Discover Jefferson: Canyon, Trails and History

Jefferson opens up travel planning filled with nature experiences, distinctive trails and railroad history. In Clear Creek Canyon Park, steep canyon walls and a fast-flowing creek shape the landscape. At the same time, the excursions described vary considerably: they range from a paved route beside the water to hikes with substantial elevation gain and historic collections.

Canyon Scenery and Different Hiking Profiles

The first sections of the Clear Creek Trail in Clear Creek Canyon Park offer four miles of paved, 10-foot-wide trail right alongside Clear Creek. The park also offers climbing, kayaking and rafting; water conditions and access to activities may change. This lets you plan your day around your preferred focus: perhaps the creek and its surroundings, or one of the listed climbing and water activities.

The trails also differ in length, permitted use and elevation profile. The Castle Trail in Mount Falcon Park climbs more than 2,000 feet from the east. The 1.7-mile Turkey Trot Trail is reserved exclusively for hikers and horseback riders. A hike described as challenging in Elk Meadow Park leads from the trailhead on Stagecoach Boulevard over 4.7 miles, with an elevation gain of 2,100 feet, to 9,708-foot Bergen Peak. The Pioneer Trail connects Bergen Park and Evergreen Lake through Elk Meadow Park.

Elk Meadow Park is considered the place in the open-space system with the highest likelihood of spotting herds of elk. However, a sighting is not guaranteed. This brings together two different interests: a specific hike with a stated elevation profile and the opportunity to experience the landscape with wildlife in mind.

Museums and Traces of History

Hiwan Heritage Park & Museum brings together a clear historical timeline and visitor experiences. Jefferson County Parks & Open Space acquired the property in 1974; the park and museum opened in 1975. Hiwan Heritage Park is open daily, and self-guided outdoor tours are available daily. Free guided tours are offered inside the museum during opening hours. Check seasonal notices and current museum hours before your visit.

Railroad history takes center stage in different forms at the Colorado Railroad Museum. The 15-acre rail yard includes more than 100 historic locomotives, passenger cars and cabooses. The museum also features a replica 1880s-era depot museum, changing exhibits and an HO-scale model railroad. The experience ranges from the vehicles on the grounds to exhibits and model trains.

Dinosaur Ridge offers another way to explore the history of the landscape: the National Park Service designated the site a National Natural Landmark in 1973, and Colorado designated it a Colorado Natural Area. Dinosaur Ridge is also a site where more than 300 fossil tracks have been found. For your planning, this offers a different focus from the railroad collection or the history of Hiwan Heritage Park.

Red Rocks and Routes for Planning Your Day

Red Rocks Park and its trails open one hour before sunrise and close one hour after sunset; access may vary on event days. Admission and parking are free at Red Rocks Park, the Amphitheatre, the Visitor Center and the Trading Post. So it is helpful to check event-day notices when planning a visit.

Trails can also be considered as part of a broader route plan: a trail in Red Rocks Park connects north to Jefferson County's Matthews / Winters Park and east to the Dakota Ridge Trail. The Lariat Loop consists of the Lariat Trail Scenic Mountain Drive and the Bear Creek Canyon Scenic Mountain Drive. Both offer guidance for different ways to include the surrounding area in your travel plans.

Choose a Vacation Rental Based on Your Travel Interests

When choosing a vacation rental, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on: canyon scenery and water activities, hikes with different elevation profiles, wildlife watching, or museums and railroad history. These experiences make for different day plans. A hike to Bergen Peak calls for different planning than a museum visit; at Red Rocks, event days may affect access.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Arvada, Edgewater, Golden, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Evergreen, Coal Creek and Pitkin.

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