Route:

Everyone should start up the Meadowlark trail. This is a hiker only trail to the right of the bathrooms. Cross the bridge, go right on
the Plymouth Creek trail, and climb up "the wall" (very steep). Continue up the trail past the Plymouth Mtn trail. DO NOT TAKE THE
FIRST LEFT! The groups will split up at the next junction, at a hairpin right turn. Beginner and intermediate speed runners should
regroup* here.

Please pick the route below that matches your speed, and so that you can finish by 8pm.

Beginners: Take a left at the junction. It's the other end of the Plymouth Mtn trail. Climb up the steep hill, ~1/2 mi. Veer left and follow the Plymouth Mtn trail back to the Plymouth Creek trail (at the junction you didn't take on the way up. Don't take the Scenic
View trail, far left, at the top. It adds ~1mi round trip and rocky. The view is worth the trip if you have time. When back at the
Plymouth Creek trail, go right, back down "the wall," then left across the bridge, and follow the Meadowlark trail back down. ~6.5mi

Intermediate slow: After regrouping, stay right and continue up Plymouth Creek. In ~1/4 mi, look for a trail coming in from behind on
your left (if you hit the Red Mesa loop, you've gone 0.4mi too far). Please regroup again here.* Take a sharp left onto the Homesteader
trail. This 1mi, hiker only trail, is about the nicest trail section in the front range. At the other end of Homesteader*, stay right and
follow the Plymouth Mtn trail around to Plymouth Creek. Then follow the beginner route back down. ~7.3mi - Photo - looking North on Plymouth Mtn Trail, South Valley area is towards the hogback. Click for larger version.

Adv Intermediate: After regrouping, stay right and continue up Plymouth Creek, past Homesteader to the Red Mesa loop. Stay right at
the sign, and follow the loop around. You'll return to the sign again in 2.5mi. Return down Plymouth Creek, down "the wall," and back down the Meadowlark trail, the same way you came up. ~8.4mi.

You can run the Homesteader trail (see description above) to add a little extra. ~0.4mi down from Red Mesa, veer right onto the
Homesteader. At the other end, 1mi, go left down the steep trail. Stay right at the bottom, then retrace your steps down "the wall" and Meadowlark. ~9.5mi Advanced: This group will combine the adv intermediate and beginner routes. Stay right going up to Red Mesa. Run the Red Mesa loop counter-clockwise. On the way down, veer right onto Homesteader. At the other end, stay right and follow Plymouth Mtn around. Return down "the wall" and Meadowlark. ~10.6mi * Beginner and Intermediate runners, please regroup at these (or other key junctions) spots. Those familiar with Deer Creek, please help guide others near you on the trail.

Jefferson County Park Information on Deer Creek Canyon updated May 2, 2007