Directions: 

From Denver take I-70 west to C470 east and exit at Deer Creek Canyon Road.  Take Deer Creek Canyon Road past the South Valley Park Trailhead and make a left at the park sign, onto Grizzly Drive.  Continue up the road and turn right into the main parking area.

Hike Description:

The Meadowlark/Plymouth Creek loop is a marvelous short loop in a park made up of otherwise lengthy trails.  The Meadowlark Trail is a hiker only trail (the park is very popular for mountain biking) and it leads across the meadow and up into the foothills.  The trail switchbacks over the hillside for about 1.6 miles before meeting the Plymouth Creek Trail.  Along the way you get wonderful views to the east where the red rock formations of South Valley Park and the Hogback protect the foothills from the encroaching suburbs beyond. 

Once you reach the Plymouth Creek Trail, turn right to hike into the park's interior, or turn left and head downhill back towards the trailhead.  This section of the Plymouth Creek Trail is beautiful (especially in the spring, when the creek is running) and looks down into canyons striped with red rock intrusions. 

At just about 2.5 miles, this is a great hike in the morning to start your day, or in the evening to help wind down and burn off some stress.