7 Cool Places I’ve Biked Around Denver as a Beginner
Like a lot of people who move to Colorado, I suddenly wanted to try every outdoor activity within a 50-mile radius. So when I found a used Specialized bike for $100 at a garage sale, I figured… why not give it a shot? Turns out, there are a ton of beginner-friendly biking trails around Denver that are super fun!
The key for me was starting small with easy elevation, wide trails, and routes that helped me build confidence instead of completely destroying my legs on day one. Over time, I found a mix of paved paths, mellow gravel rides, and a few beginner mountain biking loops that helped me slowly get stronger without feeling overwhelmed.
In this guide, I’m sharing seven cool places I’ve biked around Denver as a beginner, from scenic canyon rides and golden hour lake loops to easy mountain trails with incredible Front Range views. I’ve listed them starting with the easiest options and working up to slightly more challenging routes.
1. Peaks to Plains Trail
Where: Golden, CO
Driving time from Denver: 25 min
Trail length: 2.3
Why it’s great for beginners: This is an excellent trail for beginners because it’s paved, wide, and has minimal elevation gain. There’s plenty of parking at the Clear Creek Canyon Park, Gateway Trailhead, which is a perk. If you want to add miles to your ride, the Peaks to Plains trail connects to the Clear Creek Trail which is about 19 mi long and will take you all the way to Denver. It’s an easy ride with excellent views of Clear Creek Canyon. The only con is that the trail can get pretty crowded on the weekends, making maneuvering around people on a bike rather difficult at times.
2. Waterton Canyon
Where: Littleton, CO
Driving time from Denver: 32 min
Trail length: 12.6
Why it’s great for beginners: This is probably one of my favorite places to bike at near Denver. It’s only a half hour away and the views are unreal. This trail will allow you to get comfortable riding on gravel and steady elevation. The first 6 miles to the dam are uphill, but you will fly down on the way back making it a really fun ride. You’ll also probably see bighorn sheep about 2 miles into your ride, which is always a bonus. The parking lot to the canyon is pretty big, but it still fills up on weekend mornings.
3. Bear Creek Lake Trail Loop
Where: Morrison, CO
Driving time from Denver: 25
Trail length: 9.5
Why it’s great for beginners: This is a scenic ride that takes through woods, grassy open spaces, and around Bear Creek Lake. It’s a great way to get comfortable riding on a narrow bike trail, with minimal elevation gain, but has some ups and downs. I rode after work and was a beautiful golden hour ride.
4. Tenmile Rec Path in Frisco
Where: Frisco, CO
Driving time from Denver: 1 hr 15 min
Trail length: 9.9 mi
Why it’s great for beginners: The Tenmile path is a long, paved path that starts in Frisco and takes you all the way to Copper Mountain ski resort. You can find free parking at the Kayak Overnight Parking Lot off of Main St. in town. This is a beautiful, flat trail that follows Tenmile Creek and up close views of the mountains. It’s a great route for getting miles in and strengthening your legs. Another popular nearby option in the area is the Blue River Bikeway, which also starts in Frisco, and takes you to Breckenridge, CO.
5. Flatiron Vista Trail
Where: Boulder, CO
Driving time from Denver: 32 min
Trail length: 3.5 mi
Why it’s great for beginners: This is a fun, relatively easy trail for new mountain bikers. This is another great route for getting used to riding on a rougher terrain that’s rocky. It’s a nice loop that offers sweeping views of the mountains in the front range. You can do multiple loops if you’re wanting a longer workout.
6. Basalt Cap Loop - South Table Mountain
Where: Golden, CO
Driving time from Denver: 20 min
Trail length: 3.7
Why it’s great for beginners: This is a proper mountain biking trail is a great way to easy yourself into elevation gain. You’ll begin by biking up hill for about a half mile. It will feel difficult if you’ve never gained significant elevation before, but this is on the easier end when it comes to mountain biking trails. It’s a great trail to practice on to get comfortable biking up and down a mountain. Once you get to the top, the loop is relatively flat, perfect for recovery. From there, you get an excellent view of the front range mountains and downtown Denver.
7. Frisco Peninsula Recreation Area
Where: Frisco, CO
Driving time from Denver: 1 hr 15 min
Why it’s great for beginners: This area is a great beginner place to practice going up and down switchbacks. There are so many biking trails here, I think I did a combination of several different ones. I think the segments we did included the trails called Sky Pilot, Switchback, and Jody’s Loop. Regardless of the route you choose, you’ll get really great views of Dillon Reservoir, downtown Frisco, and the surrounding mountains.
