Directions to Trailhead: From the I-25 and 6th Ave. intersection in Denver, go west on 6th. As you get close to the foothills, you will drive under I-70. After the underpass, take your first left at the stoplight. You will be turning onto Hwy. 40. Drive on 40 for about a mile. Pull into the Heritage Square parking lot on your right, and park on the north side next to the trailhead.
About This Trail: Due to the proximity of Denver, this is a popular trail. Although it can be crowded on weekends and evenings during the week, it still provides a great getaway from the city. The park has a variety of trails. You'll be able to ride ridges overlooking the city, through a dense forest, or through a secluded valley. This valley, known as Apex Gulch was actually one of the original wagon trails that lead up to Central City. Legend has it that an unfortunate cowboy was even lynched on the cottonwood tree leading into the gulch!
Trail Description: From the Heritage Square parking lot, take Apex trail west into Apex gulch. Take a right onto the first trail that branches off about a mile up. This is the Pick n' Sledge trail. Follow this for 0.9 miles until it branches with the Grubstake loop. Take a right onto Grubstake and follow it as it winds around the mountain and you start going south again. When you see the Sluicebox trail, take it down to Apex trail. Once back on Apex, take a right and go up the gulch. Once you get to the Enchanted forest trailhead, you have 2 options. This point is the bottom of a loop, so you can either keep going up Apex and decend the Enchanted Forest, or do it in reverse. Either way there are steep uphills and fun downhills. Once you finish the loop, get back on Apex and decend to the parking lot.
