Facility 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!

Refuge Rules and Regulations

Designated trails and parking areas are open to visitor access from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, and are open most federal holidays (closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day).

To protect wildlife and habitat, visitor access is limited to designated trails only, all other Refuge lands and staff roads are closed to visitor entry.

Please Enjoy these Wildlife Related Recreational Activities:

  • Wildlife observation.
  • Wildlife photography.
  • Hiking / snowshoeing / cross country skiing on designated trails.
  • Bicycling and Class 1 e-Bikes on designated multi-use trails.
  • Horseback riding on designated multi-use trails.

Prohibited activities include, but not limited to:

  • Hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding off designated trails.
  • Motorized vehicles off designated roads.
  • Pets and other domestic animals (dogs, cats, horses, etc.).
  • Abandonment of wild or domestic animals.
  • Launching, landing, and operating aircraft (model aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles/ drones).
  • Possessing and discharging fireworks.
  • Discharging of firearms or other weapons.
  • Disturbing, injuring, and damaging wildlife and plants
  • Searching for and removal of any object (plants, wildlife, natural objects, mineral, antiquities, cultural, etc.).
  • Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages.
  • Possession or consumption of marijuana and any controlled substance and associated paraphernalia.
  • Commercial photography and motion pictures.
  • Camping, tents, and building of structures.
  • Abandonment of property (littering and dumping).
  • Use of boats, canoes, kayaks, float tubes, paddleboards, and other floatation devices.
  • Walking or skating on ice.
  • Overnight parking.
  • Swimming and bathing in all Refuge waters.
  • Campfires and grills.

For more information, call Refuge Headquarters at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge at 303-289-0232.
To Report Violations on Federal Refuge Lands: dial 1-844-397-8477 or email FWS_TIPS@fws.gov.
To Report Emergency / Medical / Fire: dial 911. For non-emergency calls: dial 303-277-0211.

Refuge Pet Policy

Why Are Dogs Prohibited at Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge? 

Dogs (pets) are not allowed at Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge, and Rocky Mountain National Wildlife Refuge. Bringing your dog to a national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

Learn more about national wildlife refuge can be very disruptive to wildlife and some visitors.

Many wildlife species perceive dogs (pets) as a predator and in some instances as prey to larger predatory species. Dogs (pets) can chase wildlife or be a visual threat to wildlife and birds, causing wildlife and birds to flee nesting, burrowing, feeding, and resting sites. The lingering scent of the dog (pet) can signal the presence of a predator, long after the dog (pet) is gone. The disturbance of wildlife burns much needed energy that animals need to survive and raise their young.

Dogs (pets) can carry disease into the Refuge’s wildlife populations. Dogs could unknowingly carry canine distemper, which can be detrimental to the health of our endangered black-footed ferrets and other small mammals. Dogs bark and disturb the quiet of the Refuge. Unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells can disturb even the calmest, friendliest, and best-trained dog, causing them to behave unpredictably or bark excessively.

Service Animals

Service animals are allowed, but must be on leash control at all times. The definition of a service animal is any animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. The crime deterrence effects of an animal’s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.

Emotional support, therapy, or comfort animals do not qualify or meet the definition of a service animal under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For more information on service animals please refer to the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division’s “Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA” pdf file.