Bicycling and Jogging in Denver

Denver Parks Department. The Parks Department has suggestions for bicycling and jogging paths throughout the metropolitan area's 250 parks, including the popular Cherry Creek and Chatfield Reservoir State Recreation areas. With more than 400 mi of off-road paths in and around the city to choose from, cyclists can move easily between urban and rural settings. Denver, CO. 720/913-0696. www.denvergov.org/parks.

Bicycle Doctor/Edgeworks. Just south of downtown, this facility repairs street and mountain bikes and rents them for $15 to $50 a day. 860 Broadway, Golden Triangle, Denver, CO, 80203. 303/831-7228 or 877/245-3362. www.bicycledr.com.

Cherry Creek Bike Path. A well-kept path runs from Cherry Creek Shopping Center to Larimer Square downtown alongside the peaceful creek of its name. Cherry Creek, LoDo, Denver, CO.

Highline Canal. The scenic canal has 70 mi of mostly dirt paths through the metro area running at almost completely level grade. Auraria, Cherry Creek, LoDo, Denver, CO.

South Platte River. There are 12 mi of paved paths along the river heading into downtown. Central Platte Valley, LoDo, Denver, CO.

Matthews/Winters Park. West of the city, paved paths wind through Matthews/Winters Park near both Golden and Morrison. It's dotted with plaintive pioneer graves amid the sun-bleached grasses, thistle, and columbine. South of I-70 on CO 26, Golden, CO.

Deer Creek Canyon. The Deer Creek Canyon trail system is popular with mountain bikers, running through forested foothills southwest of Denver near the intersection of C-470 and Wadsworth Avenue. Littleton, CO. www.co.jefferson.co.us/openspace.