Denver, Colorado, is well known for its natural beauty, campsites, and outdoor activities. It comes to no surprise that this city, and it’s surrounding areas, would be home to numerous exceptional parks. Here are some of the best parks near and around Denver, Colorado.
City Park – Denver
This park is the most popular park in the city of Denver. It contains 320 acres of natural beauty and exciting amenities. There are plenty of recreational opportunities at this park that’s home to the Denver Zoo, an IMAX Theater, and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. It has tennis courts, football, baseball, and soccer fields, lakes, monuments, playgrounds, horseshoes, and picnic areas for a fun filled day at the park. There is never a shortage of things to do at City Park with its year-round calendar of hosted events.
Chatfield State Park
This state park is located close to the Denver metro area in Littleton, Colorado. This park is perfect for people that love to get out on the lake. Enjoy boating, water skiing, sailing, and even dining at a floating restaurant on the peaceful Chatfield Reservoir’s waters. Boat rentals are available and fishing is allowed with a permit. Take in the scenery of the foothills while hiking and horseback riding on the trails. There are four campgrounds all within walking distance of the lake.
Castlewood Canyon State Park
This historical state park contains the remains of the Castlewood Canyon dam. Located in Franktown, the unique geology of the park and the diverse wildlife draw people from the city of Denver for a day of hiking and picnics. This park is on the very edge of the Palmer Divide, which contributes to its unique geologically upraised features. This state park is a great location for rock climbing enthusiasts. With over 2,000 acres of land, the Castlewood Canyon State Park is an excellent choice for an active day of hiking.
Cherry Creek State Park
Like many parks in Colorado, Cherry Creek State Park is home to a variety of wildlife and breathtaking landscapes. The Arapahoe County park consists of a prairie ecosystem with a reservoir located in the center. The Cherry Creek Marina and Yacht Club often hosts events on the shore. The park contains many trails for runners, hikers, and bicyclists, as well as a trail for horseback riding. You’ll find areas for bird-watching, picnics, and camping. The park also features a beach for swimming on hot summer days.
Rocky Mountain National Park
The Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular destinations in all of Colorado. With 355 miles of hiking trails and over 100 lakes, the opportunities to explore the outdoors in this park are limitless. Located just an hour and a half from Denver, this park offers unparalleled beauty with scenic mountains, wildlife viewing, family friendly and advanced hiking trails, climbing, fishing, biking, and more for a memorable experience. The park hosts multiple campsites. You’ll want to make campground reservations well in advance. As a popular attraction, the campsites here fill up fast.
