Bear Creek Trail Improvements

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Conceptual image of a crusher fines parallel trail adjacent to the existing concrete Bear Creek Trail in the Bear Creek Greenbelt.

Follow this project on Twitter @TrailsLakewood for construction updates.

Project Background

The Bear Creek Trail is located within the Bear Creek Greenbelt, a 350-acre open space park on the south side of the city. Bear Creek runs through the property and is a mature riparian ecosystem that attracts wildlife and provides an ideal outdoor recreation and open space area. The trail is approximately seven miles in length beginning near C-470 and Morrison Road and extending east to Wadsworth Boulevard and Denver.

An extremely popular regional trail connection and a green way across the city, the trail receives a lot of use. Trail use data shows over 450,000 people use this trail and open space area each year for walking, hiking, biking, fishing and other forms of non-motorized transportation and recreational uses. The attraction of a diverse range of user groups has led to increasing conflicts in recent years, which the city has been working to address.

Trail and Connectivity Assessment Report

In 2016, the city partnered with Norris Design, Bicycle Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife to complete the City of Lakewood Trail and Connectivity Assessment Report. The project objective was to provide information and guidance for expansion and maintenance of important trail corridors and the potential for new trail connections within the city. The six month public engagement effort identified opportunities for improvements to the Bear Creek Trail to mitigate user conflicts including the addition of a crushed gravel, soft surface parallel trail, widening the concrete trail to 10 feet to better handle existing usage and meet current trail standards and realigning the concrete trail in certain sections. Lastly, adding striping and signage opportunities to enhance safety and wayfinding were also identified.

Project Details

Specifically, the Bear Creek Trail project entails the installation of over 12,000 linear feet of 3-6 foot wide soft surface trail that would roughly parallel the existing concrete path through the Bear Creek Greenbelt. The purpose of this trail would be to help alleviate congestion along the existing trail by providing an alternative natural surface trail for walkers and runners. In addition to the soft surface trail construction, sections of the existing trail would be removed and replaced. Improvements would be made to the concrete trail by widening sections to 10 feet when feasible, by softening trail curves to extend sight lines and replacing damaged concrete to mitigate hazards. Engineering studies were conducted in 2020 to consider how to appropriately address high-conflict areas to devise alternative solutions. Learn more in the Bear Creek Trail section beginning on page 26 of the City of Lakewood Trail and Connectivity Assessment Report.

All proposed trail improvements have been included to create a welcoming trail experience for all visitors and user groups. Use the tools below to provide feedback on the project and share additional ideas for future amenities as funding allows. Subscribe to this page for project notifications when new information is available.

Follow this project on Twitter @TrailsLakewood for construction updates.

Project Background

The Bear Creek Trail is located within the Bear Creek Greenbelt, a 350-acre open space park on the south side of the city. Bear Creek runs through the property and is a mature riparian ecosystem that attracts wildlife and provides an ideal outdoor recreation and open space area. The trail is approximately seven miles in length beginning near C-470 and Morrison Road and extending east to Wadsworth Boulevard and Denver.

An extremely popular regional trail connection and a green way across the city, the trail receives a lot of use. Trail use data shows over 450,000 people use this trail and open space area each year for walking, hiking, biking, fishing and other forms of non-motorized transportation and recreational uses. The attraction of a diverse range of user groups has led to increasing conflicts in recent years, which the city has been working to address.

Trail and Connectivity Assessment Report

In 2016, the city partnered with Norris Design, Bicycle Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife to complete the City of Lakewood Trail and Connectivity Assessment Report. The project objective was to provide information and guidance for expansion and maintenance of important trail corridors and the potential for new trail connections within the city. The six month public engagement effort identified opportunities for improvements to the Bear Creek Trail to mitigate user conflicts including the addition of a crushed gravel, soft surface parallel trail, widening the concrete trail to 10 feet to better handle existing usage and meet current trail standards and realigning the concrete trail in certain sections. Lastly, adding striping and signage opportunities to enhance safety and wayfinding were also identified.

Project Details

Specifically, the Bear Creek Trail project entails the installation of over 12,000 linear feet of 3-6 foot wide soft surface trail that would roughly parallel the existing concrete path through the Bear Creek Greenbelt. The purpose of this trail would be to help alleviate congestion along the existing trail by providing an alternative natural surface trail for walkers and runners. In addition to the soft surface trail construction, sections of the existing trail would be removed and replaced. Improvements would be made to the concrete trail by widening sections to 10 feet when feasible, by softening trail curves to extend sight lines and replacing damaged concrete to mitigate hazards. Engineering studies were conducted in 2020 to consider how to appropriately address high-conflict areas to devise alternative solutions. Learn more in the Bear Creek Trail section beginning on page 26 of the City of Lakewood Trail and Connectivity Assessment Report.

All proposed trail improvements have been included to create a welcoming trail experience for all visitors and user groups. Use the tools below to provide feedback on the project and share additional ideas for future amenities as funding allows. Subscribe to this page for project notifications when new information is available.

  • Bear Creek Trail Opens Sept. 27

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    After wrapping the final segment of construction of the Bear Creek Trail and soft-surface parallel trail project, the full trail experience is now open to residents and visitors! The contractor will continue to visit the site to tend to wash out areas and complete landscaping improvements over the next month. Happy trails!


    A picture showing a segment of the trail now complete.A segment of the trail from Kipling St. to Kipling Pkwy.



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  • Bear Creek Trail Progress Update: August 14

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    The final phase of construction for the Bear Creek Trail project from Kipling Parkway to Kipling Street will begin Monday, August 14. This phase is anticipated to take approximately six weeks, weather dependent. Detours are in place. For your safety, please be respectful of trail closures and follow posted signage on site.

  • Bear Creek Trail Progress Update May 25

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    Great news! Most of Phase 4 of the Bear Creek Trail project from S. Kipling St. to S. Estes St. will open Friday, May 26 for public use.

    Trail construction will then commence on the final segment of the concrete trail, occurring 600 feet east of the S. Kipling St. pedestrian bridge and lasting approximately three weeks. Trail users will use the new soft-surface path in this segment for the duration of the detour. For your safety, please respect trail closures.

  • Bear Creek Trail progress update May 18

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    Phase 4 of the Bear Creek Trail project was targeted for completion early this year when a pair of nesting owls moved in near the west end of the completed segment and halted work in the area until the week of May 15. It is a federal law not to disturb nesting raptors, the City of Lakewood took every precaution to be sure the owls were not disturbed.

    By May 18, it was confirmed the owls had left the nest permanently and the contractor was cleared to mobilize into the area from the ‘causeway’ west to the Kipling St. bridge. The contractor plans to install the soft-surface path in this segment and use it for a detour around the work area while the concrete is replaced. Once the soft-surface trail is complete, the city will open the trail from S. Estes St. to S. Kipling St.

    The concrete replacement will take two to three weeks, weather permitting. The contractor will then begin replacing the trail from S. Kipling St. to Kipling Pkwy to conclude the project.

    Thank you for your patience!


  • Stonehouse bridge and trail opened April 17

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    On Monday, April 17, The trail from the Stonehouse, located at 2900 S. Estes St., to access the Bear Creek Trail has reopened following the installation of the new Stonehouse bridge. Thank you for your patience, we hope you enjoy!

  • Bear Creek Trail Stonehouse Bridge Installation

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  • Bear Creek Trail Bridge Installation

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    Video of the bridge install

  • Bear Creek Trail phase 6 closure

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    Update Feb. 27- Phase 6 of the Bear Creek Trail is now open from S. Kipling St. to Fox Hollow Lane. The only current closures are the Bear Creek Trail from S. Estes to S. Kipling Streets and the Stonehouse Bridge.

    The Bear Creek Trail from S. Kipling Parkway to S. Kipling Street will be closed beginning Monday, Feb. 20 for construction. For your safety, respect closures and utilize detours that are in place. This closure is expected to take approximately one week, weather dependant.

    Click to enlarge

  • Bear Creek Trail Stonehouse Bridge Closure

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    The trail from the Stonehouse, located at 2900 S. Estes St., to access the Bear Creek Trail will be closed beginning Wednesday, Jan. 4 for work on the Stonehouse bridge. For your safety, respect closures and utilize detours that are in place.

  • Bear Creek Trail Progress Update

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    Progress update on the Bear Creek Trail construction occurring between S. Estes St. and S. Kipling Pkwy:

    • The long duration of the Phase 4 detour is due to the structural work at the Estes St. underpass and the replacement of the “Beaver Dam” or “90-degree” bridge between Estes and Kipling. The safety improvements under Estes include realignment of the trail approaches to improve trail slope, width and sightlines. This change requires new walls at the edge of the creek and storm drain extensions on both sides of Estes.
    • The new bridge in this reach will span the creek at a lesser angle to soften the approach curves to improve safety. The bridge will feature mid-span “outlookers” to allow users to get off the trail and enjoy the view or snap some Instagram pics.
    • A new, natural surface trail loop, south of the main trail, will provide access to a new addition to the greenbelt, providing an elevated view of the valley above the 90-degree bridge.

Page last updated: 27 Sep 2023, 02:30 PM