Best Parks In Denver Near Me

4worldlovers: Denver may be a world-class metropolis with all the familiar urban sights and sounds, but no matter where you find yourself in the city, you’re likely to be only a few steps away from a lush and relaxing green space.

The Mile High City boasts more than 5,000 acres of traditional parks and parkways, which include 2,500 urban natural acres and over 300 acres of parks designated Rivers & Trails, plus an additional 14,000 acres of spectacular mountain parks in Clear Creek, Douglas, Grand and Jefferson County that are maintained by the City and County of Denver. Here’s a look at a few favorite parks in Denver.


This expansive, multifaceted park is Denver's version of New York City's Central Park. In City Park 's 330 lovely, landscaped acres, you'll find a public golf course , colorful flower gardens, ornate fountains, placid lakes and rolling green lawns perfect for picnics. City Park is home to some of Denver's most popular attractions, including the Denver Zoo , the Denver Museum of Nature & Science , the Martin Luther King Memorial and much more. From June through August, the park plays host to City Park Jazz, with free concerts each Sunday. It's also got unbeatable views of The Mile High City skyline and the Rocky Mountains beyond.

Adjacent to the 16th Street Mall, Skyline Park offers an easy getaway for the more than 120,000 people who spend their workday in downtown Denver. Located at 15th and Arapahoe streets, Skyline Park is always a fun place to spend a little time, especially during the summer, when visitors to the Skyline Beer Garden can enjoy brews on draft, street food, a family-friendly game area and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. And don't miss the Downtown Denver Rink at Skyline Park every winter, offering free ice skating all season long.


Click on the image below to take a virtual tour of Civic Center Park via Google Street View.

Located in the heart of downtown Denver, Civic Center Park is always bursting with life, as tourists and locals take advantage of the beautiful landscaping and vibrant atmosphere of this unique urban park. Many events, such as Cinco de Mayo, Civic Center EATS (a food truck festival Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the summer months), the Capitol Hill People's Fair, Denver PrideFest, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and A Taste of Colorado are traditionally held in Civic Center Park. This spacious plaza, surrounded by monumental government and public buildings, is a stone's throw from a number of Mile High City attractions, including the Denver Art Museum , the Denver Public Library , the 16th Street Mall and the Colorado State Capitol Building .

Where Cherry Creek and the South Platte River meet and mingle, you'll find the unique and scenic Confluence Park. Watch kayakers brave the rapids on custom-designed chutes, sunbathe on the sandy banks and enjoy panoramic views of downtown Denver. The park is close to the Downtown Aquarium , the Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus and Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park . Hop on the Denver Trolley and take a 30-minute scenic ride along the river, plus learn about the area's history. Love a party? Join thousands of revelers at the South Platte RiverFest each June for water sports and live music.

Just steps away from Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park and the South Platte River, the Centennial Flower Gardens are a must-see for anyone with interest in gardening. The gardens are patterned after the Gardens of Versailles, with paths and patterned flowerbeds showcasing native species along with other flowers that grow well in Colorado's arid climate. This is a great spot for a refreshing afternoon stroll.

Commons Park can be found on the banks of the South Platte River in a spot that just happens to be the city's birthplace. It's a pleasing mix of natural and urban influences: Close to 40 percent of the park is covered by native plants, a piece of reconstructed lush "sand prairie" reminiscent of what would have existed in the area originally. Meanwhile, the promenade along Little Raven Street is a tree-lined walkway dotted with many seating areas and entries to connect the park to downtown Denver.

Click on the image below to take a virtual tour of Washington Park via Google Street View.

4worldlovers:
Find a City and County Denver park with our interactive map.


Find rules and policies for park and facility use, along with frequently asked questions.


Denver's trail system connects neighborhoods throughout the city. Many follow scenic waterways, offering a pleasant route for both cyclists and pedestrians.


Denver Parks and Recreation recently completed a Strategic Acquisition Plan which provides a framework for decision-making when completing and funding future parkland acquisitions. Learn about recent and current acquisition projects.


Learn more about the types of amenities that can be found in Denver parks such as pickleball courts, fountains, disc golf and more.


DPR's Dog Park page offers useful information regarding dog parks around the city, rules and regulations, maintenance and closures, as well as technical updates.


The mission of Denver Park Rangers is to maximize public safety, protect park resources and provide service to visitors.


Several bike parks are available for riders of all ages and skill levels.


DPR uses a multi-strategy approach to reduce damage while assessing environmental resiliency, cost, and most importantly, staff and public safety.

4worldlovers: Playground, picnic shelter, two unlighted tennis courts, basketball court, volleyball court and 18-hole disc golf course (no baskets, just poles).

Playground, picnic shelter, two unlighted tennis courts, basketball court, volleyball court.

Most of the loop trail is level and considered easy. However, the steep decent from the parking lot to the loop as well as the first 200 feet of the loop trail are rather steep and may be considered moderate by some users.

A large detention basin is located on the north side of the park with a loop trail around the basin.

The park was acquired in 1991. It was built by Ridgewood Realty, the developer of the Sixth Avenue West Estates subdivision and dedicated to Foothills under Senate Bill 35 Land Dedication requirements.

From the intersection of 6th Ave. Freeway and Indiana St., head south on Indiana until it turns into Ellsworth Ave. Follow Ellsworth Ave. to the west end of McIntyre Circle. Turn right on McIntyre to W. Ellsworth Dr. Turn left on Ellsworth Dr. to the park. A parking lot is available.

4worldlovers: Paddle boards, kayaks, bo​​​ats, and jet skis are allowed to include during the boating season, which starts April 1.

Please bring your own hand sanitizer. There may be no running water available.

Cherry Creek Reservoir is CLOSED to all boating/watercraft including paddleboards, kayaks and canoes.

To reserve camping, visit CPWShop.com or call 1-800-244-5613 (open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Please use cpwshop.com to purchase annual passes, dog off-leash passes, fishing licenses, watercraft registrations, or the park's self-service stations to purchase passes for day use.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Welcome to Denver’s natural and spacious backyard playground. There’s so much to see and enjoy. ​Summers are busy and action packed while off-peak times are quiet and laid back. Anchored around a 880 surface acre reservoir, the park offers a natural prairie environment of gentle, rolling hills and complete outdoor recreation facilities, including camping, picnicking and facilities for group events.

See the Cherry Creek Water temperature conditions application for up to the minute water information.

4worldlovers:
Westlands Park has been featured in Landscape Architecture Magazine, Denver Post, and was honored with the "Top of the Rocky Top Playground," awarded by the Rocky Mountain News three years in a row! Westlands Park was also featured in 5280 Magazine as the Editor's choice as the Top Playground destination in the metro area.

The Westlands playground includes three play areas sized for toddlers to teens. There are two large climbing structures which satisfy both the technical climber as well as the inexperienced child. In addition to the main play area, there are two multi-use playing fields, musical instruments, an interactive water feature (open from Memorial Day to Labor Day), a pond and a hike/bike trail. There are also two pickleball courts and a basketball court in the southwest corner of the park.


The Center Pavilion provides seating for 84 people and can accommodate up to 150 in the immediate area. This shelter has restrooms with running water, electrical outlets and four charcoal grills. The interactive water feature to the south of the Center Pavilion is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

To make a reservation for the Center Pavilion in Westlands Park, please go to the online system to create an account and make a reservation. You may find out more information here. And, you may go directly to the reservation page here.

The Top Playground Pavilion provides seating for 24 people and can accommodate groups as large as 50 in the immediate area. There is access to restrooms with running water as well as electricity.

To make a reservation for the Top Playground Pavilion in Westlands Park, please go to the online system to create an account and make a reservation. You may find out more information here. And, you may go direction to the reservation page here.

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