Denver owns a chain of mountain parks far outside the city

Here is a surprise for new residents: some of the best-known parks “in the mountains” near Denver are actually owned by the City and County of Denver itself, even though they sit well outside the city.

The system is called the Denver Mountain Parks. It spreads across several counties and thousands of acres of foothills and high country. Many familiar outdoor destinations belong to it: Red Rocks Park, Genesee Park, Lookout Mountain, Echo Lake, Summit Lake high on Mount Blue Sky, Daniels Park down on the plains, and the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave. Some are developed for picnics and events; others are quiet conservation areas with little more than a trail.

Why this matters to you: when you visit these places, you are on Denver-owned land, not a national forest or a different county’s open space. The rules, hours, and contacts come from Denver Parks and Recreation, even though the park may be an hour’s drive from downtown. Some sites are developed for picnics and events; others are quieter conservation areas.

For the list of parks, maps, and current rules, start with the City and County of Denver’s Mountain Parks page.