High Line Canal Trail Overview

The High Line Canal and its trail, at 71 miles long, run from Waterton Canyon to Green Valley Ranch, just south of Denver International Airport. Zigging, curving, and zagging, the trail of asphalt, concrete, and soft surface gravel, meanders through rural, urban and suburban Denver and Aurora. Only falling 200 feet over its entire length, the historic trail, an old ditch rider’s road, is relatively flat and easily traversed by walkers, runners, hikers and cyclists. Portions of the trail are also suitable for equestrian use.

 71 miles from the foothills to the plains…

The southern half of the Canal (miles 0-36) features the foothills and panoramic front range views. The majority of trail surface is soft surface gravel with intermittent patches of concrete. The trail’s pathway is relatively straightforward, winding through rural and suburban backyards, though trails gaps exist at Mile 10 (Plum Creek) and Mile 13 (S. Santa Fe Blvd.).

The northern half of the Canal (miles 36-71) features the prairies and vast grassy views, amid its pathway through older neighborhoods and new burgeoning communities. The northern half of trail is mostly hard surface, with a combination of asphalt or concrete.  In some areas, the trail in the northeast may not appear obvious, but work is underway to fill in the gaps and to build a new trail for a continuous 71-mile-long greenway experience.

Refer to the Map & Guide for the High Line Canal for current navigational and detour information.

When Should You Hike the High Line?

You can hike the Canal trail year-round. The trail runs through 11 jurisdictions and all are excellent at clearing and maintaining the trail in all weather and seasons. These jurisdictions include Douglas County, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Centennial, Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills Village, Denver, Arapahoe County and Aurora. Whichever time of year you choose, be sure to explore the trail on foot. It’s an intimate experience that allows you to enjoy a ‘slice of nature in the city from a pedestrian’s point of view and the seasonal beauty of Colorado.

How to Hike the High Line Canal Trail Your Way

Most people can’t walk all 71 miles in one attempt, especially since camping is not allowed along the trail. You’ll need to make a plan for how you’ll walk the entire trail. We’ve broken the trail up into four ways (below) on how to hike it.

No matter how you hike the trail, you’ll want to own a copy of the Guide to the High Line Canal. The Guide is essential for a successful hike. Not only does it come with a separate fold-out map and segment maps within the booklet, but it also provides trailhead and parking info, restroom locations, and other helpful navigational tips for your hike. You’ll also find amazing Canal history and fun nature facts to make your outings more enjoyable. Visit highlinecanal.org/guide to purchase yours today.

Options for Breaking Up the 71 Miles:

• The Short and Sweet option in 27 segments (2-4 miles apiece per the Guide to the High Line Canal)
• The Medium and Enjoyable option in 14 outings (5-8 miles apiece. Curated by Chris Englert, Denver By Foot)
• The Connie Brown Way option in 12 outings (4-11 miles apiece. Created by Connie Brown for Walk FOR the Canal in 2020)
• The Long and Thorough option in 8 outings (8-10 miles apiece. Curated by Chris Englert, Denver By Foot)

Which Direction Should You Go?

You can hike the High Line Canal trail in either direction!  Some folks favor walking the trail from the northern end at Green Valley Ranch to its southern end at Waterton Canyon. In this direction, you’ll have the front range in your view almost the entire time. Other trail enthusiasts prefer walking the trail from its southern beginning in Waterton Canyon to its northern end near the airport because they want to walk in the direction in which the Canal’s water historically flowed. But no matter which direction you choose to go, you’re in for a treat and an understanding of Denver history that you can’t get anywhere else.

How Do I Find Out about Trail Gaps, Closures and Detours?

It’s helpful to remember, the workers who built the High Line Canal never imagined it would be used for recreation. However, today nearly 130 years later, the historic waterway has become a popular ecological and recreational amenity for walkers, joggers, cyclists, equestrians and nature lovers. While improvements are underway, there are still sections along the Canal where trail gaps exist. There are currently four major trail interruptions. Please refer to page 12 of the Guide to the High Line Canal for a list of locations and how to navigate these trail gaps. Also, before your outing, be sure to check the Conservancy’s Trail Updates page for trail closures and detour information: highlinecanal.org/trail-updates.