The Mile High Loop was the brain-child of former City Park Alliance Board Member Paul Davis, and with the full support of the Alliance and the Department of Parks and Recreation his dream turned into reality in 2008. The trail, fully completed during the summer of 2009, follows a full 5k (3.1 mile) route, and tracks along the city’s 5280 contour line- so you’re exercising at exactly a mile high!
You can join the trail in many locations, including just behind the Graham Bible House near the 21st & York gate, cutting between Ferril Lake and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (where you can catch the best view in the city), and running parallel to the roadway along the southside of the Park. The trail is made of crusher-fine material, making it both pleasant and comfortable for both walkers and runners.
View the Mile High Loop Map
In 2009-2010 City Park Alliance and the Department of Parks & Recreation raised funds and installed signage marking each kilometer, directions to stay on the path and a point where the path is 5280 feet high. In addition to viewing the link to the map above, you can stop by the sign post northwest of the Pavilion in the park to see the route. This is also kilometer 0/5, the start and end of the loop.
I live in a neighborhood that has an off-leash dog park. It is heavily used–which is a good thing. However, it has become a dry dirt patch in the summer and a wet bog in the other wetter months. There is no drinking fountain for the dogs, so owners bring an array of gallon jugs and line them along the fence. I think the City of Denver needs to do a better job at maintaining their current off-leash parks before they even consider adding more: fenced or unfenced.
Dogs who use the off-leash parks are supposed to be licensed. I have NEVER seen any animal control officers ever in the dog park doing any kind of random checking to enforce that provision.
Also, dogs are to be on leash until in the fenced area. I have called animal control a number of times telling them that they need to just stand outside the dog park and ticket the many careless owners who let their dogs jump out of the car, near a busy street, and run unfettered towards the dog park gate. It seems people give animal control officers incorrect information to get out of a ticket. Then, animal control has every right to take their dog and give it back after the owner has paid the fine.
A less punitive measure is to make registering easier–use the dog parks as registration centers once per month. I know a dog needs rabies shots–give them at the dog park with the registration!
I think an unfenced dog park in City Park is a dog/car accident waiting to happen. Many of the propsed areas in the park are near streets where cars and bikes are traveling.
Even if I, as a dog-owner, know that there is a dog park “area” during certain hours and that I should avoid that area, a number of owners will allow their dogs to go unleashed to and from the area–increasing the chances that I might be approached by unleashed dogs.
I think the City of Denver needs to do a better job with enforcement of current rules/laws pertaining to dogs before they branch out to more dog parks. In all the articles I have read about the Dog Park Master Plan, I have yet to hear an argument that convinces me that we need more parks BEFORE correcting the problems we currently face.
Responding to “Three Dog Owner” above. Write a letter to the city instead of complaining in the wrong area.
This article is about the new Mile High Loop, which is a great addition to City Park. I am happy to live so close where I can run this loop on a daily basis.
I thank Paul Davis and City of Denver Parks & Recreation for making this monumental addition to City Park. Now if we can get some more people running it…
Found your great website as I just love(d) City Park but I did not find one mention of the overpopulation problem of Canada geese mentioned. This is the only place I found where it could be mentioned.
I say above that I “love(d)” City Park as I will not go anymore after my dog got a parasite (found in goose pooh) with our frequent walks we used to do around the park. I know of others who will not frequent the park anymore due to the unsanitary conditions of goose pooh found everywhere—on the roads/pathways/sidewalks and walkways.
If the park can not scare the excess population of geese away or somehow find a way to control this population, it is becoming an unsightly mess and certainly a health hazard for those who use the park, especially our children and our pets.
I do not see that the walkways are swept daily with any regularity anymore, maybe at most a couple times/week, and this is not acceptable and certainly can not meet any health guidelines for those who want to enjoy this park.
I am sure other’s have noticed but I can not find anything on the internet speaking of this problem. Since this is City Park’s “partner”… thought this would be a good place to start a dialogue about it. Thanks.
Hi Greg,
Parks and Recreation is aware of the problem and you may have noticed they have started planting tall grass around the lake to discourage the geese from nesting in the park as much (the less they have easy access to and from the lake and shore, the less they will nest in the park). I would encourage you to pass your concerns along to Parks and Recreation, however. We have done the same!
I love the Mile High Loop, but there needs to be better signage. I’ve now run it three times, and I think I took a different route each time. A 5k loop which is not paved and showcases all of City Park is a real gem.
Greg, we have passed this comment along to Parks and Recreation. They have put up small arrow signage at each decision point and are trying to balance between too much signage in the park and too little. If you look at our website, there is a map of the Mile High Loop that you can reference before your next outting!
Thank you for the map! I think it will definitely help. I noticed at least three nicely unobtrusive but visible points of signage on this morning’s run, and came looking for more information. I really enjoy this trail; it’s a great way to have a good 5k route without having to run alongside traffic the whole time.
I just ran the whole loop for the first time this morning and love it. I especially love that ‘postcard’ view of the city from the north side. And it’s funny, I noticed the geese and goose poop but it didn’t bother me so much. I think it’s funny how we human beings want to so closely manage our animal friends on this planet. While, we want a diverse and interesting assembly of exotic animals caged and maintained next door at the zoo for our “viewing pleasure”, we are intolerant of the indigenous geese who want to share the park with us. I don’t mind them being there at all.
What is the future of the loop with the expansion of the DMNS currently closing the trail?
Dave, the loop will still exist, but is only temporarily re-routed due to construction.
What’s the length of the loop now with the SE corner of it closed off?
Hi. We don’t actually know the answer, however one of us is an avid runner, so we’ll have him run it with his GPS watch and we’ll re-post once we have the answer!
Great. Thank you!
Our board member ran it this week and his GPS showed 2.69 or 2.70 miles with the detour, so it’s probably something close to this number. Have fun using the shorter loop. We all look forward to when it’s back to normal!