The construction within Chatfield State Park and the High Line Canal is all finished which means more continuous miles of dirt and a nice clean loop route. (FINALLY, after years of making do and detours!)

There is tons of dirt/gravel surface variety on this route, all of which is approachable for a beginner: chunky gravel (near the dam in Chatfield), old cracked asphalt pavement, perfectly groomed crushed gravel, rutted dry mud/sand, smooth hero dirt and even a tiny bit of single track.

Waterton Canyon really never disappoints. It is a wide trail alongside the S. Platte River that is smooth and fast with no cars (and no dogs). The grade is an easy 2% the whole way except for the last 1/2 mile which is a little bit steeper.

Expect to see plenty of animals. We often see  Big Horn Sheep in the canyon but have also seen:  bunnies, deer, turkey, Bald Eagles, ducks, Meadowlarks, lizards and more.

It is particularly lovely to do this ride in the Spring. The landscape was brilliantly green and lush (by Colorado standards).

There are almost zero lows to report but there are a few things we thought we'd mention:
-There was one small hill (approximately 25 ft long) that connects the Chatfield trail to the High Line Canal Trail which was not bike able since it was both steep and had very thick sand.
-The High Line Canal essentially dead ends onto Waterton Road and you have to ride the road a quarter mile before you can get onto the Waterton Canyon Trail. The road is busy and there is barely a shoulder. But, like we mentioned, it is just a small moment in a ride that is otherwise without cars.