The paved trail along the edge of Saddle Rock Golf Course is the Piney Creek Trail. It runs northwest past two neighborhood parks, ends inside Cherry Creek State Park and connects there to the Cherry Creek Regional Trail toward downtown Denver. For a Saddle Rock household, a state park with a marina and campground is a walk or a bike ride away on one continuous paved path that crosses few streets.
This fall the route comes with three practical details. The old underpass at East Arapahoe Road is closed for good, so the trail now crosses at street level. Stormwater crews are thinning parts of the creek corridor in 2026. And anyone who arrives at Cherry Creek State Park on foot or by bike still needs a pass. None of it keeps you off the trail, and each one is easier to plan around if you know it before you leave.
The Line From Ponderosa Preserve to the Marina
The City of Aurora's trail map counts 3.9 miles of the Piney Creek Trail inside Aurora and 9.4 miles over the whole paved route. The state's COTREX trail database and Visit Aurora both round it to 10 miles. COTREX also lists several managers along the way, including the City of Aurora, Arapahoe Park and Recreation District and Arapahoe County Recreation District. The whole route is paved.
From southeast to northwest, the main stops are:
- Ponderosa Preserve, where TrailLink places the start of the route.
- Saddle Rock Golf Course, which Aurora's map marks as one of the trail's access areas.
- Red-Tailed Hawk Park at 23701 E. Hinsdale Way, with a wetland boardwalk, sheltered picnic tables and parking.
- Larkspur Park at 22551 E. Plymouth Cir., with a playground, horseshoe pits and parking.
- Cherry Creek State Park at 4201 S. Parker Rd., where the Piney Creek Trail ends and the 40-mile Cherry Creek Regional Trail continues toward downtown Denver.
Aurora's more detailed map also labels Golden Eagle Park along the corridor. Farther along, Trails Park and Recreation District says its section of the trail meets Piney Creek Hollow Park at 6140 South Tower Road. That trailhead has a bike pump station and a sign showing a trail-user count, the time and the temperature. It's a useful landmark if you want to check how far you've ridden or top off your tires before the last stretch to the state park.
Just how close the park is by bike? One TrailLink rider wrote in 2022 that the ride from Red-Tailed Hawk Park to Cherry Creek took about 45 minutes on a route with "a few moderate slopes." That's one person's pace, and Red-Tailed Hawk Park is already partway along. Still, the state park is closer than a drive across town makes it feel.
The Crossing at East Arapahoe Road
Near Saddle Rock, the most important detail is how the trail gets across East Arapahoe Road. TrailLink posts this notice at the top of its trail page:
The Piney Creek Trail culvert underneath East Arapahoe Rd. is closed to trail traffic permanently. Trail users must use the crosswalks to continue along the trail.
The notice has no date. A rider's August 2024 review puts the closed underpass at the Arapahoe and Liverpool intersection and says riders have to cross at street level there. Signs on site are the final word on how the crossing is set up today.
If you're riding with children, walking a dog or running a loop that relies on the old tunnel, that matters. Treat Arapahoe Road as a stop-and-wait point rather than a straight pass underneath, and allow a few extra minutes for the signal. Arapahoe County has also listed nearby safety work on Arapahoe Road between S. Lewiston Way and S. Buckley Road as complete. The county page notes that short daytime closures may still be needed to finish final inspection items.
Why the Creek May Look Different in 2026
Past the road, the corridor itself may look different from last year. On March 10, 2026, Trails Park and Recreation District announced a 2026 vegetation-removal project along the Piney Creek Trail. The project is contracted and managed by the Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority, known as SEMSWA. The district says it is a communication partner and does not set the scope or schedule.
SEMSWA's contracted work includes three tasks:
- Removing and disposing of beaver dams
- Removing and disposing of dead and down trees
- Pruning about 40% of the vegetation in targeted areas
The 40% figure applies only in targeted spots. The district describes the method as selective pruning, not complete removal, aimed at growth that blocks water flow, crowds the trail or bridges, or limits access for maintenance. The district also gives a trail-user reason for the work. Dead or downed trees near a path can become hazards in wind or snow, and heavy growth can make it harder to see other people coming.
While the work is underway, trail users may see work vehicles near access points, hear chipping and cutting, and notice thinner vegetation in places. The district asks people to follow posted signs and keep their distance from crews. Beavers and other wildlife may move temporarily during the work, and the district notes that natural corridors can recover over time. The notice doesn't list which segments are affected or when crews will be on each one. So a cleared bank on your usual stretch could be part of this project, or it could be untouched this year. Aurora's trail map asks users to stay on authorized trails and leave wildlife and habitat undisturbed, which covers anyone tempted to inspect a dismantled beaver dam up close.
What the State Park Asks of Someone Arriving on Foot
Arriving on the trail means no gate line. It doesn't mean free entry. Colorado Parks and Wildlife sells a $4 individual daily pass for people entering Cherry Creek State Park on foot, by bicycle or on horseback, and the pass or proof of purchase has to stay with you. The pass you may already have on your car works differently.
| Option | Cost | What it covers on a trail visit |
|---|---|---|
| Individual daily pass | $4 | One person on foot, bike or horseback for the day; carry it with you |
| Individual annual pass | $29 | The holder plus three companions arriving without a vehicle, at most state parks; carry proof |
| Keep Colorado Wild Pass | $29 | Tied to a Colorado-registered vehicle's plate and nontransferable, so it doesn't work as a walk-in or bike-in pass |
| Cherry Creek Basin Water Authority fee | $1 daily | Charged on vehicles only, so it doesn't apply on foot or by bike |
The comparison is simple for frequent visitors. A household that adds the vehicle-based Keep Colorado Wild Pass at registration may assume it covers everything, but it stays with the car's plate. If you reach the park on the Piney Creek Trail often, the $29 individual annual pass covers you plus three companions who arrive without a vehicle. The same $29 equals a little over seven $4 day passes.
Once inside, CPW says the park has 35 miles of multiuse trails, including 15 paved miles used by walkers and cyclists. The visitor center and campground office is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through October 31, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November 1 through December 31. Those are office hours, not hours for the whole park. For a late-afternoon ride in November, it's easiest to buy a pass before you leave home rather than counting on the office being open when you arrive.
The Halfway Park With a Plan on Paper
Red-Tailed Hawk Park is a likely place for a break on the way out or back, and it is slated for changes. The city describes it as a 35-acre community park. Aurora City Council adopted a new master plan for the park on April 21, 2025. The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department said it would seek grant funding and announce construction dates after construction documents and funding are secured. The project page lists the first construction phase for the fourth quarter of 2026, with exact dates still to be announced and the timing dependent on budget. That window starts this month, so trail users could see work begin at the park this fall, or the work could slip if funding doesn't come through. Residents can review the adopted plan on the city's Engage Aurora page.
At the Saddle Rock end of the trail, the clubhouse restaurant is another option. Saddle Rock Grill calls itself a neighborhood restaurant and invites people to stop in for a meal even without a round of golf. It's at 21705 E. Arapahoe Road, and the number is 303-326-8462. The website doesn't list current hours, so call before planning a post-ride lunch there.
If you've been thinking about how much routes like this shape the way your neighborhood fits your daily life, now or for a future move, I'd love to talk it through with you. You can reach me through Leah Klepetka whenever you're ready. Let's Connect.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
