If you’d rather keep your feet firmly planted, try the community gardens, an orchard, hops trellis, paved trails, pickleball courts and custom art installations. The other features a netting-heavy balance beam that connects to a nearby barn converted into a play area. One silo has a zipline leading elsewhere in the park. The interiors of both silos feature a double-helix climber. Wending its way through the two namesake silos, this palace of plastic starts more than halfway up on one silo and lets out at the base of the other, for a total drop of more than 35 feet. Welcome to Twin Silos Park in Fort Collins, home to what many believe to be the tallest playground slide in Colorado. We’ve finally arrived, invisible internet reader. You can also try running the steps like this madman. “The Sandlot” is coming up on July 18 and “Dune” rolls around on Aug.
The surrounding rock formations have fossil fragments of a 40-foot sea serpent, plus dinosaur tracks.įor five Mondays each summer, there is Film on the Rocks. Red Rocks Trail adds another 6 miles of hiking that connects to the Dakota Ridge Trail and, therefore, the larger Denver-area trail ecosystem. The Trading Post Trail is 1.4-mile loop that weaves through the magnificent rock formations surrounding the venue. But did you know that Colorado’s 25th national historic landmark also includes nature trails on its 868 acres? Yes, Red Rocks is a well-known, world-class outdoor concert venue. Red Rocks Amphitheatre (18300 W Alameda Parkway) Want to avoid the crowds of children? Adult Night is coming up on July 6, hosted by the City of Englewood.Ĥ. With enough piratey water features to make Jack Sparrow blush, three waterslides and a lazy river, there’s something for everyone. If you’re looking to cool off, Belleview also includes Pirate’s Cove Waterpark. The larger park area has several picnic shelters that are perfect for events, a playground, an outdoor basketball court and tennis courts. Along the way sits a petting zoo where kids (and kids-at-heart) can love on some farm animals. The red and lime green miniature train engine pulls more than 60,000 park guests of all ages each year through acres of green space, creeks and nature trails. The biggest highlight is Englewood Farm & Train, which has run for more than 30 years. Overwhelmed by adulting and all the hard work it entails? Feeling like a kid again is only a quick trip to Englewood away.īelleview Park is nothing short of magical. Gear rentals and lessons are available for newcomers. There’s also the Family Shooting Center, where you can fire pistols, rifles, shotguns or bows with a variety of distances and targets. Just make sure you clean up after him or her. The park has 107 acres of fenced area (with water access) where your pup can play without a leash. Speaking of our furry friends, this is the perfect place to let them run free. The trails in Cherry Creek State Park branch into smaller hikes that include the Wetland Loop Trail and Dog Park Loop. It connects into the larger Cherry Creek Regional Trail, 40 miles of wide, concrete pathing that snakes from downtown Denver to Douglas County. Hiking is headlined by the 6.7-mile Cherry Creek Reservoir Loop, which encircles the main body of water.
Elsewhere on the lake, fishing is allowed with a Colorado fishing license. The reservoir itself allows boating, and everything from motorboats to paddleboards are welcome. The total acreage of the park tops 3,000 and features a campground, shooting range, one of the largest off-leash dog areas in the city, plus much more. Cherry Creek State Park in Aurora features an 880-acre reservoir surrounded by prairies and wetland natural areas. This one might be considered cheating, but “park” is in the name. In no particular order, here are five lesser-known Front Range parks that will tickle your sense of adventure and get you outside for some fresh air and Vitamin D. We can already hear you, invisible internet reader, asking: What about the tallest playground slide in Colorado? Fear not. Want to ride an adorable tiny train through an equally adorable petting zoo? You betcha. Do you want to go biking, shooting and boating - all in the same afternoon? We've got that. We’ve covered those here and here.īut plenty of other options are also tantalizing. Wash(ington) Park, City Park, Cheesman Park and more are all within a short distance of the University of Denver. If you’ve been in Denver for more than a few months, you know the most famous parks in Denver.