Red Rocks Trail

Sites on this Trail

Crown Hill Park and Crown Hill Cemetery
Description:
Crown Hill Lake, in the park of the same name, is a good place to look for geese and diving ducks, including Red-breasted Mergansers in winter. A couple of groves on the north side of the park are worth birding. East of the park and lake is the massive Crown Hill Cemetery. Bird the evergreens in winter hoping for species like crossbills, Cassin's Finch, Evening and Pine Grosbeaks, and Bohemian Waxwing.

Directions:
From I-70: take exit 267/Kipling St. and go south for two miles and the park will be on the east side. Head east at 26th Ave. to reach the main parking lot for Crown Hill Park. To reach Crown Hill Cemetery, go east on 32nd Ave. to Wadsworth Blvd., south to 29th Ave., and then east into the cemetery.

Access:
Open all year; The Wildlife Sanctuary and Kestrel Pond are closed during peak nesting season from March 1 to June 30, Daylight hours
Wheat Ridge Greenbelt
Description:
Long famous as Denver's best migrant trap, the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt has some of the best riparian habitat in the metro area. It is also relatively compact for a greenbelt, with the best opportunities concentrated along Clear Creek between Youngfield and Kipling streets. This area encompasses mature cottonwood forest, four good-sized ponds, and quite a bit of brushy marsh and swampy second growth. The best time to visit is obviously during migration, when nearly anything can show up. The winter is, as expected, much slower, but a determined observer may see a few interesting species.

Directions:
West Parking Lot: from I-70 take exit 266/Ward Rd. and go south to 44th Ave. Head west on 44th Ave. and then south on Youngfield St. The parking lot is on the east side of Youngfield, just after the Clear Creek bridge. East Parking Lot: from I-70 take exit 267/Kipling St. and go south about three quarters of a mile to 41st Ave. Head west on 41st and look for signs to the greenbelt parking lot.

Access:
Open all year, daylight hours
Van Bibber Park
Description:
Van Bibber Park offers quality habitat for a diversity of wildlife and is a popular stop for migrating birds. The Van Bibber Creek wetlands attract a variety of waterfowl, as well as amphibians and insects. A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was even once seen in this area. An observation deck on-site makes this a great destination to keep an eye out for visiting birds!

Directions:
From I-70: exit at Kipling St. and go north to 58th Ave. Head west on 58th Ave. to Ward Rd. and then go south. A large parking lot is located on the west side of Ward Rd., just south of 58th Ave. Note: left-hand turns from northbound Ward Rd. are prohibited. Another small parking lot is located on the west side of the park, just south of Indiana and 56th Ave.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Welchester Tree Grant Park
Description:
This small park’s beautifully dense trees, combined with a migrant trap effect due to its location, make this one of the better places in the city to hope for uncommon migrants. The list of rare warblers that have shown up here is impressively long, and migration here can be good.

Directions:
From I-70: take exit 262/Colfax Ave. and go east to Indiana St. (the first stop light). Go south on Indiana for 0.3 miles to 7th Ave. Go east on 7th Ave.; it will curve to the north and then back to the east before changing to 8th Ave. Continue on 8th Ave. to the park, located on the north. Parking is along the north side of the street on the shoulder.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Golden
Description:
Famous for its breweries, the Colorado School of Mines, and its beautiful location, Golden is a town worth visiting for non-birding reasons alone. The best places to bird here are Tony Grampsas Memorial Sports Complex, the tree-filled School of Mines campus, or in one of the Jefferson County Open Space's numerous parks they manage in this area - check out their website for more information on nearby parks.

Directions:
Golden is along US 6, just north of the junction of I-70 and C-470.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Arvada Blunn Reservoir
Description:
This large reservoir, while not as productive as other Denver area lakes, can often have good numbers of waterfowl and the odd loon in the fall and spring. There are also some decent riparian thickets and groves along the walking trail on the western edge of the reservoir that should be checked during migration.

Directions:
From I-70: transition to westbound CO 58/Golden Highway. CO 58 ends at CO 93; head north to 64th Pkwy. Go east a quarter mile on W. 64th; the road changes to 66th Ave. and the park entrance is on the north.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
White Ranch Park
Description:
One of the larger open space parks in the area, White Ranch has two different entrances that provide access to different montane habitats. The eastern entrance has abundant foothill scrub and some riparian woodland; the western entrance provides an area of ponderosa woodland and montane meadows. The whole area is also good for mountain biking and hiking, so if either of these activities is your cup of tea, White Ranch is a good place to combine them with some birding.

Directions:
Eastern Parking Lot (lower): From I-70: transition to westbound CO 58/Golden Highway. CO 58 will end at CO 93; head north on 93 about 1.5 miles to West 56th Ave. Go west and follow 56th about a mile until it ends at Pine Ridge Rd. Go north into the parking lot. Western Parking Lot (upper): from CO 58/Golden Highway and CO 93, go north for about one mile to Golden Gate Canyon Rd. and head west. In about 4 miles, go north onto Crawford Gulch Rd. The park is on the east side, a few miles up the road.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Mt. Galbraith Open Space
Description:
Situated low in the scenic Golden Gate Canyon, Mt. Galbraith Open Space is the first and best of several places to bird the canyon. A good walking trail passes both dense foothill scrub and cottonwood riparian habitats, eventually ascending into ponderosa pines. Lazuli Bunting can be common here during the summer months; look for Virginia's Warbler, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, and Canyon and Rock Wrens.

Directions:
From I-70: transition to westbound CO 58/Golden Highway. CO 58 ends at CO 93; head north on CO 93 for approximately two miles to Golden Gate Canyon Road. Go west for approximately 2 miles to the parking area, located on the south.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Lookout Mountain Nature Center and Preserve
Description:
Lookout Mountain is an easy morning trip from the metro area that can add a lot of variety to your list on a visit to the city. All the typical ponderosa birds are possible, including Williamson's Sapsucker, Pygmy Nuthatch, Western Bluebird, Cassin's Finch, the occasional Evening Grosbeak, and (with a good deal of luck) Dusky Grouse. Several mammal species not typically present this close to Denver could be seen, including bighorn sheep and elk. Be sure to stop in the Nature Center for a schedule of educational programs and more! Note: dogs are not allowed at the Preserve.

Directions:
From I-70: take exit 256/Lookout Mountain and go north to US 40. Head west on US 40 for 1/4 mile to Lookout Mountain Rd. Go north on Lookout Mountain Rd. to Colorow Rd. and continue north to the parking lot.

Access:
Open all year, Nature Center - Closed Mondays; Tuesday – Friday: 12 PM – 4 PM; Saturday & Sunday: 11 AM - 4 PM; Nature Preserve - 8:00 AM to dusk
Apex Park
Description:
Like nearby Red Rocks Park, Apex has some beautiful foothill scrub with the associated birds. Unlike Red Rocks, there are rarely hordes of people here, allowing for a more pleasant walk while you're looking for Canyon Wren, Lazuli Bunting, Spotted Towhee, Yellow-breasted Chat, or other breeders in the area. This area is among the best places in Colorado to search for the rare Moss's Elfin butterfly.

Directions:
From I-70: take exit 259, US 40/Colfax Blvd. and go southwest for 1.2 miles. US 40 will curve to the south; use the entrance for Heritage Square on the west. After the turn into Heritage Park, immediately go north into the parking area for Apex Park.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Genessee Park
Description:
As City of Denver's first and largest mountain park, Genessee is the classic ponderosa forest location near Denver. Look especially around the parking lot at the top of the road ascending off of I-70 for Williamson's Sapsucker (March-October), Pygmy Nuthatch, Cassin's Finch, Western Bluebird, and more. The lower Chief Hosa section of the park, on the other side of I-70, traverses a more riparian habitat and has species such as Western Tanager, Warbling Vireo, Lazuli Bunting, and Spotted Towhee. Make sure to stop by the Buffalo Herd Overlook to see Colorado's first bison herd, re-established in 1914.

Directions:
From I-70: take exit 254/Genessee Park. Head south over the highway and go west at the "T" onto Genesee Mountain Rd. Follow this road as it winds west around Genesee Mountain to Genesee Dr. Continue west on Genesee Dr. to the park.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Matthews/Winters Park and Dinosaur Ridge Hawk Watch
Description:
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. The juniper woodland often has flocks of Bushtits roving the hillsides, along with Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay and Rock and Canyon Wrens. Don't forget to stop at the Dinosaur Ridge Visitor Center to learn more about the area's dinosaurs and more!

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.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Red Rocks Park
Description:
Famed the world over as a musical venue and for its spectacular scenery, Red Rocks is also one of the best birding locations in the Denver area foothills. During colder months, the feeders at the Trading Post can draw in large numbers of birds. As the year begins to warm, several foothill species like White-throated Swift, Canyon and Rock Wrens, and Lazuli Bunting begin to show up and hang around through summer. There is also a good shot at seeing both Prairie and Peregrine Falcons if you keep an eye to the sky, as both species nest here.

Directions:
There are multiple entrances to Red Rocks Park. From I-70: exit 259, CO 93/Morrison and go south to Alameda Pkwy. Head west on Alameda Pkwy. to access the north parking lots. To access the south parking lots, continue south on CO 93 to Red Rock Parks Rd., southwest to Indian Post Rd., and northwest into the parking lots.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Bear Creek Lake Park
Description:
Though overshadowed by Chatfield just to the south, Bear Creek Lake is worth visiting in its own right, especially during migration. Just about any species of waterfowl could show up at this large lake, and there are usually a few loons present during the fall, along with gulls of various stripes. The best viewing tends to be from Pelican Point. The park also has abundant riparian habitat with a good system of trails along Bear Creek and Turkey Creek; they are most productive during migration, but even in the summer can be worth exploring. Note: there is an entrance fee for this property.

Directions:
From C-470: exit at CO 8/Morrison Rd. and go east for approximately 0.25 miles. Head south on Kumpfmiller Dr.; it will curve to the east to the entrance station for Bear Creek Lake Park.

Access:
Open all year, hours vary (check the website for current hours)
Lair O’the Bear Park
Description:
Situated along Bear Creek Canyon, Lair O' the Bear Park has some high-quality riparian habitat, as well as more typical foothill habitats. The creek itself is among the best places anywhere to see American Dipper, where one is almost always around any time of year. Migrants should be looked for in season, and with the quality of habitat here, you never know what could show up! This park is very popular, so be sure to arrive early.

Directions:
From C-470: exit at CO 8/Morrison Rd. and go west through the town of Morrison. At the west end of Morrison, continue straight on CO 74 through the town of Idledale. The parking lot will be on the south side.

Access:
Open year round, Dawn to Dusk
O’Fallon Mountain Park
Description:
The habitat at O'Fallon Mountain Park has a higher-elevation flavor, with more ponderosa and mixed-conifer woodland and fewer riparian areas. There are some nice large willow trees along the river, and the overall mix of habitats results in a variety of species of both higher and lower elevations. Along the creek, check for Cordilleran Flycatcher and American Dipper, both fairly common here during the summer months. Be sure to stop at nearby Mount Falcon Park for more viewing opportunities.

Directions:
From C-470: exit at CO 8/Morrison Rd. and head west through the town of Morrison. At the west end of Morrison, continue straight on CO 74 to the town of Kittridge. At Lines Ln., go south; the road will curve to the north and the parking lot will be on the east side.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Evergreen Area
Description:
Another of the charming foothill towns outside of Denver, Evergreen is a good place to vacation away from the city. It's also a decent birding location in its own right. The best spot is undoubtedly Evergreen Lake, surrounded by a park with good walking trails that provide easy access. Also, be sure to stop by the Evergreen Audubon & Nature Center located in the historic warming hut on Evergreen Lake. There are several other parks in the general area, most of which are covered in ponderosa woodland with a mix of foothills scrub. You may want to check out Jefferson County Open Space's website for ideas; the best option is probably Alderfer/Three Sisters Park.

Directions:
From I-70: exit at CO 74/Evergreen Pkwy. Go south on CO 74 for 8 miles to Evergreen Lake. To reach the parking lot, head west on Bear Creek Rd., then south into the parking entrance for the Evergreen Lakehouse. To reach Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, continue south on CO 74 around the lake. At the three-way signal, go southwest onto CO 73 to Buffalo Park Rd. Head west on Buffalo Park Rd. to the parking entrance for the lower lot on the north. The upper parking lot is located about a 1/4 mile further up Buffalo Park Rd.

Access:
Open year round, Daylight hours
South Valley Park
Description:
Not far from the famed Red Rocks, the topography at this foothills park is very reminiscent of its more well-known neighbor. Numerous rock outcroppings, tons of thick foothills scrub, and some good riparian habitat along Deer Creek offer a good variety of species to look for most of the year. Keep an eye out for White-throated Swift, Canyon and Rock Wrens, Golden Eagle, and Prairie Falcon nesting on the cliffs, as well as a variety of foothill scrub species.

Directions:
From C-470: exit at Ken Caryl Ave and go west. At South Valley Rd., head south for just under a mile to the parking area, on the east.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Turkey Creek Park
Description:
Located near tourist attraction Tiny Town, this park has a nice mix of ponderosa and mixed conifer woodlands, along with smaller meadows and areas of foothills scrub. The lower parts of the trail are excellent for Red-naped Sapsucker and Wild Turkey; with luck, Dusky Grouse could be found throughout the area. More common montane species such as Pygmy and Red-breasted Nuthatches, Red Crossbill, and Cordilleran Flycatcher are also present. The park is well-known for its uncommon butterfly species you might find during spring and summer, including Hoary and Moss's Elfins, and Indra Swallowtail.

Directions:
From C-470: head south on US 285 for 5.5 miles to South Turkey Creek Road. The exit will be on the east and parallel US 285 South. Across the road from Tiny Town, park in the large dirt parking lot on the east. The trail starts behind the wire fence at the back end of the parking lot.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Conifer Area
Description:
Conifer is a beautiful little foothill town just west of Denver, and makes for a perfect base for exploring the lower montane habitats found in the area. There are a number of parks near Conifer that are quite similar to each other, and visiting any of them would probably net the target species. One of the best of the bunch is Flying J Ranch Open Space, where you can find abundant, high-quality mixed-conifer woodlands interspersed with aspen groves, large meadows, and even a small pond. Beaver Ranch Open Space, just south of Conifer, has all of the same habitats, while at Meyer Ranch Open Space, just northeast of Conifer, there is an extensive system of trails guiding you through some nice habitat.

Directions:
Conifer is along US 285, 15 miles from the junction with C-470. For Meyer Ranch - from US 285: exit at South Turkey Creek Rd., pass under the freeway and the parking lot will be at the "T". To reach Flying J Open Space: exit at Barkley Rd. and then head west at the 3-way intersection. Barkley Rd. will end at CO 73; go north on CO 73 for about 0.5 miles to the entrance for Flying J on the west. To reach Beaver Ranch Open Space: continue south on US 285 to Foxton Rd. Go about 0.5 miles to the entrance for Beaver Ranch, on the southeast.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Reynolds Open Space Park
Description:
Containing some quality ponderosa and mixed-conifer woodland, along with a nice trail system, this open space park offers a nice variety of montane species. In the ponderosa dominated areas, look for Pygmy Nuthatch and Williamson's Sapsucker, while the mixed woodland could have Red-naped Sapsucker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, and Hammond's Flycatcher. Steller's Jays are common throughout, and a nighttime visit may turn up a Northern Saw-whet Owl, best searched for during the spring months.

Directions:
From US Highway 285: go south to Foxton Rd., approximately 15 miles from C-470 and US 285. Head south on Foxton Rd. approximately 5.5 miles to the parking area, on the south side of the road.

Access:
Open year round, Dawn to Dusk
Staunton State Park
Description:
Near the town of Pine, Staunton is Colorado's newest state park. Elevations here range from 8,000 to 10,000 feet, with large granitic domes visually dominating the landscape. Forested areas provide excellent opportunities to view Williamson’s and Red-naped Sapsucker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Hammond’s Flycatcher, and Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Look for singing Vesper and Savannah Sparrows in the montane grasslands across the park. Rocky outcrops and cliffs are habitat for White-throated Swift, falcons, and hawks. Celebrate the park's mascot, the yellow-bellied marmot, at the annual Marmot Fest in June. You might even catch a glimpse of these chubby critters sunning themselves on rock outcroppings from spring to fall. A State Parks pass is required for entry.

Directions:
From US 285 and C-470: take US 285 south to Shaffers Crossing, about 6 miles west of Conifer. Turn north on Elk Creek Rd. and follow the signs 1.5 miles to the park entrance.

Access:
Open year round, Fall/Winter Hours: 8 AM - 5 PM; Spring/Summer Hours: 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM