20 Attractions to Explore Near Clear Creek Canyon Park

Genesee Park is the largest of Denver's mountain parks and the first in the mountain park system. The park contains two mountains, Genesee Mountain at 8,284 feet above sea level and Bald Mountain at 7,988 feet above sea level. The park also contains forests of ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and lodgepole pine.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Elk Meadow Park is a park and trail system, which is home to a number of outdoor activities. In the summertime, the many miles of trail serve as a place to run, walk, jog, mountain bike, and simply enjoy Mother Nature. Most of the park is open meadows with grasses and wildflowers for the residents of Jefferson County to see and enjoy.

Located in historic downtown Golden, Foothills Art Center leads and inspires the community through art, education, and cultural excellence with engaging exhibitions and dynamic arts programming for learners of all ages. The center is housed in an 1872 Gothic-style church, an 1892 Queen Anne style manse and a Victorian-era mansion built in 1899 – all surrounded by a sculpture garden at 809 15th Street in downtown Golden, Colorado.

A majestic leisure park, which boats this short 2.4 mile hike to panoramic views of Colorado's Front Range mountains. Situated in a canyon 24 miles west of Denver, the park occupies the riparian corridor surrounding an oxbow on Bear Creek. Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir dominate the south-facing slope of Bear Creek Canyon while mixed shrubs comprise the north slope vegetation.

Lair o’ the Bear Park is a favorite of Open Space visitors and families due to its abundance of picnic tables and proximity to Bear Creek for fishing. Once at the park you’ll find great hiking trail options, the cool water of bear creek, great parking, and some good picnic spots. There are open areas as well as shade.

O'Fallon Park is a municipal park in St. Louis, Missouri. The 57-acre park offers the area's first adventure playground, a truly unique play experience for kids of all ages. The park also is home to O'Day Lodge, a premiere meeting, banquet and conference center, and outdoor amphitheater. The park has a lake with a boathouse. It has basketball courts, tennis courts, softball fields, and a football field. It has a playground, multiple picnic grounds, and a spray pool.

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.

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 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.

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.