RALSTON CREEK TRAIL

The first documented discovery of gold in the Rocky Mountain region, was in June of 1850.  Lewis Ralston found a quarter ounce of gold near the mouth of what we now call Ralston Creek.  As Ralston Creek flows through Arvada the Ralston Creek Trail follows it to Clear Creek.

The Ralston Creek Trail, is just south of the co-housing (gatehouse).  It is a 13.6 mile long hiking, biking, equestrian trail.  Travel west and the trail connects to the City of Golden trail system at the Fairmont Trail.  If you travel east toward Denver the Ralston Creek Trail ends at Gold Strike Park, where a bridge crosses Clear Creek to connect to the Clear Creek Trail.  The Clear Creek Trail connects to the city of Lakewood and greater Denver trails.

Traveling on the Ralston Creek Trail is like passing through Arvada’s back yard.  It largely passes through neighborhood parks, green space, and some back yards.  Our current home is close to the trail at Davis Lane Park which is a typical small neighborhood park with a playground, two tennis courts and a duck pond.  Just west of Gatehouse site the Ralston Creek Trail passes through the West Woods Golf Course, circles around the Blunn Resevoir, and then turns south through the Long Lake Regional Park to the city of Golden trail system.

More information and trail maps for trails in around Arvada look to:  http://www.arvada.org/explore/open-space-nature/ralston-creek-trail  and http://www.traillink.com/trail/ralston-creek-trail/