· Red Rocks

Genessee Park

As City of Denver’s first and largest mountain park, Genessee is the classic ponderosa forest location near Denver, and offers easy access to the various species preferring this habitat. 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.

County: Jefferson

Directions: From I-70: take exit 254/Genessee Park. Go 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 Drive. Continue west on Genesee Dr. to the Park. Take a side trip up Genesee Mountain Rd. to the top parking lot. To reach the Buffalo Overlook, go north at exit 254 and the parking lot is immediately on the west. There is a second Buffalo Herd Overlook at exit 253 from I-70, signed for Chief Hosa. At the top of the ramp, go west to the "T" at Stapleton Rd. Then head north on Stapleton for about 1 mile to the overlook on the east.

Dates of Access: Open all year
Hours: Daylight hours
Ownership: Municipal
Admission: Free

Restrictions: Respect private property and obey local rules and regulations

Parking: Varied
Lodging: Camping at Chief Hosa (fee charged); Hotels in Evergreen or Golden

Handicapped: Yes
Handicapped Access: Braille Trail: designed for blind hikers with braille interpretive signage and waist-high guide wires

Latitude: 39.711585
Longitude: -105.303609

» Visit the website for Genessee Park