At 2,413 acres, Genesee Mountain Park is the largest Denver Mountain Park and offers large picnic areas, hiking, outdoor recreation programming and camping at Chief Hosa Campground. Genesee Park is also home to one of Denver’s bison herd, providing unique wildlife viewing opportunities for both park visitors and travelers on Interstate 70.

At the 8,284 Genesee Mountain Summit, park visitors can enjoy a panoramic view from the Continental Divide to the city and plains.

Features:

Amazing Hiking Trails

Benches

Bike/Pedestrian Path

Elk Herds

Historic Site

Memorial/Monument

Natural Areas

Picnic Area

Picnic Tables

Restroom

Scenic Overlook

Home to the famous Coors Brewing Company, historic Golden, Colorado was originally founded as a mining camp during the Pike’s Peak gold rush of 1859. After the civil war, Golden became a regional trade and business center that included flour mills, smelters, a railroad, the now famous Coors Brewery, a brick works, a paper mill, clay and coal mines, and three colleges.

Today Golden maintains a small town ambiance combined with a wide range of attractions and activities, including theme parks, live theater, museums, festivals and events.

The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave is one of the most popular cultural and historic attractions in the Denver and Golden metro areas. Over 80,000 guests tour the museum annually and half a million people visit the gravesite and enjoy the breath-taking views from the museum’s observation deck.

Come learn about William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, one of the most famous people of his time, and his Wild West show. See for yourself why he wanted to be buried on top of Lookout Mountain.

In the early part of the 20th century, it was requested that Mother Cabrini go to Colorado to minister to the Italian immigrants who worked in the mines and on the railroads. Mother Cabrini and her Missionary Sisters established the Queen of Heaven Orphanage in Denver and would often visit and care for the immigrant families. Mother Cabrini purchased property in the foothills of Golden in 1912 as a summer camp for the girls.

With her beatification in 1938, the property in Golden became a place of prayer, pilgrimage and devotion to Mother Cabrini and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1946, the year of Mother’s canonization, Mother Cabrini Shrine was established. The Shrine property features a residential retreat center and hermitage, a chapel / gift shop/conference center, the Cabrini Garden, Meditation Walk, Rosary Garden, the Grotto, the Spring, and the pilgrim walk to the Sacred Heart Statue and the Heart of Stones.

The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, administration, staff and collaborators strive to “provide a unique and peaceful environment for visitors to experience God’s loving presence through quiet meditation and prayer.” This is the mission of Mother Cabrini Shrine.

This is a fun hike with lots of history.

SHRINE HOURS (GROUNDS)

7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

GIFT SHOP & OFFICE HOURS

9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday

9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday & Sunday

Evergreen, Colorado is just 45 minutes west of Denver, tucked away in the foothills. It’s a great place to visit if you are looking to get away from the city heat. At the center of Evergreen, you’ll find Evergreen Lake, which pours out into Bear Creek. Bear Creak makes its way east towards Morrison. The canyon is lined with miles of hiking trails. If you want the whole package: a great hike, a stroll in a quaint mountain town, and some place to grab lunch, then doing your hiking near Evergreen is a perfect choice.

Elk Meadow Park is home to a number of outdoor activities. In the summertime, the many miles of trail serve as a place to run, walk, jog, mountain bike, and simply enjoy Mother Nature. Most of the park is open meadows with grasses and wildflowers for the residents of Jefferson County to see and enjoy. There are two seasonal creeks running through the park, Bergen Creek and Troublesome Creek, and several smaller springs which feed very small creeks. Bergen Creek turns into a swampy area at State Highway 74 which spurs the growth of cattails and wet-loving grasses. The Park encompasses the lower eastern slopes of Bergen Peak, which is covered in Ponderosa Pines, Douglas Firs, Aspens, and some small groves of Lodgepole Pines.

The trail system begins at a small parking area with restrooms and a gazebo for summertime picnics. There are several small shelters along the trails erected by various organizations in Evergreen, Colorado. During the winter, the snow that falls in the park blows west to east creating a difficult drifting problem for Highway 74 once getting to 12 feet (3.7 m) tall in the Winter of 06-07. During winters with abnormal amounts of snow, it is possible to cross-country ski throughout the park and even alpine ski on Bergen Peak. Hiwan Golf Club borders the Park's eastern side. Overall, the park is a nice place for a summertime jog through the foothills of Colorado.

Evergreen Lake – A large lake situated in downtown Evergreen. It’s popular year-round for recreation including wake-less boating in the summer and ice skating in the winter. The Lake House rents boats, including canoes, paddle-boats, kayaks, sailboats, and fishing boats from early May to mid-September.

Evergreen Golf Course is Denver’s mountain jewel. At 7,220 feet, this 18-hole executive course sits along Bear Creek. Rolling hills and fairways lined with pine trees make this an affordable mountain golf experience just a short drive from the city. Elk and other wildlife sightings are frequent on the course, and after golf, you can enjoy delicious food and drinks on the patio at Keys On The Green.

Evergreen Golf Course

18 hole executive course (Par 69)

Putting green

Pro Shop

Men’s & Women’s rental club sets available

Restaurant

There is no better place to see the stars!

1 hr 15 min (57.4 miles)

via CO-93 N and US-36 W

Rocky Mountain National Park has implemented a timed entry reservation system during certain hours of the day, beginning mid-May through mid-October. This system applies to all areas of the park.

To make a timed entry Reservation visit Recreation.gov or by:

Using the Recreation.gov mobile app

Calling the reservation line: 877-444-6777

Calling the reservation line (International): 606-515-6777

Calling the reservation line (TDD): 877-833-6777

by a park ranger that you have missed your reservation window and you will be asked to come back after 2 p.m.

1 hr 15 min (57.4 miles)

via CO-93 N and US-36 W

2 hr 15 min (110 miles)

via I25 S.

Park Hours:

Open Daily

➤ 5:00 am – 9:00 pm (Nov 1 - April 30)

➤ 5:00 am – 10:00 pm (May 1 - Oct 31)

Visitor & Nature Center Hours: Open Daily

➤ Winter Months 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

➤ Summer Months 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

(Memorial Day Weekend - Labor Day Weekend)

➤ Closed - Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day