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Hiking Trails Under 5 km near Denver

The directory currently contains 9 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Denver. Their average mapped distance is 2.6 km and average recorded ascent is 12 m (39 ft); the longest route in the set is 4.9 km.

This subset represents 21% of the 42 quality-checked routes near Denver. Its average distance is 2.6 km, compared with 25.4 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 12 m (39 ft), versus 235 m (771 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set has a mapped distance of 5 km or less. Time and suitability still depend on ascent, surface and conditions. Within this set, 9 routes (100%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 3 (33%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

0.7 km

Sports Walk

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

0 m

Johnson to Anderson Park Loop, Clear Creek

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

2 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Easy

Sports Walk

Colorado · United States

Distance
0.7 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
6 m
Typical duration
9 min

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Johnson to Anderson Park Loop, Clear CreekColorado2.0 km0 m25 minEasyJune to October
Denver Orbital Trail - Segment 3Colorado4.9 km16 m1 hr 3 minEasyJune to October
Denver Orbital Trail - Segment 15Colorado4.8 km6 m1 hrEasyJune to October
Sports WalkColorado0.7 km6 m9 minEasyApril to October
DFC 1 Mile Walking CourseColorado1.6 km8 m21 minEasyJune to October
DFC 2 Mile Walking CourseColorado3.3 km7 m42 minEasyJune to October
Del Mark Park Internal TrailColorado0.9 km0 m12 minEasyJune to October
Denver Orbital Trail - Segment 25Colorado3.8 km59 m53 minEasyJune to October
deKoevend Park Trail LoopColorado1.8 km7 m24 minEasyJune to October

Johnson to Anderson Park Loop, Clear Creek, Denver Orbital Trail - Segment 3, Sports Walk currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

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Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

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Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

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Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

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