East Side Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

This is a nice, flat, mostly singletrack dirt trail on the east side of the Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge, and a great place to come and find some quiet peace in the city.

Starting from the parking lot off W 80th Ave, head past the informational sign and take a right onto a nice gravel path before continuing on a grass singletrack straight. A sign for Loop 2 will show the way, and it's a 1/4 mile around a nice grassy prairie with lots of solitude and some benches along the way.

Circle back to the beginning of the loop and then head out on Loop 1 through a brief shaded section between a pond and trees before keeping left on Loop 1. Stay left where the trail loops back around and you'll reach a gate. Pass through the gate and head right on nice doubletrack that leads you on the east side of a canal. Lots of bunnies and birds will notice your arrival as you head north on the path.

You can see some views of the foothills and Front Range as you continue on the path. Once you reach W 80th Ave, you can retrace your steps back through the gate or add some extra mileage by crossing the bridges you'll see on your right as you travel south on the canal path.

These bridges lead to another canal path and into the western area of the refuge. Note that there are portable toilets just inside the entrance of the refuge by the parking area. Head into the entrance and make a hard left to find the picnic area and toilets. There's no running potable water in the refuge.

The wildlife refuge is home to rabbits, falcons, beavers, ducks, geese, deer, foxes, rodents, and many varieties of birds and raptors. Prairie grass and trees round out the flora you'll observe.