In the early 1900s, Denver's leaders decided that a growing city needed a share of the mountains on its doorstep. Supported by a voter-approved tax, the city began buying land in the foothills and building scenic roads to reach it. The result is the Denver Mountain Parks system, a scattered collection of parks and conservation areas in several counties west of the city. Many visitors enjoy them without realizing they are standing in a Denver park.
The parks most worth visiting
Red Rocks Park
The most famous of all. The sandstone amphitheatre and its surrounding trails belong to the system, which is why the park is free to visit outside events. Our Red Rocks guide covers event days, trails and parking.
Lookout Mountain Park
The first Denver Mountain Park, perched above Golden at the top of the winding Lariat Loop road. It is home to the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, where William F. Cody was buried. The museum's observation deck has free access and wide views over the plains and the Front Range. A trail connects the museum with the Colorow Point overlook nearby. The park is open year-round from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
Genesee Park
Denver's largest mountain park sits beside I-70 west of the city and is best known for its bison herd, which has lived here for more than a century and reflects Denver's early role in bison conservation. The animals roam freely within large fenced pastures and can usually be seen from overlook points or from trails around the pastures. An elk herd also lives in the park. Genesee has picnic areas, trails including the historic Beaver Brook Trail, and the Chief Hosa Lodge and Campground near exit 253.
View bison from the overlooks or your car and stay outside the fences. Do not stop in traffic lanes on I-70 or frontage roads to look; use the designated pullouts and parking areas.
Daniels Park
South of Denver near Castle Rock and Sedalia, Daniels Park holds the city's second bison herd on open prairie with sweeping views of the mountains from Pikes Peak to Longs Peak. Picnic grills and a historic lodge site add to its appeal, and it makes an easy stop on a drive to Colorado Springs.
Echo Lake Park
At about 10,600 feet on the road to Mount Blue Sky, Echo Lake is a jewel. A level trail circles the lake, and the park protects a fen, a slow-forming wetland estimated to be about a thousand years old. Echo Lake Lodge, built from local timber and stone, sits nearby. The highway to the lake from Idaho Springs generally stays open after the upper byway closes for the season, though winter storms can affect it.
Summit Lake Park
The highest of the Denver Mountain Parks, this glacial lake sits near 12,800 feet below the summit of Mount Blue Sky. It is a magical spot for alpine flowers in July and August and a starting point for the final hike to the summit. Access depends on the seasonal opening of the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway and its reservation system; see our Mount Blue Sky guide.
Evergreen-area parks
Around Evergreen, Denver's parks include Dedisse Park, which surrounds Evergreen Lake, a popular place for paddling in summer and skating in winter when conditions allow. Several smaller picnic parks along the old mountain roads in this area date from the system's early years.
A loop through the mountain parks
- Morning at Red Rocks. Sunrise in the amphitheatre or a walk on the Trading Post Trail.
- Up Lookout Mountain. Drive north to Golden and climb the Lariat Loop to Buffalo Bill's grave and the observation deck.
- Bison at Genesee. Continue along the ridge to Genesee Park and scan the pastures from the overlooks.
- Lunch in Evergreen. Drop south into Evergreen and walk around Evergreen Lake in Dedisse Park.
- Back to Denver. Return by CO-74 through Bear Creek Canyon and Morrison, finishing near where you started.
The full loop is a relaxed day with plenty of short stops, and it avoids the busiest parts of I-70.
Rules and good habits
- Hours: Many mountain parks follow sunrise-to-sunset style hours. Check posted signs.
- Dogs: Keep dogs leashed and away from wildlife, especially near bison and elk.
- Fire: Use only designated grills and fire rings where allowed, and obey fire restrictions, which are common in dry periods.
- Wildlife: Never feed or approach animals. Bison and elk are large, fast and unpredictable.
- Altitude: Echo Lake and Summit Lake are far higher than Denver. Bring warm layers and water, and go slowly.
Supporting the parks
The nonprofit Mountain Parks Foundation works with the city to restore and promote the system, and its website is a helpful directory of the parks, their amenities and current projects. For official notices and closures, check the City and County of Denver's parks pages.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Denver Mountain Parks?
They are parks and conservation lands owned by the City and County of Denver outside the city itself, mostly in the foothills and mountains to the west. They include Red Rocks Park, Lookout Mountain Park, Genesee Park, Echo Lake Park and Summit Lake Park, among many others.
Where can you see bison near Denver?
Denver keeps bison herds at Genesee Park, just off I-70 in the foothills, and at Daniels Park south of the city. At Genesee the animals roam large pastures and are usually visible from overlook points or from trails around the pastures.
Is Buffalo Bill's grave in a Denver park?
Yes. The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave sits in Lookout Mountain Park, the first park in the Denver Mountain Parks system, above Golden.
Do you need a reservation for the Denver Mountain Parks?
Most parks do not need one. The exception is the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, where vehicle reservations on Recreation.gov were required for daytime driving in 2026; that road passes Echo Lake and Summit Lake parks.
Sources
Checked against official sources in October 2026. Hours, fees, reservation rules and road status change often; the agency or venue linked above is always the final word. See how we research.