Sloan’s Lake Loop – Road Bike Trail

Sloan’s Lake Loop is a 4.2 km (2.6 mi) loop trail in Colorado. It is a safe place for riding and is well-marked and maintained. You can enjoy a ride on the trail on hot summer days thanks to the plenty of shady trees on the trail's edges. If you get too hot, you can stop and dip your toes in the lake to cool down. The trail is open year-round, so you can go for group, or solo rides any time and enjoy the scenic view of the urban oasis.

Before you go:

Drinking water

Restrooms

Fee required

Lift service

Fat bike grooming

Family Friendly

Night riding

E-bikes allowed

Dogs Allowed

Obstacles

Shuttles

Detailed Trail Description

Sloan’s Lake Loop is a 2.6-mile paved trail. It is located near Wheat Ridge at the western edge of Denver. The lake is like an urban oasis in Colorado because the city does not have many water bodies. The trail offers a perfect view of Denver's spectacular skyline. You will enjoy riding in summer as the trail has many shady trees along its edges.

You can access the trail from the designated entry points at the West Byron Place parking lot or from anywhere along the lake, as there are several connecting paths. We recommend starting your ride from the trailhead at the picnic area. Ride until you join the Sloan Lake trail, then keep south.

As you cycle along the lake’s west side, you will get a perfect view of the skyscrapers and tall buildings that make the Denver skyline. Ride across the path until you cross a small bridge. The route curves east and passes basketball courts and a playground. Continue further down the route until you have an up-close view of the penny islands. When you get to the east shore, you should be able to see the snow-capped front-range peaks on the horizon. Soon the path will lead you back to the parking lot, and your adventurous ride will be over.

Additional Trail Features

• Sloan’s Lake shores
• Big vistas
• Joyride Brewing

The most worthwhile feature on Sloan’s Lake Loop is the big vistas. They are quite the view if you want a break from the bustling city. You can grab a beer from Joyride brewing on your way back or have a picnic at the lake’s shores before riding back.

Sights of Interest, Landscapes, Views

The calm Sloan's Lake is a sweeping scenery. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife agency stocks it with carp, trout and black crappie, which attract herons and cormorants. Other wildlife you may encounter on your ride are native muskrats, coyotes which come out to prey on the small animals in the park, and non-native nutria.

If you love birds, we recommend you go for a ride at sundown to catch the nighthawks performing aerial aerobatics in a theatrical way. You may also spot Canada geese, seagulls, barn swallows and osprey. The penny island; a small barren island on the lake, has a manmade nesting structure for osprey.

Other sights of interest would be the magnificent view of the mountains from the lake’s east side and city scape views from the west.

Recommendations and Precautions

• No parking pass is required but the trail gets packed on weekends. You may have trouble finding a parking spot if you come driving.
• You must also be extra attentive when riding on the trail to avoid hitting the many pedestrians and joggers.
• If you have all the time, we highly recommend bringing a paddleboard on your ride to explore the scenic lake for a wholesome experience.