Chavez Trail

Difficulty Rating (1-5 scale, 5 being the most difficult)
Physical: 3-4
Technical: 4-5
Navigational: 2
Chavez Trail sits well in a canyon and is largely shaded, so it makes for a good hot weather trail run. Parts of the trail are fairly steep and rocky, so it's not that fast in either direction. We start at the top, so takes longer coming back. There's a stream alongside the trail, and pools towards the bottom to cool off in (depending on water levels). The bottom of the Chavez trail is only 200' or so above Clear Creek.
This is also the W end of the Beaver Brook trail. From there, it's 8.75mi along the BB trail to Windy Saddle (Lookout Mtn Dr.). The first part is very steep and rocky, climbing 1,150' in 1.5mi. You pass the Gudy Gaskill trail along the way.
Weather and Seasons
Because it is so shaded, this is primarily a dry season trail. The shade and water are great in the summer. It can be quite icy at times. However, it would be good for snowshoeing when there's enough snow.
Driving Directions
Take I70 to the Chief Hosa exit, #253. Go to the N side of the hwy (right if coming from Denver), then E 0.7mi on the dirt Stapleton Rd, heading slightly downhill around a couple bends. The trailhead will be on your left, a wide parking lot with permanent restrooms.
Map to Chief Hosa - http://g.co/maps/jpvv9
Map to the Chavez trail head - http://goo.gl/maps/t3Ld
Running Routes
Clockwise route (preferred):
At the small lot (red circle), look for a chain on the left. Go around the chain, continue down the dirt road, and look for a trail to the right of the bathrooms. It's ~2mi and 800' down the Chavez trail, some of it steep and technical. Monitor your watch, and is you don't make it all the way down to Beaver Brook, turn around and come back the same way. There are several pools and water crossings towards the bottom. These are good places to cool off and regroup. A short, steep uphill leads to the Beaver Brook trail. Go right and head uphill. This too is steep and technical in places. The trail splits ~1/3mi before the top. Either way is fine. For the faster runners, add more by doing a loop of the Braille trail from the top of BB (red arrow). Remember that from there, it's another 1.3mi and 300' back up the dirt road to Chief Hosa.
Counter Clockwise:
At the small lot (red circle), look for a chain and trail on the right. We'll start down the Beaver Brook trail. Many won't make it down to the loop on Thu night - it's ~2mi and 800' down, some of it steep and technical - but will do an out-and-back on the E trail (blue arrows). The trail splits just after the start. Either way is fine as they come back together in ~1/3mi. Some of it is steep and technical, so the downhill isn't that fast. About 1.75mi down, look for the Chavez trail on the left. It's a sharp left and easy to miss, so pay attention. Please stop and wait for others here. It'll take 5-15 min longer coming back, so figure your turn around time appropriately. For example, if you're planning to run 1:20, turn around at 35min (45min back up). For those doing the loop, come back up the Chavez Trail on the W side (red arrows).
On Thursday nights, DTR has different routes at each run. The different routes are designed so that we can accommodate runners of different speeds and still start/finish at about the same time. See more info on choosing the appropriate route for you.
Physical: 3-4
Technical: 4-5
Navigational: 2
Chavez Trail sits well in a canyon and is largely shaded, so it makes for a good hot weather trail run. Parts of the trail are fairly steep and rocky, so it's not that fast in either direction. We start at the top, so takes longer coming back. There's a stream alongside the trail, and pools towards the bottom to cool off in (depending on water levels). The bottom of the Chavez trail is only 200' or so above Clear Creek.
This is also the W end of the Beaver Brook trail. From there, it's 8.75mi along the BB trail to Windy Saddle (Lookout Mtn Dr.). The first part is very steep and rocky, climbing 1,150' in 1.5mi. You pass the Gudy Gaskill trail along the way.
Weather and Seasons
Because it is so shaded, this is primarily a dry season trail. The shade and water are great in the summer. It can be quite icy at times. However, it would be good for snowshoeing when there's enough snow.
Driving Directions
Take I70 to the Chief Hosa exit, #253. Go to the N side of the hwy (right if coming from Denver), then E 0.7mi on the dirt Stapleton Rd, heading slightly downhill around a couple bends. The trailhead will be on your left, a wide parking lot with permanent restrooms.
Map to Chief Hosa - http://g.co/maps/jpvv9
Map to the Chavez trail head - http://goo.gl/maps/t3Ld
Running Routes
Clockwise route (preferred):
At the small lot (red circle), look for a chain on the left. Go around the chain, continue down the dirt road, and look for a trail to the right of the bathrooms. It's ~2mi and 800' down the Chavez trail, some of it steep and technical. Monitor your watch, and is you don't make it all the way down to Beaver Brook, turn around and come back the same way. There are several pools and water crossings towards the bottom. These are good places to cool off and regroup. A short, steep uphill leads to the Beaver Brook trail. Go right and head uphill. This too is steep and technical in places. The trail splits ~1/3mi before the top. Either way is fine. For the faster runners, add more by doing a loop of the Braille trail from the top of BB (red arrow). Remember that from there, it's another 1.3mi and 300' back up the dirt road to Chief Hosa.
Counter Clockwise:
At the small lot (red circle), look for a chain and trail on the right. We'll start down the Beaver Brook trail. Many won't make it down to the loop on Thu night - it's ~2mi and 800' down, some of it steep and technical - but will do an out-and-back on the E trail (blue arrows). The trail splits just after the start. Either way is fine as they come back together in ~1/3mi. Some of it is steep and technical, so the downhill isn't that fast. About 1.75mi down, look for the Chavez trail on the left. It's a sharp left and easy to miss, so pay attention. Please stop and wait for others here. It'll take 5-15 min longer coming back, so figure your turn around time appropriately. For example, if you're planning to run 1:20, turn around at 35min (45min back up). For those doing the loop, come back up the Chavez Trail on the W side (red arrows).
On Thursday nights, DTR has different routes at each run. The different routes are designed so that we can accommodate runners of different speeds and still start/finish at about the same time. See more info on choosing the appropriate route for you.