Best Walking Trails in Golden

Mar 31

Written By Shauna

for your “hot girls walks”

Hot Girl Walk definition: a 2023 trend that entails a 4-mile outdoor walk where you focus on gratitude, mindfulness, and goals.

Walking benefits: Walking indoors and outdoors has numerous health benefits which include reducing the risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression. The CDC recommends taking a minimum of 10,000 steps per day, which equates to about 5 miles for most people. The average American, however, takes about 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day, significantly less than the recommended amount. Including “hot girl walks” into your weekly or daily routines will get you closer to the recommended step count goal.

Gratitude benefits: According to multiple studies, practicing gratitude regularly can positively impact an individual’s mental and physical health. In addition to health benefits, gratitude has the potential to allow people to feel more positive emotions, deal with adversity, build strong relationships and deal with adversity; all key components that lead to a higher quality of life.

*always be mindful of your surroundings, especially in a lesser trafficked areas*

If you don’t want to walk alone, scroll to the bottom to find social walking groups and clubs in the Denver metro area!

1. Basalt Cap Loop Trail

Parking Address: 955 Moss St, Golden, CO 80401

Trail Length: 3.7 mi, loop

Path Traffic: moderate

Paved or dirt: dirt

Notes: Park at Camp George West Park, walk past NREL to get to the trailhead. The trail begins with a steady incline, but is completely flan on top. Look out for mountain bikers!

AllTrails link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/basalt-cap-loop-trail--2

2. Clear Creek Canyon Peaks to Plains Trail

Parking Address: Clear Creek Canyon Rd, Golden, CO 80403

Trail Length: 7.7 mi, out and back

Path Traffic: heavy

Paved or dirt: paved

Notes: the paved portion of the trail ends at the suspension bridge, which is about 1.5 miles from the parking lot (totaling 3 miles). Make it a loop and hike the flume trail on the way back, which is a dirt trail parallel to the creek trail and will take you back to the parking lot.

AllTrails link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/clear-creek-peaks-to-plains-trail

3. Clear Creek Trail - Downtown Golden

Parking Address: 1020 11th St, Golden, CO 80401

Trail Length: 1.8 mile, loop

Path Traffic: heavy

Paved or dirt: paved

Notes: park at history park, walk to Ford st and loop back around before the W 6th Ave bridge. Do two laps to hit the 4 mile mark if you want! Or follow the AllTrails route that takes you into the canyon for more mileage.

AllTrails link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/clear-creek-grant-ferry-trails-loop

4. US 6 Multi Use Trail