for a nice 3.5 mile or so run. Take water if you're going to do the Ridge too- it's about 7 miles altogether, I think.
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To add to Susie's review, take the Morison Slide Trail up to the top of the plateau that overlooks the park. It has great views, and you get away from more of the crowd, although you'll still run into a few, more hardier folks up there. it only adds about a half mile, plus it turns it into a loop hike. It rejoins the main trail down by Red Rocks end of the park. Also, if you mountain bike, coming down the slide trail at the Red Rocks end is a super gnarly decent, intermediate to advanced, with very technical parts, including inconvientely placed boudlers and 300 degree switchbacks with big drop-offs... a total blast, Climbing up that part sucks though. Going up the east end is not too bad, coming down it is fast with great technical sections and switchbacks. Lastly, the Dakota Ridge trail, across the valley on the other side of the road, is pretty rough, a great run, a hairy mountain bike ride, well worth it, with great views. Plus you can make a giant loop out of it by linking back to Mathews-Winters. Speaking from experience, start a half to hour earlier than you think you'll need if you're gonna run it, and you go late in the day, otherwise you may finish in the dark.
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