Discover Arapahoe: Trails, Water and Nature Experiences

Arapahoe combines expansive trails, lakeside landscapes, nature observation and vivid history. The Cherry Creek State Park is an impressive starting point: It covers 4,200 acres and surrounds a reservoir with a water surface of 880 acres. You can spend your days actively on 35 miles of multi-use trails, including 15 miles of paved trails, or incorporate individual sections into your travel plans. If different interests come together in your travel group, the stay can be varied between exercise, water and nature observation.

Trails Along the Water and Varied Landscapes

There are also several ways to explore Arapahoe on foot outside Cherry Creek State Park. Cherry Creek Valley Ecological Park has loops with unpaved surfaces for walking, jogging and observing nature. Wetland and upland habitats provide a home for numerous birds, reptiles, amphibians and many mammal species. A section of Cherry Creek flows through the nature preserve; the Cherry Creek Regional Trail is also part of the park.

At Quincy Reservoir, a 3.5-mile trail runs along the 288.7-acre reservoir. In summer, you can observe, among other species, hawks, great blue herons and American white pelicans there. The Tollgate Creek Trail leads north from Quincy Reservoir and connects with the HighLine Canal Trail at DeLaney Farm. Those interested in longer stretches of trail can also include the free, 71-mile recreational trail along the High Line Canal in their personal excursion plans.

Lakes, Fishing and Nature Centers

For vacation days centered around the water, Aurora Reservoir offers the opportunity to kayak year-round. Visitors can fish for largemouth bass and trout in the five lakes of South Platte Park. The park and the Carson Nature Center also offer school visits, classes and nature programs year-round. This allows a stay to be shaped not only by sporting activities, but also by environmental education and observation.

Senac Creek Nature Center shares facilities with Aurora Reservoir, including an accessible fishing pier. Interactive and changing exhibits provide information about Aurora’s ecosystems, food chains and the importance of water for natural and human communities. Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch has dog-friendly trails; visitors can also meet ambassador animals there. Along the trail at Star K Ranch/SCRG, you can observe deer, red-tailed hawks and great horned owls.

History on Ranches and Wagon Roads

Arapahoe also offers insights into the region’s history. In the 1860s, 17 Mile House served as a stopping place for pioneers traveling along the Cherokee and Smoky Hill wagon roads. Today, the site designated as a County Heritage Area includes a historic residence, a red barn, a grain silo, a milk house, a shelter, two windmills and 32 acres of open space.

At the Plains Conservation Center, reproductions of a homestead village and a tipi camp illustrate the lives of pioneers and Indigenous Plains peoples in the late 19th century. Wagon tours include wildlife observation as well as stops at sod houses and a Cheyenne camp. Free open-house events open to the public take place at 17 Mile House Farm Park from April through November 2026. Due to limited capacity, registration is strongly recommended.

Which Location Suits Your Trip?

When searching for a vacation rental in Arapahoe, you can first determine the focus you want for your trip. For extended walks and various outdoor activities, the trails along Cherry Creek, Quincy Reservoir and the High Line Canal are the main attractions. Those who prefer water experiences may focus their plans more on kayaking or fishing. Nature centers, wildlife observation and historic sites add quieter, educational activities to this selection. The key factor is therefore less a general accommodation category than the question of which experiences your travel group actually wants to combine.

For further guidance, you can also find information about Englewood, Littleton, Aurora, Centennial, Castlewood, Sheridan, Greenwood Village, Glendale and Cherry Hills Village.

For the higher-level travel overview: Colorado.