Trails

Jeffco Open Space boasts 265+ miles of trail along the Front Range of central Colorado. From concrete trails in suburban parks like Crown Hill in Wheat Ridge that traces the perimeter of Crown Hill Lake, to rough and rocky natural surface trails at Elk Meadow Park in Evergreen that climbs to 9,708 feet to the top of Bergen Peak, and all manners of trail in-between. Our parks have trails to fit varying abilities, experiences, and recreation types.

Use this link to utilize the interactive web map or click the map below to check out individual parks and trails. Each trail is broken down by segment, difficulty rating, and length to make planning your visit to the parks simple.

Find A Trail

Jefferson County Open Space interactive map of Alderfer/Three Sisters Park with additional park info

Trails By Difficulty

Trail Difficulty Rating Interactive Graphic with park and trail breakdown

Regional Trail Connections

Regional trails make critical connections across public lands and ease congestion in parks as they encourage leaving the car at home. Learn more about the following regional trails in Jefferson County that connect to the Jeffco Open Space system: Bear Creek Trail, Clear Creek Trail, Fairmount Trail, North Fork Trail, Peaks to Plains Trail, and Pioneer Trail. 

View Regional Trail Connections

Looking for additional trail connections? Our partners at Colorado Parks and Wildlife built a comprehensive online map of Colorado’s trail network called the Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX). Anyone with a mobile phone or computer can explore more than 39,000 miles of recreational trails in the state. Colorado Trail Explorer application logo Opens in new window

Volunteers haul road base to make a trail at Elk Meadow more useable for visitors w/ mobility device
Peaks to Plains Trail at the Gateway Segment of Clear Creek Canyon Park

Trail Management

Trail Usability

In a continuing effort to provide equitable access for visitors of varying abilities, JCOS is in the process of auditing Open Space trails to determine where and when "usable trails" can be created. Usable trails provide a prolonged trail experiences for those individuals using mobility devices where ADA requirements cannot be met. Prolonged experiences can be created by simply hardening the trail tread and removing obstacles that might impede mobility devices. 

Trail Assessments

With over 56,000+ acres of managed land, 260+ miles of trail, 27 parks, and high visitation, taking care of existing parks and trails is top priority for Jeffco Open Space. In order to do this job effectively and efficiently, an annual trails assessment was implemented. This assessment helps to develop work plans and priorities for trail maintenance, identify opportunities for volunteer stewardship projects by groups or as a special event, and communicate to visitors where maintenance will be occurring.

Designated Use Trails

The majority of JCOS trails are multi-use and open to hikers, bikers, and equestrians, however there are circumstances where a trail may be designated for a single visitor group to address safety, mitigate visitor conflict, improve visitor experience, or observe topographical conditions. 

Click on the Designated Use Trails graphic below and select a segment to see the number, length, and location of each kind of trail use. 

Designated Use Trails web graphic link

In addition to trails that are currently designated use, the JCOS 2020-2025 Conservation Greenprint, Goal 9, calls for an additional 21 miles of designated use trails by 2025.

JCOS prioritizes the creation of Designated Use trails: 

  • In new park development
  • With preference for on-going designation over alternating day designation
  • As a priority for parks with relatively high visitor conflict but within the limits of the landscape
  • Not as a given but as one part of a tool kit to respond to the needs of the landscape and visitor use

Prior to designating trails for a specific visitor group, trail alignments go through a review process including: goal establishment, data collection, analysis, identification of alternatives, stakeholder vetting, and community engagement (as appropriate).

Draft Jeffco Trails Plan cover photo