Biking Denver's South Platte/Mary Carter Greenway Trail

The Mary Carter Greenway is an eight-mile multi-use trail and whitewater facility along the South Platte River in Arapahoe County, running from from Denver to Chatfield State Park, and it is an integral part of the central spine of the Denver Metro Area greenway system. The trail is named after Mary Hampton Carter whose vision and energy led the South Suburban Park Foundation for several critical years. It starts in Denver as seen in this map (click to enlarge)...



At Denver's south border, the trail becomes the Mary Carter Greenway Trail and runs another 8 miles along the river. A map is available on the Rails-to-Trails site here.

Here's a view of the Platte River from one of the many river crossings where the trail changes sides...



As you leave Denver, you pass industrial complexes, a brickyard, a power generating plant, a quarry or two, and an auto junkyard, but then the greenway begins and all that city stuff is left behind. You then experience numerous parks, side trails to nature areas, several golf courses, and much open space, with many views of the river and the mountains. You'll also see many man-made whitewater kayaking runs in the river, though the water level was too low to see any activity when I biked the trail.

Denver rightfully boasts of 50+ bike trails. I'm from the Chicago area, and our 5 county Chicagoland area similarly boasts 50+ bike trails, mostly running through lovely forest preserves, but none have mountains as a backdrop as seen below...


The trail has underpasses at all road crossings and signs indicate the road's name. Signs also limit speed to 15 mph though that is routinely ignored. A gravel trail parallels the Carter Trail and is used by runners, dog walkers, and horses. "Rest areas" are also abundant along the trail...


...and even Colorado's famous roundabouts or rotaries are evident where other trails connect...