Colorado’s landscape is full of recreation opportunities in public parks. Most towns have at least one local city or county park dedicated to recreation. Many of them are free to use, so take advantage of this nearby nature.
City/County Parks and Open Spaces in Colorado
Nearly all the city and county parks stay open year-round for use. Depending on their location, you’ll find a range of activities available. High mountain parks may even offer cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing opportunities.
A
Acacia Park – Colorado Springs
America the Beautiful Park – Colorado Springs
Auraria Ninth Street Historic Park – Denver
Aurora Reservoir — Aurora
Austin Bluffs Open Space – Colorado Springs
B
Bancroft Park – Colorado Springs
Barker Meadow Reservoir – Nederland
Bear Creek Falls – Telluride
Bear Creek Lake Park – Lakewood
Bear Creek Regional Park – Colorado Springs
Benson Park Sculpture Garden – Loveland
Berkeley Lake Park – Denver
Black Forest Regional Park – Colorado Springs
Blue Skies Park – Longmont
Bluestem Prairie Open Space – Colorado Springs
Bluff & Summit Park – Westcliffe
Bluffs Regional Park – Lone Tree
Boddington Park – Colorado Springs
Boulder Reservoir Regional Park – Boulder
Box Canyon Falls – Ouray
C
Carter Lake Reservoir – Loveland
Centennial Center Park – Centennial
Central Park – Denver
Challenger Regional Park – Parker
Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centurra – Loveland
Chautauqua Park & Historic Landmark – Boulder
Cheesman Park – Denver
City Park – Denver
Civic Center Park – Denver
Commons Park – Denver
Confluence Park – Denver
Confluence Park & Lake – Delta
Coyote Ridge Natural Area – Fort Collins
Crown Hill Lake – Wheat Ridge-Lakewood
Cuchara Mountain Park — Cuchara
D
Daniels Park – Sedalia
David A. Lorenz Regional Park – Highlands Ranch
Dennis Weaver Memorial Park – Ridgway
Devil’s Backbone Open Space – Loveland
Dillon Reservoir Recreation Area – Frisco
E
Echo Lake Mountain Park – Idaho Springs
Evergreen Lake Park – Evergreen
F
Fort Collins City Park – Fort Collins
Fountain Creek Regional Park – Fountain
G
Garden of the Gods Park – Colorado Springs
Gateway Natural Area – Bellvue
Georgetown Lake – Georgetown
Gold Camp Park – Colorado Springs
Golden Ponds Park & Nature Area – Longmont
Gossage Youth Sports Complex – Colorado Springs
Green Mountain (William Frederick Hayden Park) – Lakewood
Gross Reservoir – Nederland
H
Harper Lake – Louisville
Harry A. Nottingham (Lake) Park – Avon
Hermit Park Open Space – Estes Park
Highlands Ranch Backcountry Wilderness Area — Highlands Ranch
Hogback Open Space Recreation Area – Cañon City
Horsetooth Mountain Open Space – Fort Collins
Horsetooth Reservoir – Fort Collins
Hyland Ponds Open Space – Westminster
I
Inspiration Point Park – Denver
Island Grove Regional Park – Greeley
J
Jefferson County Open Space – Golden-Lakewood-Evergreen
John Denver Sanctuary – Aspen
John Griffin Regional Park – Cañon City
K
Keystone Lake – Keystone
L
Lair o’ the Bear Park – Idledale
Lake Nighthorse – Durango
Lake San Cristobal – Lake City
M
Maloit Park – Minturn
Maxwell Natural Area – Fort Collins
McIntosh Lake Nature Area – Longmont
McWhinney-Hahn Sculpture Park – Loveland
Memorial Park – Colorado Springs
Monument Lake – Monument
Monument Valley Park – Colorado Springs
Mount Falcon Park – Morrison
N
North Cheyenne Cañon Park – Colorado Springs
North Slope Recreation Area – Cascade
North Table Mountain Park – Golden
P
Paint Mines Interpretive Park – Calhan
Palmer Lake Recreation Area – Palmer Lake
Palmer Park – Colorado Springs
Paonia River — Paonia
Park Parish Park – Johnstown
Philip S. Miller Park – Castle Rock
Pine Valley Ranch Park – Pine
Pineridge Natural Area – Fort Collins
Pinewood Reservoir – Loveland
Poudre Ponds – Greeley
Q
Quail Lake Park – Colorado Springs
R
Ramsay-Shockey Open Space – Loveland
Red Canyon Park – Cañon City
Red Fox Meadows Natural Area – Fort Collins
Red Mountain Open Space – Fort Collins
Red Rock Canyon Open Space – Colorado Springs
Red Rocks Amphitheatre & Park – Morrison
Reservoir Ridge Natural Area – Fort Collins
Reynolds Park – Conifer
Rifle Mountain Park – Rifle
Rimrock Open Space – Fort Collins
Riverbend Ponds Natural Area – Fort Collins
Rocky Mountain Lake Park – Denver
Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain – Longmont
Rotary Park Open Space – Fort Collins
Rough & Ready Park – Longmont
S
Sandstone Ranch Community Park & Nature Area – Longmont
Sandstone Ranch Open Space – Larkspur
Schweiger Ranch – Lone Tree
Sloan’s Lake Park – Denver
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area – Wellington
South Cheyenne Cañon Park – Colorado Springs
South Platte Park and Carson Nature Center – Littleton
South Table Mountain Park – Golden
Spruce Mountain Open Space – Larkspur
Standley Lake Regional Park – Westminster
Stephen Day Park – Longmont
Summit Lake Park – Idaho Springs
Sunken Gardens Park – Denver
T
Temple Canyon Park – Cañon City
Town Park – Telluride
U
Ute Valley Park – Colorado Springs
V
Vallecito Lake – Bayfield
Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park – Loveland
W
Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat – Boulder
Waneka Lake Park – Lafayette
Washington Park – Denver
Waterton Canyon – Littleton
Westminster City Park – Westminster
White Ranch Park – Golden
Wolford Mountain Reservoir – Kremmling
Featured Public Parks
Guide to Public Parks in Colorado
Most city and county parks are open free for public use. The ones that do charge, usually have exciting amenities to make the admission worth it. Most municipally owned parks are open year-round.
Nature is never far away in Colorado, even in the big cities. Both Denver and Colorado Springs feature a myriad of local parks, varying in size, amenities, and landscapes. Garden of the Gods is world famous and a sure bucket-list item, especially considering its cost…free.
City Parks
It seems most towns, no matter the size, provide at least one local gathering place to get outside and enjoy nature. These parks usually feature a playground for the kids, a pavilion or picnic tables, and plenty of open space to play with your best friend.
Bigger ones usually have at least one hiking trail, which is often shared with bikers, skateboarders, and whomever else wants to ride the path (minus automobiles). Horseback riding is even permitted at some. Other activities include fishing, many parks boast water of some sort, whether lake or river and a few provide camping.
County Parks
These function the same as city parks, usually free, except they are managed by the county. Jefferson County Open Space features twenty-eight parks with varying activities along the Front Range around Golden.
Next time you and your friends are looking for something fun, affordable, and fast to do, just pack up supplies, like chairs, food, drinks, and games, and head ever over to a local city park. Something about being outside and in nature will ensure everyone is satisfied.
Related Activities
National parks, monuments, and forests are waiting to be explored. Well-managed state parks always provide excellent recreation.
