The Best Running Route in Denver

Written by
Khem Suthiwan
With more than 300 days of sunshine, it's no surprise that Denver's population has steadily risen over the past couple decades. Many transplants now call the Mile High City home and are able to enjoy everything it has to offer, including miles of running trails and acres of parks.
Washington Park
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We start our journey in one of the most popular spots for Denverites — Washington Park. Many running and triathlon clubs meet here and head north into the park.
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Wash Park
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Begin on East Louisiana Avenue and South Franklin Street; head west. Turn right on to South Downing Street, which you will stay on as you parallel or run through Washington Park.
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A beautiful day in Wash Park
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Options for running in the park include a paved asphalt road in the interior, as well as a well-maintained, outer dirt trail. Beautiful homes and furry four-legged friends make for great scenery along the way. Thirsty? Water fountains are available during the warmer months at the tennis court complex on the south end, at the fire station on the north end, and all year round at the Washington Park Recreation Center toward the center of the park.
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Leaving Wash Park
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At the north end of the Park, take a right on East Virginia Avenue and a quick left on Marion Parkway.
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Marion Parkway
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We continue our run heading north to Marion Parkway. A nice dirt trail lined with mature trees will make you forget you're in the city.
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Cheesman Park
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A quick little dog leg will put you back on Downing Street, past the Denver Country Club on a nice wide sidewalk, and then through one of Denver's oldest neighborhoods.

Turn right on East Eighth Avenue and head east.

After running a few blocks on Eighth, you'll hop on the outer dirt running path in historic Cheesman Park.
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Denver Botanic Gardens
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On the east side of the park, you can peek into a local popular attraction — the Denver Botanic Gardens.
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Old Site of Prospect Hill Cemetery
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Into ghost stories? In the late 19th century, the land that is now Cheesman Park was once the Prospect Hill Cemetery. The majority of the burials have relocated elsewhere, but some still remain. There are many stories of sightings and sounds at night in the park, as well as organized ghost tours, if paranormal activities are your cup of tea. During the daylight hours, many local outdoor enthusiasts of the warm-blooded variety frequent Cheesman.
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East High School
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Take the path on the east end through the park and head north. Turn right on 12th Avenue and left on Josephine Street.

Heading north on Josephine, we cross Colfax Avenue and past Denver's East High School on the City Park Esplanade. Take the City Park Esplanade north to East 17th Avenue and turn right.
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City Park Pavilion
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In this area, particularly on Colfax Avenue, fun local eateries, bars and live music venues are at every turn. Running through City Park, you'll have miles of dirt and paved paths to choose from.
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Things to Do in City Park
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Here you can rent a paddle boat, visit the Denver Museum of Nature and Science or check out the animals at the Denver Zoo. Bordering the north side of the park is the City Park Golf Course, if booking a tee time is more your speed. On Sunday evenings in the summer, there are free jazz concerts by the Pavilion to help wind down your weekend.
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Grab a Beer or a Bike Back to Your Car
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Make a left on Colorado Boulevard and another left on 23rd Avenue to make a half loop of City Park.

After you've finished this beautiful run through Denver's iconic parks, grab a beer at one of the city's many brewpubs. At each of these parks, you can hop on a Denver B-Cycle (Denver's bike sharing program) to get you around the city pretty quickly—and back to where you parked your car.
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Denver Run Complete
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Check out the full route on MapMyRun. Now you're off to enjoy the rest of your time in Denver!
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