Matthews/Winters Park and Dinosaur Ridge Hawk Watch
Colorado’s only hawk watch site, staffed every spring by volunteers, Dinosaur Ridge is one of the best places to look for raptors along the Front Range. The best time for viewing tends to be from late March through early May when, on a good day, dozens of raptors can pass by overhead. Dinosaur Ridge holds the record for the national high count of Ferruginous Hawks (over the course of a spring) and is also the best spot in Colorado to hope for Broad-winged Hawk during migration; however, this species is uncommon at best and not to be expected.
The juniper woodland often has flocks of Bushtits roving the hillsides, along with Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, and Rock and Canyon Wrens inhabit the nearby cliffs and rimrock. Don’t forget to stop at the Dinosaur Ridge Visitor Center to learn more about the area’s dinosaurs and more!
Restrictions: Obey local rules and regulations
County: Jefferson
Directions: From I-70: take exit 259, CO 93/Morrison exit. Go south to pass under the highway and enter the Stegosaurus Park-n-Ride lot on the east. The Dakota Ridge Trail can be accessed from this lot. To reach Matthew-Winter's Park, continue south on CO 93 for a short distance to the parking lot entrance on the west side.
Alternate Directions: From I-70: take exit 259, CO 93/Morrison exit. Go south to pass under the highway and enter the Stegosaurus Park-n-Ride lot on the east. The Dakota Ridge Trail can be accessed from this lot. To reach Matthew-Winter's Park, continue south on CO 93 for a short distance to the parking lot entrance on the west side.
Dates of Access: Open all year
Hours: Daylight hours
Ownership: Municipal
Admission or Fees: Free
Parking: Paved parking areas
Lodging: Hotels in Golden and Wheat Ridge
Handicapped Access: None
Latitude: 39.694495
Longitude: -105.204737
Contact Information
For Dinosaur Ridge: http://www.dinoridge.org/index.html
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