Hiking – Orbital Trail - Segment 19

The DOT is a walking route that makes a full circle around Denver.  We are combining segments 19 & 20 and continuing a bit beyond 20 for better parking (thanks for the idea, Robbie Monsma).  Here are the links to the map of Segment 19: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/dot-segment-19-northfield-greenways-and-neighborhood-parks and Segment 20: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/dot-segment-20-sand-creek-to-platte-river  We will be hiking on the Gateway Trail and then through the “central avenue of park space through the redeveloped Stapleton Airport area”.  Segment 20 is described as “A segment that looks worse on a map than it is! Follow the Sand Creek Trail along I-270, but with enough separation that it's very pleasant for walking, offering frequent views of the flowing Sand Creek. Pass several factories and a zone of stinky air - all part of the gritty experience of passing through this part of the DOT! Soon enough, reach the urban oasis that is the Platte River Trail.”  We will be on paved paths for most of this hike.  There are bathrooms at the beginning and end and at some parks along the way.

This route is exploratory for the trip leaders. 

Carpool: Since the distance between trailheads is short and half of us will be driving, there will be no carpool cost sharing. 

We will meet at 9:00am at the Engineer Lake Parking Lot (also called 74^th Ave Trailhead or 1^st Golden Spot on some maps)  224 E of Platte, Thornton, CO 80229 https://maps.app.goo.gl/kfWM3r1oFmCcYa8NA  We will then carpool to our starting spot at Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center parking lot, 6550 Gateway Road, Commerce City, CO 80222.