Between the idyllic parks, mountain backdrop and miles and miles of urban trail, <a href="https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/colorado/denver/">Denver</a> is a runner’s dream. You’ll love the fresh mountain air and runner-friendly paths that make these the best running routes in Denver:

The Platte River Trail runs 17.8 miles, south toward Englewood and north toward Thornton. Denverites enjoy the Mile High Loop, a 4.5-mile route starting at <a href="https://www.denver.org/things-to-do/sports-recreation/denver-parks/">Confluence Park</a> and heading around <a href="http://www.sportsauthorityfieldatmilehigh.com/">Mile High Stadium</a> back to <a href="https://www.denver.org/things-to-do/sports-recreation/denver-parks/">Commons Park</a>. It’s an excellent route through the city, passing several Denver landmarks along the way.

<a href="http://greatruns.com/denver-platte-river-trail/">Platte River Trail route</a>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BaNlBo4hrpz/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">#getoutsideandplay #denvercolorado #5280life #lodo #platteriver #platterivertrail #fallweather #oldbridge #coloradomorning #freshair🍃</a></p>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by shredbette (@shredbette) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-10-14T02:46:09+00:00">Oct 13, 2017 at 7:46pm PDT</time></p>
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<a href="https://www.denver.org/listing/washington-park/6828/">Washington Park</a> provides a 2.6-mile perimeter loop around the park, where runners take laps on a shaded hard-packed dirt surface. It’s an easy, flat surface in one of Denver’s most popular neighborhoods.

<a href="https://www.strava.com/local/us/denver/running/routes/82">Washington Park running route</a>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BaZhQrZhaml/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Exceptional views at today’s walk and talk with a colleague and friend. Outside is where the magic happens. Autumn/ Fall really is gorgeous in Colorado. 🍁🍂 #colorado #denver #washpark #walkandtalk #walking #sheexplores #thegreatoutdoors #bossmode</a></p>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Lizelle van Vuuren (@heylizelle) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-10-18T18:04:08+00:00">Oct 18, 2017 at 11:04am PDT</time></p>
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The lush <a href="https://www.denver.org/listing/city-park/6822/">City Park</a> just outside of Downtown Denver offers a beautiful place to run, with stunning views of both the Denver skyline as well as the mountains. The distance around the park is 3.3 miles, but there are plenty crisscrossing paths, including a loop around the lake, that allow for custom routes of varying distances.

<a href="https://www.strava.com/local/us/denver/running/routes/84">City Park running route</a>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BaZVt0_hugM/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Oh Denver</a></p>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Lesley Yarbrough 🌱 (@sprouticus) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-10-18T16:23:16+00:00">Oct 18, 2017 at 9:23am PDT</time></p>
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The Cherry Creek Trail provides a flat, paved multi-use path. The 8.6-mile trail runs alongside Cherry Creek from the <a href="http://www.colorado.com/state-parks/cherry-creek-state-park">Cherry Creek Reservoir</a> to where it meets the South Platte River in downtown Denver.

<a href="https://www.strava.com/local/us/denver/running/routes/85">Cherry Creek Trail route</a>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BYJAXJCA1LI/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Hanging out with these two for the last few days has been crap. Now I gotta spend 36 hours on a train with 'em. Just kidding, it's been too much fun.  #BadAndBoozie #WeGoCo #theseguys #Denver #Colorado #vacation #goodtimes</a></p>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Chris Gallagher 👈 (@howiedewitt) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-08-23T15:06:02+00:00">Aug 23, 2017 at 8:06am PDT</time></p>
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The High Line Canal is both the most popular and longest running route in Denver. The 11.3-mile trail is a wide multi-use path of hard dirt. Much of it is shaded by beautiful cottonwood trees.

<a href="https://www.strava.com/local/us/denver/running/routes/86">High Line Canal route</a>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BVKgEMXB3UX/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Beautiful morning on the Canal.  #GreenwoodVillage #71miles #BeAHighLineHero</a></p>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by High Line Canal Conservancy (@highlinecanal) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-06-10T15:28:07+00:00">Jun 10, 2017 at 8:28am PDT</time></p>
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<a href="http://www.coloradotrail.org/waterton.html">Waterton Canyon</a>, outside of Denver, provides a gravel road through the Canyon, alongside the South Platte River. There’s a gradual 6-mile slope toward the Strontia Springs Dam that creates an added challenge. The wide gravel road is shared by runners and hikers as well as cyclists and even the occasional bighorn sheep.

<a href="https://www.strava.com/local/us/denver/running/routes/91">Waterton Canyon route</a>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ5JL3BDRYO/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">🐏They’re awfully cute even when they move into the middle of the road, looking like they’re gonna ram ya. #watertoncanyon #bighornedsheep #wildlife #colorado #coloradoliving #coloradolife #everytrailconnects #littleton #fall #adventure #groad #optoutside #outsideisfree #fall</a></p>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by 📍coloRADo (@janicesu_) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-10-06T04:18:04+00:00">Oct 5, 2017 at 9:18pm PDT</time></p>
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Whether you're looking for a short loop or a longer trail, the best running routes in Denver have something to offer.