The Cherry Creek Regional Trail follows the creek past 17 Mile House Farm Park

Cherry Creek does not start at the reservoir. It flows down from the south, and a long paved path, the Cherry Creek Regional Trail, follows it through Arapahoe County and on toward Parker and Franktown in Douglas County. The trail links the busy metro to quieter, more open country, mostly on a wide concrete surface, with some gravel stretches at the rural southern end.

One trailhead is worth knowing for its own sake: 17 Mile House Farm Park. In the gold-rush years, a string of “mile houses” stood along the Cherry Creek wagon routes, named for their distance from downtown Denver, where travelers could rest, eat, and fix a wagon. Only a couple of these survive, and 17 Mile House is one of them. Arapahoe County owns the site now, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with a restored house, barn, and open space beside the creek.

For a visitor, this means the trail is both a workout and a walk through history. Other access points include the Arapahoe Road and Broncos Parkway trailheads, several with parking and restrooms. As with any creek-side trail, parts can be affected after storms and high water.

For trailheads, hours, and the story of 17 Mile House, check Arapahoe County and History Colorado.