For my 30th birthday last year, I took my friends on a biking tree tour: Trees & Treats. The idea was simple. Go look at really big, unique, cool trees and mix in some good eats in between. Seems like a perfect way to spend an afternoon. And it was. I've already created a solid tour and here it is.
I live near Cheesman Park, making my house a perfect place to start. We biked east into the park and stopped just inside the entrance on 12th (west side of the park). A week before, out of sheer coincidence, Denver Parks & Rec had planted 20+ new trees right along the walking path. A perfect first stop. I pointed out a few of the different types of trees and we all shared excitement about how cool it was that we had just gotten so many new trees.
Walking our bikes a little bit south on the walking path, just before you get to the entrance on 11th, we stopped for our first tree. Looking west, you'll see some backyards of houses that back up to the park. And in one of those backyards, you will undoubtedly see a very, very large tree. It's humongous. (That's why I like it). Denver's largest Bur Oak. Just plopped there in some lucky person's backyard. For years, I have considered sending them a letter or knocking on there door in hopes of getting to go back there and see it. Maybe collecting an acorn or two. Someday.
It's a great way to start the tour. There's some semi-interesting history about how Denver's tree canopy and specifically how some of the Bur Oak's got here that I'd share at this spot.
Next up, biking north and then east through the park and exiting again on 12th, heading East towards, well, East High School. Along the way, we'd all point out fun trees for the group to awe at. We did this on a Saturday so it was timed with the City Park Farmers Market. It was late morning at this point and made for a good time to stop for a quick bike. There's a million great options here, my favorite is The Easy Vegan. I have heard great things about New Friends Denver as well. If you're a smoothie fiend like me, Ditty Pop Smoothies has just what you need. Okay wait, one more tip: Hearth is literally the best bakery in Denver. That being said, they have very long lines (understandably) here. Instead, go visit them at one of their two storefronts.
Moving on! With full bellies, we hopped back on our bikes and headed North into City Park. Once in the park, we went East and then exited at Steel Street. This is ideal because there's a light here so you can safely cross. Heading South, our next stop was at 16th and Steele. Again, in someone's backyard, but mostly visible, you'll see Denver's largest Apple Tree. This one's a crowd pleaser, apples resonate well. Even better in Fall assuming this one's actually a fruit producer (I am not certain).
From here, make your way across Colfax, still on Steele and head a block south to 14th. It's a busy road, so you can hop off your bike and walk it two blocks east to Cook Street. This is a bit of a side quest but is well worth it. No particularly notable trees here, except for a well trimmed topiary. The reason you're here is because if you walk north towards Colfax, you will see that there are two little side streets: Colfax A and Colfax B. There's some fascinating history about Congress Park, cemeteries and how Colfax A and B came to be. Bike up and down each street, check out the topiary at Colfax B & Madison and head South on Cook St, just past 11th.
About a third of the way down Cook St from 11th to 10th, on the East side of the street, you will see the next tree. You absolutely cannot miss it. I clearly have a fondness for big trees. Champion Trees. This big kahuna is Denver's second largest English Oak. It took 5 people to hug the full tree. You should do it.
You can bike West on 11th to head towards the next stop: Denver Botanic Gardens. You need a membership or a day pass to enter, but for the sake of this tour, we just biked right up to the entrance. You can see the tree of note from just outside the fence. Seems to be a trend on this tour. This is a personal fave, I hope you like it too. Past the fence, inside the gardens, there's a really goofy looking tree which happens to be a Weeping Giant Sequoia. I'm obsessed. My partner has told me that if we're at the gardens together and for whatever reason we split, she knows exactly where she'd go to find me. At this tree. It's true. I'm not sure why, I think it's Dr Seuss-ian and I just think it's so neat that there's a weeping version of this iconic massive tree that you will otherwise not find in Denver. It's goofy and fun in a way that I love.
There's another noteworthy attraction at the Botanic Gardens that also does not require entry. Head South on that wide sidewalk until you get to the corner of York & 9th. You'll see a large house that backs up and is actually part of the gardens: the Waring House. The lady that helped start the Botanic Gardens used to live here and you can actually do tours of it. It's worth it. They have secret passageways, hidden buttons to signal butler's, and a ton of cool, old decor. In front of the house, though, is a beautiful little courtyard packed with some great trees. A few Champion Trees and some others that just look neat. An American Hornbeam. A Turkish Filbert. Good stuff here. And free. (Side note: all this said, I highly recommend a membership to the Gardens. A few visits pays for itself and its such an excellent way to spend a few hours.)
Moving right along. You can head towards the Country Club neighborhood via 7th, down Williams, then Gilpin and onto 3rd. Or whatever, these streets are all quiet and very wide and great for biking. Choose your own adventure. It's a really wealthy neighborhood with large mansions. Which also means large trees. Honestly, it's fun to just bike up and down from 3rd to 5th on these streets and just look at the houses and trees and yards and all that. Close to the corner of 3rd and Lafayette, you can find Denver's largest Mugho Pine. It's pretty nice.
At this point, we were all getting ready for another stop to eat. We continued South on the bike path on Downing, headed West on Bayaud and stopped at Mister Oso for some delicious lunch/brunch. I really like Mister Oso.
For a quick detour after, head West a few blocks to Bayaud & Clarkson. Another big tree, this time, an American Sycamore. The biggest in Denver, I believe. It's really beautiful. Head back East and then South on the bike path on Marion that heads into Wash Park. This guide is well organized and highlights many of the wonderful trees here. Choose your own adventure here, completing a full lap around the park. It's also great people watching on a nice day.
One of our friends really wanted a donut from Parlor Doughnuts (potentially the best donuts in Denver, if not, second best easily) and another wanted to check out the newly completed bike path on South Broadway. We worked our way over there, tried the new bike path (really nice!) and grabbed a donut. The tour is nearly done. Cross back North over Speer and bike up Lafayette. The last stop mostly made sense because it was close to my house where we needed to get back to. I really love the tree here, but could be a skip depending on where your tour starts or stops, and how much you like the tree. Stop just South of 10th and Lafayette. The last house on the East side of the street has this S-shaped squiggly, Dr Seuss like tree. I believe it's a Weeping Eastern White Pine. Whatever it is, it's so fun. I just love how weirdly shaped and playful it is. I'm a sucker for a weeping tree.
Fin. Tour over. I highly recommend taking this tour yourself, either solo or with a group of friends. It's a really pleasant, lightly active, nature-based way to spend your day. You'll be glad you did. I promise.
I'm also happy to take you on the tour too. We can swap tree jokes, tree puns, admire trees together, hug them, split a croissant from Hearth, all that jazz. Send me a message on Instagram if this sounds fun!