Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge

The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is the most surprising free outing in metro Denver, and the one we recommend most to travelers who think they have to drive to Yellowstone to see bison. Spread across roughly fifteen thousand acres of shortgrass prairie, wetlands and lakes between the city and the airport, it shelters a growing bison herd, mule and white-tailed deer, coyotes, burrowing owls, bald eagles in winter and huge colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs, all against a backdrop of the Front Range on the western horizon. The heart of a visit is the eleven-mile Wildlife Drive, a slow auto tour where you stay in your car among the bison, which is both the rule and the best way to see them up close. The refuge also has about twenty miles of trails, from the one-mile Discovery Trail that starts at the visitor center and passes the black-footed ferret exhibit to the short Lake Mary loop with its boardwalk, plus seasonal catch-and-release fishing. Entry is free, the refuge is open from sunrise to sunset for most of the year, and the visitor center, open Wednesday through Sunday, has exhibits, rangers and restrooms. The history is part of the story: the land was farmland, then a wartime manufacturing site and Army arsenal for much of the twentieth century, and after a long and costly cleanup it became a national wildlife refuge in 2004. The result is a remarkable piece of reclaimed prairie that feels a world away from the city skyline still visible on the horizon.

The best time to visit is early morning or the hour before sunset, when the light is low, the bison are active and the prairie dogs are out. Drive slowly, pull over at the designated spots, and use binoculars or a long camera lens; the refuge is wide open, so you will often spot animals at a distance before they wander closer to the road. Bison have the right of way and must be watched from your vehicle, and pets are restricted on the refuge, so check the rules before bringing one. Autumn brings the deer rut and big skies, winter brings bald eagles to the cottonwoods along the lakes, and spring and early summer are the time for bison calves and nesting birds.

Practical notes help. Sections of the Wildlife Drive occasionally close for bison management, and the refuge runs prescribed burns on parts of the prairie in autumn and spring, so check the alerts before you set out. The visitor center keeps shorter hours than the refuge itself and closes on federal holidays, and the gate closes at sunset in the cooler months, a little later in summer. Cyclists can use the Greenway Trail and the trails south of 64th Avenue, and anglers sixteen and older pay a small daily fee during the fishing season. There is no food service, so bring water and snacks, especially on hot days, when shade is scarce.

Because it is so close to Denver International Airport, the refuge makes an excellent first or last stop of a trip: you can pick up a rental car, spend two hours among the bison and still check into a downtown hotel by dinner. Families love it because children can see big wildlife safely from the car, and photographers love it for the light. Combine it with a visit to the Denver Zoo or the Museum of Nature and Science to round out a wildlife-themed day, or simply enjoy it on its own as a reminder of what the plains looked like before the city arrived.