Mile High Trail

Sites on this Trail

Bear Creek Greenbelt (Jefferson portion)
Description:
One of the best greenbelts in the Denver area, Bear Creek Greenbelt is lined with old, tall trees and followed by a good bike path. The greenbelt is also well connected to the trail network that criss-crosses the Denver area, so you could combine this area with several other sites reachable by bicycle if you want to make a longer day of exploring.

Directions:
From US 285: exit at Kipling Pkwy. and go north to Dartmouth Ave. Head west on Dartmouth; the road will curve north and change to Kipling St. Continue north on Kipling to Yale Ave. Go east on Yale to Estes St. to reach the parking lot. Yale parallels the green belt on the north, and parking is along the road. At Estes St., go south to the parking lot on the east.

Access:
Open all year, 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Bear Creek Greenbelt (Denver section)
Description:
This greenbelt has one of the best riparian corridors within the city limits, and is an excellent place to spend a spring or fall morning walking or biking, as the site is connected to a large bike trail system. The summer months tend to be a bit quieter, but local breeders like Yellow-breasted Chat and Lazuli Bunting are possible. Great Horned Owl is around all year, and a nighttime visit may turn up an Eastern Screech-Owl.

Directions:
From US 285: exit at Sheridan Blvd. and go north to Dartmouth Ave. Head northeast on Dartmouth to Raleigh St. Go south on Raleigh and pass under US 285. The road will then curve to the west; follow to the parking lot at the end. To reach the southern portion of the greenbelt from US 285: go south on Sheridan to Kenyon Ave. Head east on Kenyon to the parking lot on the north.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Belmar Historic Park
Description:
At first glance, this small park may not look like much, but it can be surprisingly birdy and well worth a stop from spring through fall. The trees in the park can attract any number of migrant species, and Kountze Lake, in the middle of the park, often has a variety of waterbirds.

Directions:
From US 6/6th Avenue: exit at CO 121/Wadsworth Blvd. Go south on CO 121 to Ohio Avenue. Head west for two blocks to the Irongate parking lot.

Access:
Open all year, 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM; visitor center, 10am - 4pm Tue - Sat
Sloan’s Lake
Description:
One of the large lakes in the area, Sloan's Lake can be a good spot to check from fall through spring for ducks of various sorts, as well as the occasional loon and grebe. Connected to the wider Denver-area bike trail system, Sloan's is a great option to hit on a longer trip that includes other areas, such as City Park or the South Platte Greenway.

Directions:
From I-25: exit at US 40/Colfax Ave. Go west on US 40 to Sheridan Ave. Head north on Sheridan to Byron Place and go east. There is access to three parking lots on Byron, along with the marina and peninsula.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Berkeley Lake and Rocky Mountain Lake
Description:
These two lakes are nearly adjacent and nearly identical. Both are medium-sized lakes ringed by promising lines of cattails, and surrounded by walking trails. Look for breeding coots and Pied-billed Grebes in summer and for Western Grebe and numerous species of waterfowl in migration and winter.

Directions:
Berkeley Lake: from westbound I-70, exit at Lowell Blvd. and go south; pass under the highway to 48th Ave./South Dr. Head west on 48th Ave. to the parking lot. To Rocky Mountain Lake: from I-70, exit US 287/Federal Blvd. Go south to 47th Ave. and then head west to the parking lot. Both parks are on the north side of West 46th Ave., between Sheridan Blvd. and Federal Blvd.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Heron Pond/Heller Open Space
Description:
Close to downtown, this small lake ringed with trees is in the middle of an urban open space, but can attract surprising birds. Look for ducks in the colder months, and in migration, various land birds in the trees. This natural area is connected by trails to the adjacent Northside Park and the bike path along the South Platte River.

Directions:
From I-25: take exit 215/58th Ave. and go east. In 0.3 miles, head south on Washington St. In 0.4 miles, go east on 54th Ave., where roadside parking is on the south side of the road.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
City Park
Description:
Denver's large and impressive City Park is more than just a park - it is also home to the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The park itself is a cornucopia of beautiful trees and several productive ponds. The best birding tends to be along the nature trail around Duck Pond, where breeding colonies of Black-crowned Night-Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, and Snowy Egret are occupied during the spring and summer, and the abundant trees can have migrants in season. Note: although the park is open daily from 5 AM to 11 PM, the gates allowing cars to enter are closed on Sundays (May through September), and occasionally during special events.

Directions:
From I-25: exit at CO 2/Colorado Blvd. Go south on CO 2 to 22nd Ave. Go west on 22nd past the museum parking lot, where the road curves north; head southwest to City Park's parking area. The park is bordered on the east by Colorado, on the north by 23rd Ave., the west by York St., and the south by 17th Ave. There is access to parking lots from all these roads, or from the myriad of small roads into the park.

Access:
Open all year, 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM, Zoo hours - Winter: 10 AM - 4 PM; Summer: 9 AM - 6 PM; Museum Hours: 9 AM - 5 PM
Cheesman Park and Denver Botanic Gardens
Description:
Cheesman Park is another large city park with old trees and lots of potential for migrant birds. In some winters, the stands of coniferous trees can contain flocks of finches, and they could host roosting owls at any time of year. Across the road, the Denver Botanic Gardens are worth visiting just for the extensive and fascinating variety of plant life, but they can also be quite birdy at almost any time of year.

Directions:
From I-25: exit at 6th Ave. and go east. To reach Cheesman Park at Williams St., go north to reach the park at 8th and Williams, where parking is along the park road. To reach the Botanic Gardens from Cheesman Park, go east on 11th Ave. to York St. Go south on York to the parking garage located on the east. From 6th Ave., go north on Josephine to 11th Ave. Head west on 11th Ave. to York St. Go south on York to the parking garage on the east.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours; Botanic Gardens: 9 AM - 5 PM
Washington Park
Description:
Washington Park is full of old and impressive trees that should be checked any time of year for a variety of birds. Perhaps most productive during migration, they can also be worth a look in winter when flocks of finches sometimes visit. During colder months, the two ponds in the park could have ducks, particularly in the late fall. Look especially for tame Wood Ducks and the occasional Hooded Merganser.

Directions:
From I-25: exit at Downing St. and go north. From Downing, access the west side of the park at either Kentucky Ave. or Exposition Ave. To reach the north side of the park from Downing: go east on Virginia Ave. To access the east side of the park from Virginia Ave.: head east to Franklin St. Go south on Franklin and enter the park at either Exposition Ave., Kentucky Ave., Mississippi Ave., or Arizona Ave.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Fairmount Cemetery
Description:
This large cemetery is covered in beautifully old and impressive trees, especially conifers. Look especially for finches in the winter. During spring and fall, any number of migrant species could occur, and this seems to be an especially good place to look for Townsend's Warbler during the fall.

Directions:
From I-25: take 6th Ave. and go east to CO 2/Colorado Blvd. Head south on Colorado Blvd. to Alameda Ave. Go east on Alameda about a mile and a half to the cemetery entrance, on the south.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Aurora-Kelley Reservoir/Westerly Wetlands
Description:
The Aurora-Kelley Reservoir on Westerly Creek is a large flood control area in the Lowry neighborhood of Denver. Behind the dam, you can find an extensive permanent cattail marsh and gravel/dirt walking trails. Look in season for White-faced Ibis and Yellow-headed Blackbird, both hard to find in the area. Continue walking to Great Lawn Park, where two small ponds also attract a diversity of waterfowl and other birds. Note: Amenities listed can be found at Great Lawn Park.

Directions:
From I-70: take exit 278/Quebec St. and go south for about 3 miles to Lowry Blvd. Head east on Lowry Blvd. and at the roundabout, go south onto Fairmount Dr., then head northwest onto Sports Blvd. and the parking lot will be on the north. Trail access is across the street.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Bluff Lake Nature Center
Description:
Bluff Lake Nature Center makes for an excellent place to spend a morning and check out a number of different habitats. Perhaps the best of these is the excellent marsh, with Virginia Rail and Sora, Marsh Wren, and maybe even American Bittern. The riparian corridor along the greenbelt is well worth checking for migrants, in season, while the lake itself often has a variety of ducks. Note: dogs are not allowed at this property.

Directions:
From I-70: take exit 280/Havana St. and go south. Continue south on Havana about a half mile until it crosses the river and curves east. The Bluff Lake parking lot is on the north side, just after the curve.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Sand Creek Greenway
Description:
The Sand Creek Greenway, connected to the larger Denver-area bike trail system, has some of the best riparian corridors in the area. The woodland here should be checked for a variety of migrants during spring and fall, and for birds like Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Yellow-breasated Chat, Bullock's Oriole, and Lazuli Bunting in the summer. Wintertime tends to be slower, but flocks of sparrows sometimes haunt the thickets, and Great Horned Owl can be found all year.

Directions:
From I-70: take exit at Chambers Rd. and go south to Smith Rd. Head east on Smith Rd. to Laredo St. Go south on Laredo to the parking lot for the Morrison Nature Center, where you can access the trail.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Utah Park and Jewell Wetlands
Description:
This small park with a tiny pond doesn't typically attract a huge variety of birds, but the Jewell Wetlands adjacent to it, with its well laid-out boardwalk, has some of the best access to marshland in the area. Look for Virginia Rail and Sora, Marsh Wren, and (with a good deal of luck), the occasional American Bittern.

Directions:
From I-225: take exit 5/Iliff Ave. and go west for one mile to Peoria St. Head north on Peoria St. for a little over a half-mile. To reach the parking lot closest to the lake: continue on Peoria to Mexico Ave. Go east on Mexico Ave. to Troy St. Head south on Troy to the parking entrance on the west. To reach Jewell Wetland from Peoria: head east on Jewel and the parking lot will be on the north.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
High Line Canal (Denver Section)
Description:
Well-connected to the Denver area bike-trail system, the High Line Canal Trail, in terms of habitat, is probably the best path throughout the city. The mile-and-a-half stretch of the High Line Canal west of Havana and east of Valentia may be the best birding area along the canal in Denver. Almost continuous large cottonwoods line this stretch, supplemented by adjacent tall trees, some with good undergrowth tangles, in many nearby yards.

Directions:
The best parking is at Exposition Park. Take I-70 east to I-225 south. From I-225, exit at Alameda Ave. and go west to Havana St. Head south on Havana St. to Exposition Ave. Go east on Exposition to the parking lot on the north.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours