Map of Big Dry Creek Trail

Easy: 10.1 miles, 1-3 hours

Other Information: Family Friendly
Dog Friendly

Overview: This trail is ideal for exploring the northwestern suburbs of Denver. It runs all the way from Standley Lake in the west to I-25 in the east.
Parts of the trail are concrete and the rest is gravel. The whole trail is incredibly level and makes a great family outing since it is superb for pulling a bike trailer or tagalong.
Wildlife viewing on the trail includes gophers, coyotes, and numerous bird species with an especially large population of hawks.
One of the distinctively inviting features of this trail is the number of connector trails that feed into it. One of the longest and favorite trails to explore off of the Big Dry Creek Trail is the Farmers Highline Canal Trail. Although the abundance of side trails is a bonus feature of the trail, it can also be a bit of a problem. Many people have gotten off the beaten path on their first visit to Big Dry Creek Trail. It's easy to do. Fortunately, the path is fairly well marked, but it's important to pay attention to the signs on your first visit.

Tips: As mentioned in the overview, it is easy to get sidetracked on this trail. Don't rely on intuition or the look of the trail when deciding which path to take. Sometimes the side trails look more like the main path. Use this guide and the signposts to orient yourself on your inaugural trail visit.
Since the Front Range of Colorado is noted for it's abundant sunshine, and this trail has very little shade, come prepared with lots of sunscreen and water.
Also remember that sporadic afternoon showers are common in Colorado, so bring a rain jacket. It's not a bad idea to always carry one of those hotel shower caps in your bike bag. They're light, they hardly take up any space, and they fit right over your helmet in case you're caught out in the rain.