Visit Us

National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surrounds. Take a nature escape and discover all that Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge has to offer and best of all it's FREE to visit! 

Activities

The Refuge offers a variety of wildlife-related activities seasonally or year-round. Click on the activity links below for details.

Trails

Enjoy 10 miles of moderate hiking trails through the rolling hills of the mixed and tall grass prairie. Trails are open year-round to hiking, wildlife viewing, photography, bicycling and class 1 e-Bikes, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and horseback riding. Restrooms are located at the Refuge main entrance. Please stay on the trail to protect habitat. View the Refuge Trail Map.

Trail Courtesy:

  • Bicycles yield to hikers.
  • Hikers yield to horses.
  • Cyclist yield to horses.

Lindsay Ranch Loop Trail

Open: Year-round to hiking, wildlife viewing, photography, bicycling and class 1 e-Bikes, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and horseback riding.
Length: 1.4 mile loop trail
Park at the Refuge entrance and hike 0.5 miles on the Walnut Creek Loop Trail to connect with the Rocky Mountain Greenway Trail. Hike 1.5 miles along the Greenway Trail to reach the Lindsay Ranch Loop Trail. The trail is considered moderate due to rolling terrain and hills. Trail surface is dirt. The Lindsay Ranch Loop Trail crosses Rock Creek and features the historic Lindsay Ranch barn. Watch for elk, deer, raptors, and songbirds in the mixed and tallgrass prairie.

Walnut Creek Loop Trail

Open: Year-round to hiking, wildlife viewing, photography, bicycling and class 1 e-Bikes, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and horseback riding.
Length: 1.0 mile
Trailhead parking is at the Refuge entrance. The trail is considered moderate due to rolling terrain and hills. Trail surface is dirt. This trail connects with the regional Rocky Mountain Greenway Trail. Watch for elk, deer, raptors, and songbirds.

Woman Creek Loop Trail

Open: Year-round to hiking, wildlife viewing, photography, bicycling and class 1 e-Bikes, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and horseback riding.
Length: 3.0 miles
The trailhead is located at the small parking lot on the southern border of the Refuge (link to directions). This hike is considered moderate due to rolling terrain and hills. Trail surface is dirt. Along the way, there are views of South Woman Creek, and Upper and Lower Church Lake. Watch for elk, deer, raptors, and songbirds in the mixed and tallgrass prairie.

Rocky Mountain Greenway Trail

Open: Year-round to hiking, wildlife viewing, photography, bicycling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and horseback riding.
Length: 4.9 miles
Park at the Refuge entrance. Begin your hike on the Walnut Creek Loop Trail. Hike 0.5 miles to connect with the Rocky Mountain Greenway Trail. This hike is considered moderate due to rolling terrain and hills. Trail surface is dirt and gravel. In the future, this regional trail will connect with Boulder and Jefferson County trail systems as well as connect with Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge, and Rocky Mountain National Park. Watch for elk, deer, raptors, and songbirds in the mixed and tallgrass prairie.

Related Documents

Other Facilities in the Complex

Rules and Policies

Visitor safety and wildlife conservation are top priorities at the Colorado Front Range National Wildlife Refuge Complex. At times, sections of the refuges may be closed on short notice due to wildlife needs, weather, or special projects. The refuges are subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

To help make your visit safe and enjoyable, click on the the View All Rules and Policies below for details about permitted and prohibited activities. You can also call Refuge Headquarters at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge at 303-289-0232, and monitor the website for current hours of operation and alerts before visiting. We hope you enjoy your visit to the Refuge!

Locations

Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge
10801 Highway 93Golden,CO80402
Driving Directions

From Highway 36, take Take the Wadsworth Parkway exit. Turn left onto Interlocken Loop/Wadsworth Parkway (0.4 miles). Turn right onto CO-128 W/Interlocken Loop. Continue on Interlocken Loop, which turns into West 120th Avenue. Take West 120th Avenue to the Refuge main entrance.

Hours
Refuge Hours
Year-round
Sunrise to Sunset
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day
Closed