If you just moved near Stenger Sports Complex, you landed in one of the better pockets for cycling on the Front Range. Between multi-use trails, newer bike lanes, and surprisingly calm neighborhood connectors, you can stitch together some great rides without feeling like you are gambling with traffic.

Here are the routes locals keep coming back to, plus a few road tips for getting around safely.

Go-to trails that connect everything

• Ralston Creek Trail

This is your backbone. It links neighborhoods, parks, and connects directly to Clear Creek. From here you can head east toward Denver or west toward Golden with almost no road stress.

• Clear Creek Trail

One of the best rides in the metro. Head west for Golden and canyon vibes, or east all the way toward Confluence Park downtown. Flat, scenic, and very popular with cyclists.

• Van Bibber Trail

You already found this one for good reason. It is a great connector toward Fairmount and the Table Mountain area, especially if you like mixing pavement and gravel.

• Little Dry Creek Trail

A quieter north-south option that pairs nicely with rides toward Standley Lake or further east.

Roads that cyclists actually like riding

• Simms Street

The newer bike lanes make it one of the most direct ways north toward Standley Lake. Northbound is generally comfortable. Southbound has a couple merge spots where extra awareness helps.

• Indiana Street

Much better than it used to be thanks to recent bike lane additions. Solid option if you are heading toward Superior or connecting to Boulder routes.

• Independence Street to Oberon to Kipling

This combo avoids some of the faster traffic corridors and gives you options to hop onto canal paths or trails near Standley Lake.

• Neighborhood connectors near Ridge Road and Tabor Street

These are clutch for getting onto Clear Creek without dealing with major arterials. Once you know them, route planning gets way easier.

Longer adventure options

• US 36 Bikeway

If you have not ridden it yet, it is worth it. From Arvada you can connect through neighborhood streets and trails and end up with a clean shot toward Boulder.

• Golden loops via Clear Creek, North Table, and South Table

Many locals head west first, then build loops around the mesas before cruising back on Clear Creek.

Planning tip locals swear by

Strava heat maps are gold around Arvada. They show where people actually ride, not just what looks good on Google Maps. You will quickly spot low-stress streets and popular connectors you would never think to try.

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