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BEST RATED THORNTON, CO HIKING TRAILS

3 Best Hiking Trails in Thornton, CO

Expert-recommended Top 3 Hiking Trails in Thornton, Colorado. All of our hiking trails actually face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence. You deserve only the best!

Pelican Ponds Open Space - Thornton, CO Hiking Trails - Trail Image
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PELICAN PONDS OPEN SPACE

(4.9 Score)
9200 Riverdale Road,
Thornton, CO 80229 Directions

Since 2019

Specialty:

✓Walking Trails ✓Nature Trails ✓South Platte River Trail Access ✓Fishing ✓Small Shelters ✓Nature Play Area ✓Owl's Den Disc Golf Course ✓Wildlife Viewing ✓Bird Watching ✓Open Space Recreation ✓Walking Paths

“2026 Highlights: Pelican Ponds Open Space is a scenic 200-acre natural area along the west bank of the South Platte River in Thornton, Colorado, offering a peaceful escape for outdoor recreation and wildlife observation. The park also features walking and nature trails, convenient access to the South Platte River Trail, fishing ponds, small picnic shelters, a nature play area for children, and the Owl's Den Disc Golf Course. Visitors can enjoy bird watching, wildlife viewing, and relaxing walks through restored wetlands, riparian habitats, and open grasslands. Its scenic ponds, diverse habitats, and connections to regional trails make it a popular destination for nature lovers and active visitors alike.”

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Contact:

(303) 637-8000

Open 24 Hours

TBR® Inspection Report:

Eastlake #3 Park & Nature Preserve - Thornton, CO Hiking Trails - Destination Image
Eastlake #3 Park & Nature Preserve - Thornton, CO Hiking Trails - Trail Image
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EASTLAKE #3 PARK & NATURE PRESERVE

(4.9 Score)
3438-3524 East 128th Avenue,
Thornton, CO 80241 Directions

Specialty:

✓Walking Trails ✓Hiking ✓Running ✓Mountain Biking ✓Beautiful Scenery ✓Riverwalk Ball Fields

"Eastlake #3 Park & Nature Preserve is an ideal destination to have a pleasant and relaxed time with friends and family. This is a 2.4-km loop trail, with an elevation gain of 6 metres. This trail route is generally considered an easy route. This takes an average of 27 minutes to complete the entire trail. This trail is a serene place that is perfect for various outdoor activities like walking or biking. Visitors can also see the bunnies, numerous birds, ducks on the lake, turtles, frogs, snakes, and coyotes. Eastlake #3 Park & Nature Preserve features tennis courts, a playground, horseshoe pits, and a bird sanctuary.

2026 Highlights: Eastlake #3 Park & Nature Preserve encourages visitors to protect their pets by keeping them on a short leash, using extra caution from dusk through dawn, avoiding known or potential den sites, and staying away from thick vegetation."

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Contact:

(303) 255-7833

Mon,Wed & Fri: 7am - 9pm
Tue,Thu,Sat & Sun: 7am - 8:30pm

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White Ranch Park - Thornton, CO Hiking Trails - Destination Image
White Ranch Park - Thornton, CO Hiking Trails - Trail Image
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9+ YEARS IN TBR
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WHITE RANCH PARK

(4.8 Score)
25303 Belcher Hill Road, Golden,
Thornton, CO 80403 Directions

Since 1913

Specialty:

✓Mountain and Road Biking ✓Trail Running ✓Dogs On Leash ✓Birding ✓Hiking Trail ✓Walking Trail ✓Forest Lake ✓Nature Trips ✓Beach ✓Wild Flowers

"White Ranch Park features almost 20 miles of multi-use trails that wind through soft and harsh terrain. The total land area of the park is 3,953 acres. The trail is located 28 minutes from Thornton, CO. This is a 23.7 km loop trail, with an elevation gain of 888 meters. This is generally considered a challenging route. This trail is perfect for various recreational opportunities like cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and running. The paths lead through scenic views of the surrounding landscape. Visitors can also have views of numerous wild animals. White Ranch Park is open year-round and is a great place to visit anytime.

2026 Highlights: White Ranch Park features a 0.9-mile bike-only, one-way segment on the Longhorn Trail, providing a dedicated route for cyclists."

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Contact:

(303) 271-5925

Mon-Sun: 6am - 10pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

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PELICAN PONDS OPEN SPACE REVIEWS

We had a fantastic stroll along the Platte River. The parking lot at the northern end was a bit cramped, but there were plenty of spots available. The trail was flat and gentle, making it perfect for young kids and seniors. The two ponds were conveniently located and open from November to March. There are also several easy access points to the river, with sandbars filled with river rocks. Overall, it’s an excellent spot for a leisurely walk.

Nice place to watch birds and take some photos. In summertime/fall the big cottonwoods are very pretty. Quiet and not a lot of traffic on the road. There are walking trails and small playground. Porta potty on site. The parking lot is half paved so if you go after rain or snow be prepared to get your shoes and your vehicle muddy.

Fun park, mostly for smaller kiddos in my opinion. I have a 3 year old and he loved it! Fun swings for all ages. Neat use of huge logs and boulders for climbing, sitting, etc. Great open space for playing tag, nice trails for walking.

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EASTLAKE #3 PARK & NATURE PRESERVE REVIEWS

It's serene and beautiful. There's about a mile loop around the park for people to walk or bike. There's also a wooden path located on the marsh that cuts through the middle of the park. It's a lovely view of tall fall- colored grass. There are multiple benches scattered throughout for sitting and enjoying the scenery. You'll see lots of bunnies and various kinds of birds. You can also go down by the lake and watch the ducks float on the water.

Love walking the dog here. The park staff keep the place well groomed and the people who visit seem to take pride in this location. I always gave a positive experience with people and nature.

Great place to go for a walk. Plenty of wildlife to see and have a seat on one of the benches to peacefully take it all in & reflect. Maybe a good idea to put some bug spray on.

WHITE RANCH PARK REVIEWS

Great hiking area. Multiple trails that offer several difficulty levels. There is a map that will explain what the levels mean, it was helpful for our family. We stayed on green and blue trails, the blue were slightly more difficult for sure. The trails are shared with bike riders, hikers of all ages, and pets. Just be mindful of each other. Not crowded, we were here on a Sunday and did not fight for space. Much of our hike we were by ourselves. Beautiful views all along the trail, many spots for pictures. Wear good hiking shoes, lots of rocks.

Great network of trails that weave up and down the rolling hills. Some parts go through private property so stay on trail. Great views of the ridges and of the eastern plains. Highly recommend!.

This place has so many trails. We did some hiking but it looks great for mountain biking as well. Definitely coming back to explore the other trails.

TBR® Inspection Score Report

PELICAN PONDS OPEN SPACE Total Inspection Points: 118/120
Contact Info: 9
Experience: 9
Acknowledgments: 10
Business Hours: 10
Business Images: 10
Complete Info: 10
Exact Services: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Social Media: 10
Video: 10
Website Source: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

EASTLAKE #3 PARK & NATURE PRESERVE Total Inspection Points: 117/120
Business Hours: 9
Complete Info: 9
Contact Info: 9
Acknowledgments: 10
Business Images: 10
Exact Services: 10
Experience: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Social Media: 10
Video: 10
Website Source: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

WHITE RANCH PARK Total Inspection Points: 105/120
Acknowledgments: 9
Business Hours: 9
Complete Info: 9
Contact Info: 9
Legitimate Ratings: 9
Business Images: 10
Exact Services: 10
Experience: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Video: 10
Website Source: 10
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