Aurora – Pathfinder Skatetrail

      The Pathfinder Skate Trail, located in the Inspiration subdivision of Aurora, is one of the most innovative skate spots in Colorado. The skate trail opened in May 2022, and residents quickly adopted a “locals only” mentality. Unlike a neighborhood pool that requires a key fob for access, some neighbors mistakenly believed that the skate trail was a private amenity exclusive to the homeowners’ association (HOA). Fortunately, the neighborhood is managed by the Inspiration Metropolitan District, which is a public government entity funded by bonds and property taxes. Since the City of Aurora imposes no restrictions on the trail, the general public is welcome to use it anytime between the regular hours of 5:00 AM and 10:00 PM. Any attempts by the HOA to prohibit outsiders from using the trail would be inappropriate.

     The trail was designed by Phantom Concrete, breaking away from traditional concrete park layouts. Instead, it integrates various skate features directly into a paved walking trail that descends a steep hill. At the top, skaters will find a curved bench, a couple of curved banks, a ledge, a manny pad, and a rail as they make their way down. At the bottom, there is a mellow ditch featuring a few small ledges. Shortly after the trail opened, a popular volcano feature with pool coping was removed, which detracted from the overall flow and experience. Although it may be worth checking out for its novelty, many skaters find it less enjoyable, and the residents don’t appear particularly welcoming. If you want to visit this unique concrete hill, you can park in the main Pathfinder Park lot and follow the main staircase down to the trailhead.