Aurora, CO Section of Highline Canal Trail Great for Family Hiking

by Lyn Lomasi; Owner of Intent-sive Nature & Brand Shamans Content Community

Image: Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved (Highline Canal Trail)

Aurora, Colorado is abundant with nature, and the kids and I love exploring the city. One of our favorite areas to walk is the Aurora section of the Highline Canal trail. The path is large enough to fit strollers, bikes, or a large group of people. Walking and hiking are longtime habits in our family. So, we generally travel the Highline Canal trail by foot. Many locals also seem to agree, as we often run into other families along the trail.

Where does the Aurora section of the trail lead?

If you start out near Lyn Knoll Elementary on 2nd street at Salem, the trail continues on throughout Aurora. Depending on which way you go, interesting stops include Expo Park, access to several shopping plazas, the Aurora Greenhouse, the Aurora Hills Golf Course, the Aurora Public Library, the Aurora History Museum, and much more. The kids and I love taking the trails for many of our Aurora destinations because they seem to lead to many of the places we go to. It's a fun way to get where we are going and is also great entertainment by itself. There are several intersections that interrupt the trail, such as Potomac street. Some people choose to end their exploration after one or two intersections. We sometimes continue further and other times exit the trail early. It just depends on our plans for that day.

Wildlife flourishes in the middle of the city

Each time we hit the trails, there are new discoveries. Our favorite creature that was discovered along the trail is probably a tie between a turtle and a beaver. We got the chance to snap a picture of the turtle. However, the beaver was quick enough to evade the camera. There are also many birds and even prairie dogs and rabbits along the trail.

The pace of the trail is perfect for families

While bike riders often zoom past, the walkway is wide enough to allow space for families. In our experience, most bikers often stay to one side of the trail, making it a bit safer for kids than some of the other trails we've been on. One favorite stop along the trail is a pond near the Aurora Public Library and Aurora Municipal Court. The trail winds around the pond in a circle or you can keep straight. We usually stop at the pond and watch the ducks and geese. This is also where we spotted the turtle. If you have kids, you know they will want to stop and relax somewhere along the way and with benches and a fountain to watch, this is the perfect spot to do that. If the kids are especially restless, I highly recommend stopping by the library or history museum.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network 

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