Deer Creek Canyon Park had its beginnings as a campground for wandering bands of Ute and Arapahoe. The 1,881-acre Open Space park was first homesteaded in 1872 by a man from Plymouth, England, John Williamson. Back then, Deer Creek’s rolling hills and fertile fields attracted both farmers and miners. John Williamson’s famed Glen Plym Ranch, as well as the Couch and Clark Homesteads, all sat within the current park boundaries.
Other personalities that frequented the Deer Creek area included Alferd Packer, Jesse James, Chief Colorow and “Horse Thief” Thompson. Packer, Colorado’s famous cannibal, moved to Critchell in 1901 after being paroled from the state penitentiary. He spent his last years in a cabin in Phillipsburg. Packer and others worked on Deer Creek’s many ranches and mines. Local mines yielded a wealth of gold and silver, while the flatlands were known for producing abundant hay, wheat and corn crops.
Deer Creek Canyon Park encompasses diverse, natural environments. Perhaps most striking is the scrub oak habitat, uncommon in Jefferson County. Although small in stature, the scrub oak (Quercus gambelli) provides important food and cover for wildlife including grouse, turkeys, mule deer, elk, mountain lions, and black bears.
There are numerous trail options to chose from, all based off of the main 13 mile loop. There is a lot of climbing on these runs, but the views of Denver are worth the effort. This park does have some “hiker only” trails, but most of the trails are multi- use. Beware of the kamikaze mountain bikers that frequent the park in the summer.
Starting from the parking lot, head up the “hiker only” Meadowlark Trail. This 1.6 mile trail has a constant 10% grade and climbs about 830 feet. The exposed views of the south valley and meadows are exquisite. Once a bridge is crossed, you will come to a T with the Plymouth Creek Trail. For a short 2.7 mile run, turn left and head back to the parking lot.
To continue the 13 mile loop, turn right onto the Plymouth Creek Trail and climb “the wall,” a short, steep section of rocks. Steps have been put in recently to help with both the ascent and descent of this portion. After 0.4 miles, make a left onto the Plymouth Mountain Trail. Follow this smooth single track for 1.7 miles. Here you will make a left onto the “hiker only” Homesteader Trail. This forested trail is probably the best one mile stretch of trail in all of Jefferson County.
This trail will spit you back out onto the Plymouth Creek Trail farther up the canyon. For a 7 mile run, turn right and head down the Plymouth Creek Trail and make a left on the Meadowlark Trail back to the start. If you wish to continue on, make a left on the Plymouth Creek Trail and head 0.4 miles up to the Red Mesa Loop.
Turn left onto the Red Mesa Loop. This 2.5 mile loop offers both forested and meadow sections and has some great views of the city, as well as the mountains to the west. Most of the 850′ of climbing will come in the first mile of the loop, allowing for a nice gradual descent back to the Plymouth Trail. Once back, make a left and head down the Plymouth Creek Trail. For a good 11 mile run, continue all the way down the trail and make a left on the Meadowlark Trail back to the start. If you wish to run the full 13 miles, turn right on the Homesteader Trail and retrace your steps to the Plymouth Mountain Trail and turn right. Follow this back around to a right on the Plymouth Creek Trail and a left on the Meadowlark Trail.
Another option is to just run the Red Mesa Loop. This 8 mile run starts out the same as the 13 mile, but bypasses the Plymouth Mountain and Homesteader trails, going straight up Plymouth Creek to Red Mesa. Run the Red Mesa Loop in either direction and then descend the same way you went up. This is a bit more of a quad burner because it avoids the gentle slopes of the Plymouth Mountain and Homesteader Trails and goes straight up the canyon.
To get there, follow C-470 to the Wadsworth exit. Head southbound and make a right turn (west) onto Deer Creek Canyon Road. Follow this road to a stop sign where you will turn left and continue to Grizzly Drive. Turn left and go approximately 1/4 mile to the parking lot on the right