12 Mile Trail via Parker Road Trail
7.4 mi · ▲ 248 ft · 2 hr 35 min
12 Mile Trail via Parker Road Trail is a 7.4-mile out-and-back in Cherry Creek State Park near Heather Ridge, CO. It is mostly level, with 248 ft of elevation gain. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
12 Mile Trail via Parker Road Trail
7.4 mi · ▲ 248 ft · 2 hr 35 min
Elevation 5,586–5,666 ft
Out & Back · Cherry Creek State Park
Trailhead: 39.65752, -104.84083
Weather Sep 5: Partly cloudy, high 93°F / low 62° · precip 7% · wind 1 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:26 PM
Transit-accessible: S Vaughn Way & S Parker Rd stop 272 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading S.
- 250 ftSharp left, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Parker Road Trail, heading SE.
- 0.8 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.8 miBear left, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Shop Creek Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading S.
- 500 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto 12 Mile Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Cherry Creek Dog Access, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto 12 Mile Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 400 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 350 ftReach 12 Mile Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 350 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Cherry Creek Dog Access, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto 12 Mile Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 100 ftSharp right, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Shop Creek Trail, heading W.
- 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Parker Road Trail, heading N.
- 0.8 miBear right, heading NW.
- 1 miSharp right, heading N.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~10 min). Leave by 6:56 PM for the 7:26 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:52 PM — 2 min before dark.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: S Vaughn Way & S Parker Rd stop 272 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Shop Creek Trail via Parker Road Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 141 ft
- Cherry Creek Reservoir–Beach (No Swim), 8 sights 8.5 mi · ▲ 244 ft
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