Starting from the Waterton Road trailhead (just south of the Waterton Canyon Road entrance) the trail is almost a two-track and passes through several stock gates, with cattle on the trail at times. There is some pavement as you skirt Chattfield Reservoir in the state park (construction at the south end of the reservoir in 2018 had this connection was temporarily closed), a push up over some railroad tracks as you leave the park, then lots of beautiful suburban gravel all the way to Hampden Ave. Views of the Front Range, fancy homes, lots of suburban open space that almost feels like country in places, and a surprising amount of shade from the big cottonwoods along the canal path.