Evergreen: Lake, Hiking Trails, and Rodeo

Evergreen combines time by the water with hiking trails, scenery, and culture. At Evergreen Lake, you can choose from boat rentals, a 1.25-mile trail, and trout fishing. Alderfer/Three Sisters and Elk Meadow each offer their own highlights, including rock formations, views, aspen groves, and opportunities to spot elk. There is also the Hiwan Museum, the rodeo with its parade, and public art. So, when planning your trip, it helps to start with one question: Should your stay focus primarily on activities at the lake, hiking, or culture and a seasonal event? These priorities lead to different day plans and can also guide your search for a vacation rental in Evergreen.

Water at Evergreen Lake

Boat rentals at Evergreen Lake are offered on a first-come, first-served basis; operations are seasonal and weather-dependent. So include them in your day plan as a flexible option rather than treating them as a confirmed activity. There is also a 1.25-mile trail around the lake. The lake is stocked with trout and can be fished with a state fishing license. This gives you three different ways to spend time by the water: boating, hiking, and fishing.

Trails and Landscapes

Two parks with different highlights add to the options. Alderfer/Three Sisters Park features striking rock formations and more than 15 miles of publicly accessible hiking trails. The Summit Trail offers views of the Continental Divide. Elk Meadow Park has more than 16 miles of trails of varying difficulty, and its scenery also includes aspen groves. Elk Meadow is considered the best place in Jefferson County to observe herds of elk. Comparing the parks by landscape and trail profile raises different questions than looking at mileage alone: at Elk Meadow, you can weigh the different difficulty levels and the chance of spotting elk; Alderfer/Three Sisters offers a different highlight, with its rock formations and the view from the Summit Trail.

History, Art, and Events

Culture and events offer different highlights, too. The Hiwan Museum preserves and shares the history of the families who lived at Camp Neosho and Hiwan Ranch. Free tours are offered during opening hours. Opening hours may change seasonally or due to operational needs, so check the hours before your visit. The Evergreen Rodeo takes place every summer on Father’s Day weekend; the exact dates vary from year to year. Local volunteers organize both the parade and the rodeo. If you want to plan around the event, check the dates for the relevant year. Sculpture Evergreen features sculptural art, mostly outdoors, at locations that are freely accessible every day of the week; individual sculptures may change. The first Evergreen Jazz Festival was held in 2001.

More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Golden, Arvada, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Edgewater, Coal Creek

Return to the main travel overview: Jefferson.