DIRECTIONS:  From Denver, take I-25 south to Santa Fe Blvd (85).  Follow Santa Fe south and bear right onto South Platte River Driver at the split.  Turn right (west) onto Florida Ave and left (south) on Osage Street to enter the park.  Follow the park road to the parking area at the top of the hill.

Ruby Hill Park is one of the more interesting parks in the Denver Parks System.  The park has ball fields, a dirt bike course, playgrounds, picnic areas, a pool, a sled hill in the winter, and the Leavitt Pavilion, a concert venue that gets some big name acts in the summer time. 

The park also has a nice 1.75 mi loop trail for bikers, hikers, and runners.  The loop follows the perimeter of the park with some great views at the top of the hill and a nice natural area at the bottom of the hill.  The northern segment of the trail passes through a nice grove of pines and the manicured section of the park provides some nice fall colors.  This is by no means a natural wilderness area, but it's still a pleasant hike within the Denver city limits.

The hike around Ruby Hill is a good option if you are looking to stay close to Denver or want some exercise while the kids are playing in the park.