Plymouth Mountain Trail in Deer Creek Canyon Park is a convenient foothills hike near Denver with shady canyon stretches, steady climbs and expansive views from 7,274 feet.
My cousin Susan suggested the hike. Since the trailhead was only about 15 minutes away, I headed out to explore a new-to-me trail.
Plymouth Mountain Hike Stats
● Distance: 6.6 miles for my route
● Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
● Route: Plymouth Creek, Plymouth Mountain, Scenic View and Meadowlark trails
● Best seasons: Spring through fall, plus mild winter days
Deer Creek Canyon has multiple junctions and loop options. There are 14 miles of trails in the 1,647 acres of Deer Creek Canyon Park.
Hiking Plymouth Creek Trail
I started on Plymouth Creek Trail. The paved flat path is short lived and quickly turns into a steady climb.
Within 15 minutes, I was already enjoying views across the foothills. The trail follows Plymouth Creek deeper into the canyon, passing small rock walls and forested sections.
This is one of the shadier portions of the hike. During fall, yellow and orange leaves added splashes of color along the creek.
After hiking Plymouth Creek Trail for approximately 1.6 miles, I reached a junction and turned onto Plymouth Mountain Trail.
Climbing to Scenic View Trail
Take the most direct route toward Scenic View Trail if you’re up for a challenge. The climb was worth it. Once on the Scenic View Trail, I got some great vista views.
The High Point
From the rock formation at the end of the trail, you can see the surrounding foothills and Denver in the distance. It’s particularly beautiful on a glorious fall day.
This is the high point of the route at approximately 7,274 feet.
Returning on Meadowlark Trail
I retraced my route down Scenic View and Plymouth Mountain trails, before connecting to Meadowlark Trail for the final 1.5 miles.
At the junction, I passed a group hiking with llamas. That’s not something you see on every Colorado trail.
Meadowlark Trail is more exposed than Plymouth Creek. It delivers sweeping views of rock formations, nearby neighborhoods, and the distant Denver skyline. Shade is limited.
My wildlife tally included two bull snakes, along with a doe and fawn spotted as I drove out of the canyon.
Plymouth Mountain Trail is an excellent choice when you want a solid foothills workout without driving far from Denver. The combination of forest, creekside scenery and wide-open views packs plenty into five miles.
For more nearby hiking, look for bighorn sheep in Waterton Canyon, connect trails for a five-mile loop in Roxborough State Park or tackle the quick opening climb on North Table Mountain.
