20 Attractions to Explore Near Foothills Art Center

The Mines Museum of Earth Science, is a geology museum based in the Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado. The museum has two floors in which it displays fossils, gemstones, meteorites, minerals, and mining artifacts, including the Colorado lunar sample displays. The museum acts as the Colorado state repository for mineral heritage.

The Golden History Park is a three-acre outdoor learning lab with historic and reproduction buildings that replicate a 19th-century mountain homestead.The Museum features programming spaces, a hands-on gallery for families with young children, and dynamic new exhibits that highlight the City’s collection of historic objects.

South Table Mountain is a mesa on the eastern flank of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The most distinctive feature of the mesa is its nearly flat cap that is formed by ancient Paleocene lava flows. It is a popular scenic and recreational destination in the Denver metro area, and most of it is preserved as Jefferson County Open Space.

Lookout Mountain stands more than 7,300 feet above Golden, just west of downtown. Known for its beautiful natural splendor and breathtaking views, a hike or drive up to its peak will be worth every moment. Between everything this area has to offer and it’s close proximity to Denver, it’s ideal for spontaneous weekend jaunts and longer overnight trips alike. Drive or bike the road or hike the trail to reach the top and overlook Colorado’s vast plains.

This 6.5-mile family-friendly urban trail winds through the scenic Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, providing conservation benefits and recreational opportunities including biking, kayaking and bird watching.The Clear Creek Trail connects with another major metro area trail the South Platte River Trail.

The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, located in Lookout Mountain Park, is open 7 days a week.The gravesite and park are open one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. The Buffalo Bill Museum, a facility owned and operated by the City and County of Denver, uses artifacts to tell the story of William “Buffalo Bill” Cody and his internationally known Wild West show. The museum observation deck has spectacular views of Golden and Denver.

Lookout Mountain Park is a Denver Mountain Park located around 12 miles west of downtown Denver overlooking Golden, Colorado. It consists of 65.7 acres of evergreen wilderness atop Lookout Mountain, named for its being a favored lookout point of the native Ute Indian tribe. Lookout Mountain Park is the burial site of the internationally famous western frontiersman William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Lookout Mountain is a foothill on the eastern flank of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. It is known for its natural scenery and has played a major role in area recreation, transportation, water supply and telecommunications. The summit is famous as the gravesite of William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody and has several sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Windy Saddle Park is a 400-acre Jefferson County Open Space located on Lookout Mountain perched above Golden, CO. There is a small trail system connected to Lookout Mountain Nature Center located in the adjacent Denver Mountain Parks Lookout Mountain Preserve, as well as a steep multi-use trail that leads all the way down the mountain to Hwy 93 in Golden below.

Beaver Brook Trail is actually a small system of trails that sit very close to the front range of the Denver Metro area. It is a challenging hiker only trail connecting Windy Saddle Park, Clear Creek Canyon Park, and Denver Mountain Parks' Genesee Mountain Park. Distances range from 4 miles up to 20+ as out an out-and-back, and you can change your experience wildly from easy to very difficult.

South Table Mountain is a mesa on the eastern flank of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. It offers visitors numerous trails, interesting wildlife, and great activities for the whole family. Colorado has no shortage of incredible mountains and other outdoor beauties, but this park is one-of-a-kind and loved by locals and visitors alike.

A majestic museum established in 1959 to preserve a record of Colorado's flamboyant railroad era, particularly the state's pioneering narrow-gauge mountain railroads. It has around 15-acre railyard with over 100 locomotives, passenger and freight cars, cabooses and even a G-scale garden railway.All of the railroad equipment is displayed outdoors. Display tracks are complete with a rare three-way stub switch, dual gauge track and switches and century-old switch stands.

Lookout Mountain Nature Center promotes conservation of Jefferson County's open spaces through educational programs and exhibits. Interactive exhibits take visitors on a tour of the flora and fauna of the foothills ecosystem. Kids enjoy a hands-on play room & observation room.The Nature Center offers free naturalist-led programs in every season for individuals, families, and schools and groups.

The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum is the region's only museum dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the art of quilting.The permanent collection contains over 800 quilts dating back to the 19th century. The museum is also home to the Sandra Dallas Library and a gift shop.

North Table Mountain is a mesa on the eastern flank of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The most distinctive feature of the mesa is its nearly flat cap that was formed by ancient Paleocene lava flows. It is separated from companion South Table Mountain, which consists of the same geologic formation, by Clear Creek. It is a popular scenic and recreational destination in the Denver metro area, and it is preserved as public open space by Jefferson County and the Access Fund.

Apex Trail lies Just minutes away from the city, lies a nice respite from the Metro- a 3.30-mile greenway type trail gaining up to 1,500 feet in elevation. It was designated as one of America’s prized national recreation trails in 1978, Apex Trail continues to awe various bikers, runners, and hikers alike on its spectacular singletrack moderate difficulty trail.

Matthews/Winters Park, which is part of the Jefferson County Open Space system, is proof that you do not have to go far from the city to enjoy the mountains. You can explore the old headstones along the Village Walk. A creek weaves through the park, feeding the fragrant wild plums and willows. The trails are not too difficult, though the Morrison Slide is a bit of a climb.

Green Mountain is a mesa on the eastern flank of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 6,854-foot mesa summit is located in William Frederick Hayden Park in the City of Lakewood, Colorado, United States, 4.0 miles west of the municipal center of Lakewood in Jefferson County.

Dinosaur Ridge is an outdoor/indoor museum near Morrison featuring fossils from the Cretaceous and Jurassic Periods, first studied and named during the Bone Wars of 1877. The exhibits are located along a closed section of West Alameda Ave. The route climbs about 200 feet from the museum/shop to the high point along the ridge backbone. The walk is about 2 miles round-trip taking 2-hours. A shuttle bus tour is available for an additional cost.

William Frederick Hayden Park, aka Green Mountain, is more than 2400 acres of open space, making it the second largest in Lakewood.The park cover the area of over 2,400 acres and its amazing atmosphere attracts thousands of tourists who enjoy spending time outdoors exploring the wonders of local nature. Located on the high mountain with elevation up to 6,800 feet, the park offers absolutely outstanding views to the neighboring territory, along with cool clean air and amazing ambience.