Urban Refuges Trail

Sites on this Trail

Roxborough State Park
Description:
Located just south of Chatfield State Park, Roxborough is a world away in terms of landscape and habitat. Habitats of this beautiful park include excellent examples of rocky cliffs, mountain shrubland, and open prairie, with riparian wetlands and coniferous forest in the mix. Miles of hiking trails offer ample opportunities to view Canyon Wren, Rock Wren, and a variety of raptor species along the hogback formations. Smaller riparian groves are worth a check during migration, and the spring is excellent for a wide variety of butterfly species. The park is also designated as a National Natural Landmark and an Important Bird Area through the National Audubon Society. Note: dogs are not allowed at Roxborough. A State Parks pass is required for entry.

Directions:
From C-470: exit at CO 121/Wadsworth Blvd. and go south. Turn left/east on Waterton Rd., which will curve to the west and end at North Rampart Range Rd. Head right/south on Rampart Range Rd. for approximately 2 miles and at the intersection of North Rampart Range Rd. and Roxborough Park Rd. (just before the entrance to Arrowhead golf course), turn left onto Roxborough Park Rd. Take the next right on East Roxborough Dr. (about 50 yards away) to enter the park.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Waterton Canyon
Description:
One of the Denver area’s premiere foothill birding sites, this canyon is a good place to look for Virginia's Warbler, Lazuli Bunting, Spotted Towhee, and Say's Phoebe in trailside scrub; Yellow-breasted Chats and Cordilleran Flycatchers in riparian trees; and American Dippers in the river. Also check for Canyon and Rock Wrens, and if you do make it up into the pine forest, check for the typical suite of ponderosa-loving species, including Williamson's Sapsucker. The canyon is also good for mammals, and people often see bighorn sheep here. Please never approach sheep and observe all wildlife from a safe distance. Be sure to also check for a wide variety of butterfly species during the spring and summer.

Directions:
From C-470: exit at CO 121/Wadsworth Blvd. and go south past the entrance for Chatfield State Park. At Waterton Rd., go left/southeast and the parking lot is the second entrance on the east. The entrance to the Canyon is across the sometimes busy road; please be careful when crossing.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Audubon Center at Chatfield
Description:
Just to the south of Chatfield State Park, the trails around the Audubon Nature Center connect with the trails in the park, and are just across the road from Waterton Canyon. Abundant willow scrub habitat here is often full of migrants in season, and it's a good spot to look for wintering sparrows or a variety of breeding species, including Least Flycatchers. There are also some nice marshes and a small pond with Virginia Rail and Sora, both regular, as well as a nice variety of ducks.

Directions:
From I-25 & C-470: go west on C-470 about 12 miles and exit onto CO 121/Wadsworth Blvd. Go south on Wadsworth Blvd for about 4.4 miles, PAST the main entrance for Chatfield State Park. Turn left /east on Waterton Rd and immediately turn left into the first parking lot at the Audubon Center sign.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Chatfield State Park
Description:
Most birders in the Denver area will tell you Chatfield reigns supreme among the metro-area reservoirs. This state park is a contender for the most birds observed at any single location in Colorado. With miles of walking trails, good lakeside access, and abundant facilities, it would be easy to spend an entire day at the park, any time of the year. Most species of waterfowl and shorebirds that occur in Colorado can be found at Chatfield. The trails along the South Platte River and Plum Creek are shaded by cottonwood trees that provide habitat for a number of breeding species. These areas are among the few places in the state where Least Flycatcher and American Redstart breed. A State Parks pass is required for entry.

Directions:
From Denver: take US 85/Santa Fe Dr south to C-470. Go west on C-470 to Wadsworth Blvd. Take Wadsworth Blvd south to the park entrance.

Access:
Open all year, 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Robert F. Clement Park
Description:
The main attraction at this park is the large Johnson Lake, good for waterfowl of various species (including Canvasback, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, and Common Goldeneye), as well as Eared Grebe and the occasional loon. There are quite a few trees in the area as well, though the lack of undergrowth cuts into the variety of birds that could show up.

Directions:
From C-470: take CO 121/Wadsworth Blvd. and go north for 4 miles to W. Bowles Ave. Head east on Bowles; in 1/2 mile, there will be two entrances for the park on the south.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Marston Lake
Description:
While not quite the same caliber as Chatfield or Cherry Creek Reservoirs, Marston is still one of the best lakes in the Denver area. Productive at almost any time of year (perhaps least interesting in the middle of the summer), the lake can have almost any of the waterfowl species that occur in the state. When an ice shelf forms, there can sometimes be large flocks of gulls. The property is private, and can only be viewed through a chain-link fence.

Directions:
From US 285: exit at CO 121/Wadsworth Blvd. and go south. At the intersection of Wadsworth and Stanford Ave., head east on S. Wadsworth Blvd. This road parallels the SE shore; scan from any openings where you can see the reservoir.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Centennial Park
Description:

Directions:

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Ketring Pond
Description:

Directions:

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
South Platte Park
Description:

Directions:

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
McLellan Reservoir
Description:

Directions:

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
High Line Canal (Douglas County portion)
Description:
While rarely used as a canal these days, the extensive bike trails and beautiful riparian habitat make this woodland corridor the perfect place to combine a morning jog or bike ride with some birding. During migration, look for various migrant perching birds, and during summer, check for Lazuli Bunting, Yellow-breasted Chat, Spotted Towhee, Great Horned Owl, and more.

Directions:
From C-470: Go south on Highway 85 for 4 miles to Titan Rd. Turn west on Titan Rd. for 2 miles to Roxborough Park Rd. Go north on Roxborough Park Rd. for 1.5 miles. The trailhead is on the east side of the road.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours
Cherry Creek State Park
Description:

Directions:

Access:
Open year round, 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Aurora Reservoir
Description:
Situated a bit east of the main Denver metro area, Aurora Reservoir sits outside much of Denver's urban sprawl; meaning, this lake is still surrounded by a good-sized block of native prairie habitat, and is also more likely to catch birds migrating away from the mountains. Check the lake itself for the full variety of waterfowl from fall through spring. The prairie habitat occasionally has Lark Buntings, Horned Lark, and Lapland Longspur during the winter, as well as a variety of sparrows and raptors. Be sure to stop by the Senac Creek Nature Center for interactive exhibits and other educational opportunities. Note: there is a fee for entrance.

Directions:
Take E-470 to the Quincy Ave. exit and go east to Powhaton Rd. Go south on Powhaton to the entrance on the west for the Aurora Reservoir main parking lot. To avoid tolls, take I-225 to CO 83/Parker Rd. Head south on Parker Rd. to Quincy Ave. Go east on Quincy to Powhaton Rd. Go south on Powhaton and west into the main parking lot, or continue straight into the lower parking lot.

Access:
Open all year, Daylight hours