Introducing the Picnic Parks

The following paragraphs are extracted from Section 4 of the draft Master Plan. For more complete information, please review the source document. In the draft Master Plan, Denver's Mountain Parks were classified into four tiers based on similar qualities. See page 121 for more information on "The Picnic Parks". You may use our Survey Form to provide comments on this or other parts of the draft plan.

In the early 1900s Denver began the task of building scenic drives through the foothills to access the mountain peaks and flowing streams just west of the city. The scenic canyon of Bear Creek and Mount Evans were two such places. Known collectively as the picnic parks, these parks are further organized by their specific role and locations as a Bear Creek Picnic Park or as a Gateway Picnic Park.

• The Bear Creek Picnic Parks
  
  With the growing popularity of the car in the early 1900s, groups could venture out for the day, making Bear Creek a favorite destination for a picnic outing. Between 1912 and 1917, many of the Bear Creek picnic spots officially became a part of the Denver Mountain Park System. The curving, scenic drive (Highway 74) connects four of the picnic parks, and the tributary creeks of Bell and Cub Creek south of Evergreen connect the other two.
  
  Each Bear Creek Picnic Park offers its own unique natural setting, but they also all share special features such as access to flowing stream waters, rustic shelters, shaded picnic sites, and nearby hiking trails.
  
  
  • Little Park
    
  • Corwina Park
    
  • O'Fallon Park; Pence Park
    
  • Bell Park
    
  • Cub Creek Park
    
  
  
  For a map of trails connecting some of these Bear Creek parks, visit the map page at Denvergov.org.
  
  
• The Gateway Picnic Parks
  
  One of the more scenic routes was the road through steep mountain terrain to Mount Evans. Before reaching Squaw Pass, the early road extended through wooded hillsides in what would eventually be known as the Town of Evergreen. Another route traveled southwesterly from Denver, turning west to follow North Turkey Creek. Along each of these roads, Denver built a picnic park as a gateway to western scenery.
  
  
  • Fillius Park
    
  • Bergen Park
    
  • Turkey Creek Park
    
  
  

You can find more on each of these Picnic Parks in Section 4c of the Master Plan.

For an overview of the park tiers described in the draft Master Plan, see Four Tiers of Mountain Parks, posted below.

For a map of the system showing locations of these parks, visit the Mountain Parks map page at Denvergov.org.