Mary Carter Greenway — Carson southward return
Colorado · Greenway
From Carson Nature Center walk to the main Mary Carter Greenway and ride south toward Chatfield for up to two miles, then retrace before leaving the open paved main route. Do not use the natural wetland walking paths or head north into the Reynolds Landing detour.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Littleton · Colorado
- Ride length
- Up to 4 miles return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Paved/concrete main Mary Carter route; natural park paths excluded
- Road crossings
- Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure.
- Elevation
- River-side main route with bridge/underpass ramps and local rises.
- Starting location
- Carson Nature Center public Mary Carter Greenway access, 3000 West Carson Drive, Littleton, CO 80120
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Approximate named public park/facility reference, not a surveyed trail entrance or parking stall. Follow the written public start.
Mary Carter Greenway — Carson southward return — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-22. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
A selected outing on a documented improved bicycle route. Follow the stated public start and course.
Start and parking
Start: Carson Nature Center public Mary Carter Greenway access, 3000 West Carson Drive, Littleton, CO 80120.
District provides the nature-center address and a parking map. Use signed public spaces under current terms; summer river weekend parking has separate paid controls. Parking lots/park trails sunrise to sunset, with gates open by 6:30 a.m.; do not assume commuter hours apply to parked vehicles.
Ride and distance
Selected ride: Up to 4 miles return. Format: Out and back.
Ride: From Carson Nature Center walk to the main Mary Carter Greenway and ride south toward Chatfield for up to two miles, then retrace before leaving the open paved main route. Do not use the natural wetland walking paths or head north into the Reynolds Landing detour.
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Surface and effort
Paved/concrete main Mary Carter route; natural park paths excluded. River-side main route with bridge/underpass ramps and local rises.
Crossings and shared use
Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure. Yield to pedestrians, keep right, and slow at blind corners. Stop at barriers; never use a traffic-road detour to bypass a trail closure.
Hours, costs and access
Use daylight and obey posted trail, park and parking hours. Follow current public visitor-parking terms; reserved activities and events have separate conditions.
Reviewed 2026-10-22. District identifies the Mary Carter regional bicycle route in South Platte Park. COTREX lists mostly pavement/concrete but some dirt in the broader route. Reynolds Landing redevelopment has a signed detour and forecast spring 2027 completion; this southern outing avoids it. This is a source review, not a same-day inspection. Recheck the linked manager before travel.
Map and Directions
Use the named public start and its posted parking signs. The map reference identifies the facility or selected trail area; it is not a surveyed parking stall or navigable route line. Bicycle and e-bike rules can differ; only ordinary bicycle use is established unless noted.