It literally took an Act of Congress to create Denver’s mountain park system.
In
1914, the U.S. Congress passed an act that allowed the City of Denver
to acquire land outside of its city limits for the purpose of protecting
and saving nearby beauty spots for future generations.
From
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre to Lookout Mountain, Denver city
fathers were able to preserve 14,000 acres of land, an area nearly the
size of Manhattan. Frederick Law Olmsted, the famed designer of New
York’s Central Park, was hired to plan the mountain park system, while
engineers and construction crews dynamited and bulldozed a series of
incredible roads to link the parks together.
Today, Denver Mountain Parks
and the roads linking them make up some of the Mile High City’s top
visitor attractions. Here are five gems of the Denver Mountain Park
system for you to explore.
1. RED ROCKS PARK & AMPHITHEATRE
Thanks
to a fortuitously placed “bounce” rock behind the stage, Red Rocks is
the only completely natural amphitheatre in the world. The 9,000-seat
arena was carved out of massive red sandstone rocks that shoot 300-feet
into the sky, creating one of the most spectacular concert venues on the
planet. Native Americans thought it a magical place, and even in the
19th Century, early pioneers staged concerts. The Red Rocks we know
today with its curving wood benches was built by the Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1941. The Beatles had the honor of being the
first rock group to perform at Red Rocks, but ironically their 1964
Denver concert was the only one in their American tour that didn’t sell
out. Just 6,000 of 9,000 available tickets were purchased for the then
heavily criticized “high” price of $6.60.
The
“Rocks” have since played host to some of the most famous names in
music, including U2, who filmed their classic “Under a Blood Red Sky”
here, and Mumford and Sons, whose newest video was also filmed “on the
Rocks.” A museum at the amphitheatre covers the rock ‘n roll history of
Red Rocks and there are also exhibits on the geological history of the
70 million year old rocks.
The
park is free, except when there is a scheduled performance. There are
miles of hiking trails, two gift shops and a restaurant with an outdoor
patio overlooking the geological wonder.
After the Park: The
pretty town of Morrison is adjacent to Red Rocks. Fast rushing Bear
Creek flows parallel to the village’s main street, which is lined with
restaurants, bars and shops. The Blue Cow Eatery is a local favorite for
breakfast, while the Morrison Inn is the place for margaritas, chips
and Mexican dishes. The Fort, a full-size replica of an 1830s adobe
fur-trade fort, serves historical meals including buffalo, elk and
quail.
2. BUFFALO BILL’S MUSEUM & GRAVE
Buffalo
Bill Cody was America’s first super star – a 19th Century Elvis. From
1883 to 1913, he toured the globe bringing “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West
Show” to a thousand cities in a dozen nations. At its height, the show
played before the crowned heads of Europe and employed 640 cowboys,
Indians, vaqueros and rough riders. It is estimated that 25 million
words were written about Cody during his lifetime, covering his exploits
as a Pony Express rider, cavalry scout, Medal of Honor winner and
buffalo hunter.
When
Buffalo Bill died of natural causes in Denver in 1917, his funeral
became the largest in Colorado history. At his request, he was buried
on top of nearby Lookout Mountain, a 7,375 foot high peak just west of
the city with commanding views of both the plains to the east and the
snowcapped Rocky Mountains to the west. Today, Denver owns 110 acres of
park at the top of the mountain and operates a wonderful museum near the
grave site with exhibits covering Buffalo Bill’s exciting life. There
are hiking trails in the area, a massive Western gift shop, and a huge
viewing deck with panoramic views.
Getting
there is half the fun. From Golden, the twisting and turning Lariat
Loop Trail is one of the most scenic (and hair raising) drives in
Colorado. Keep your eyes on the road, which often has sheer drop off
cliffs and can be filled with bike riders. Biking to the top of Lookout
Mountain is a popular and challenging ride and was included in the first
U.S.A. Pro Challenge bike race. Take your time driving along this road
and be sure to stop at the occasional pull-offs to enjoy the view and
watch hang gliders soar overhead. This is one of the top hang gliding
areas in Colorado. Many viewpoints look directly down on Coors Brewery –
the largest single brewing site on earth.
After the Park: At
the base of Lookout Mountain is the Old West town of Golden, which was
Colorado’s first capital city. Today, it is a recreation center known
for biking, hiking, rock climbing and kayaking. Clear Creek flows right
through town and is filled with tubers and kayakers, while the main
street is lined with historic buildings that now house restaurants, art
galleries and outdoor cafes. In town, Golden City Brewery has a pretty
beer garden, while the Buffalo Rose has bands playing on weekends on
their outdoor patio.
3. GENESEE PARK & BUFFALO HERD OVERLOOK
Denver’s
first mountain park is also the largest with 2,413 acres. Genesee is
reported to be a Native American term meaning "shining valley." The main
part of the park is 20 miles west of Denver on I-70, at exit 254. Here
there are gorgeous views of snowcapped peaks in the distance. One of
Denver’s two buffalo herds can often be seen here (the herd has their
own tunnel under I-70 so they can also be seen on the other side of the
highway). The buffalo were originally descendants of the last wild herd
of bison in North America, which was located at Yellowstone National
Park. Today, there are 33 adult buffalo and 23 calves. The herd has two
huge bulls, Tiny and Edson. To the south of I-70, a park road goes to
the top of Genesee Mountain. From the summit, there is a 360-degree view
where you can see more than 200 named peaks.
After the Park: Continue
on I-70 west to Exit 252 and take the Evergreen Parkway 8 miles to the
historic mountain village of Evergreen. Nestled along Bear Creek, at the
base of Evergreen Lake, this rustic and scenic little town has shops,
galleries and restaurants, as well as the famous Little Bear Saloon,
known as one of the rowdiest bars in the state. South Park co-creator
Trey Parker graduated from Evergreen High School.
4. ECHO LAKE and MOUNT EVANS
Located
47 miles from Denver at an elevation of 10,600 feet, Echo Lake is one
of prettiest subalpine lakes in Colorado. The 24-acre lake was formed by
a glacial moraine and is surrounded by forests of Englemann spruce, fir
and Lumber pine, all with wonderful views of towering snowcapped Mount
Evans in the distance. The lake is stocked and offers excellent
fishing. An easy ¾ mile hiking trail circles the lake, while more
challenging trails set off into the Mount Evans Wilderness Area.
Echo
Lake is the beginning of the 14-mile Mount Evans Scenic Byway, which
leads to the 14,264-foot high summit of Mount Evans. This is the highest
paved road in North America, some 154 feet higher than the road to the
top of nearby Pikes Peak. Drive to the top and your car will be higher
than any other automobile on the continent.
The
scenic byway was built by the City of Denver in 1927 as a tourist
attraction. Today, access to the road is controlled by the U.S. Forest
Service and requires a modest fee. Due to snow, the road to the summit
is generally only open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, though road
closures vary year-to-year. Along the way, you can see herds of Rocky
Mountain goats and big horn sheep.
Colorado
has 54 peaks that soar to 14,000 feet and above, known locally as
“Fourteeners.” Summiting a Fourteener is a true Colorado experience, but
remember, there is 50 percent less protection from the sun at this
altitude, so sunscreen is a must. Also, bring plenty of water. At 14,000
feet, the atmosphere has 43 percent less oxygen than at sea level,
making any activity strenuous.
The
actual summit of Mount Evans is a short hike from the parking lot. From
the top, you can see most of the major mountain peaks in central
Colorado – all the way from Wyoming in the north to Pikes Peak in the
south.
After the Park: The
rustic Echo Lake Lodge is located at the start of the Mount Evans
Scenic Byway. This unusual octagonal log cabin was built in 1926 and
features a restaurant with picture windows overlooking the lake.
Hamburgers, Rocky Mountain trout and homemade pies are the specialties.
There is also a massive gift shop filled with Mount Evans souvenirs. A
great souvenir is a copy of the official metal marker put on the summit
of the peak by the U.S. Geological Survey, a great reminder that you
have summited a Fourteener.
5. SUMMIT LAKE
From
Echo Lake, drive up the Mount Evans Scenic Byway to 12,836 feet above
sea level, high above timberline, where you come to the highest city
park in the nation – Summit Lake. This is one of the most accessible
high alpine lakes in Colorado and a likely area to look for Rocky
Mountain goats. At this altitude, you can expect to see snow and ice
along the lakeshore all year long. A short trail leads to a panoramic
viewpoint where you peer down 1,000-foot cliffs into the desolate
Chicago Lakes Basin below. It is also one of the few places accessible
by car south of the Arctic Circle where it’s possible to walk on trails
across tundra.
An
excellent introduction to hiking across tundra is on the nearby M.
Walter Pesman Nature Trail, maintained by the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Alpine forget-me-nots, moss champion, fairy primrose, purple fringe, and
chiming bells are just some of the colorful wildflowers lining the
trail. In this harsh climate, spring doesn’t arrive until mid-July and
wildflowers last for only a few summer weeks.
Ironically,
the high altitude and long winters are perfect conditions for
bristlecone pines, some of the oldest living things on earth. The nature
trail passes through a grove of sculptured and grizzled bristlecones.
Many of the trees here are 1,500 years old.
Free
wildflower hikes are offered by the Denver Botanic Gardens on select
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays during June - August. All hikes begin
promptly at 9 a.m. Check botanicgardens.org for information.
After the Park: Head
back down Hwy. 103 to the historic mining town of Idaho Springs. The
quaint Old West main street is lined with shops, galleries and
restaurants. Be sure to check out local favorites such as Tommyknockers
Brewery, the Buffalo Bar (with its many stuffed buffalo heads on the
walls) and local pizza legend Beau Jo’s. Idaho Springs is also an
adrenalin headquarters for a series of recreational adventures including
river rafting on Clear Creek, ziplining off cliffs or horseback riding
to old gold mines.
In The Mile High City, you are never far from nature. Explore more daytrip ideas from Denver at VISITDENVER.com/daytrips.
