Outdoor scenery and recreation are major attractions for anyone like me who is relatively new to Colorado. The crown jewel of the state is Rocky Mountain National Park, with its miles of hiking trails, picture-perfect mountains and lakes, and the literally breathtaking drive through the park on Trail Ridge Road.

The National Park attracts millions of visitors each year both from out-of-state and within Colorado. It’s so popular that crowds can be a problem, which the National Park Service has tried to address with timed entry passes. It’s also expensive to visit—entry fees for a single day are $30 per vehicle, although those over the age of 62 can take advantage of the best recreational bargain out there, the lifetime national parks pass available for $80.

Rocky Mountain National Park should be on everyone’s bucket list to experience. But some may find the expense and hassle of visiting, particularly during the peak of tourist season, to be a detriment to making frequent drives to Estes Park or Grand Lake. Fortunately, Colorado’s outdoor beauty doesn’t stop at the National Park’s boundaries. Those of us in the Denver area can take advantage of our proximity to spectacular scenery in other ways. One of the best is through the state park system.

There are 43 state parks in Colorado, and more than a dozen of them are within a two-hour drive of Denver. These can be divided into two categories—parks that focus on water recreation and parks that offer opportunities to walk and hike in places of natural beauty.

The “water” parks—Boyd Lake, Cherry Creek, Barr Lake, Chatfield, and Jackson Lake—primarily offer boating and fishing, along with campgrounds and trails. But if you’re looking for an experience that involves stunning views, hiking, and wildlife, the eight parks scattered along the Front Range from just north of Fort Collins to just south of Colorado Springs should be on your visitation list.

Left: 1) Mueller State Park. Right: 2) Eldorado Canyon State Park.

Each of these eight state parks has its own unique features. 1) Mueller, in the shadow of Pikes Peak, has wildlife in abundance, including moose. 2) Eldorado Canyon, close enough to Boulder that its popularity requires a timed entry system on summer weekends, is a haven for rock climbers. 3) Roxborough, barely to the south of Denver’s suburbs, has jagged rock formations rivaling those of the more famous Garden of the Gods. 4) Castlewood Canyon, east of Castle Rock, takes you from the high plains down to a lush canyon cut by Cherry Creek, miles before it gets to Denver. 5) Golden Gate Canyon and 6) Staunton transport you higher into the foothills, with great views of the  mountains and opportunities for long wilderness hikes. 7) Lory, to the west of Fort Collins on the shore of the Horsetooth Reservoir, provides access to both the water and the foothills. And 8) Cheyenne Mountain, south of Colorado Springs, is now better known as a state park with miles of secluded trails instead of the underground home of NORAD, made famous to those outside of Colorado by the 1980’s movie Wargames.

3) Roxborough State Park

All of these parks have visitor centers with interpretive displays, trail guides, and knowledgeable park rangers and volunteers ready to assist with recommendations and answers to questions. The maintenance and quality of the facilities rival those of the National Park Service, which is facing severe cuts in its budget, threatening the future of the system. This situation makes Colorado State Parks even more important for residents of the state.

Left: 4) Castlewood Canyon State Park. Middle: 5) Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Right: 6) Staunton State Park

Most Coloradans seem to have “their” place to go to enjoy the natural wonders which make Colorado special. As a newer resident of northeast Denver, I’m finding “my” place is not a single location but is the variety the numerous nearby state parks can provide. If you haven’t been to a state park for a while, get a brochure (available at cpw.state.co.us/state-parks) and a Keep Colorado Wild pass, pick a location, and spend a few hours outside. My guess is you’ll be headed to another park…and another…and another.

Left: 7) Lory State Park. Right: 8) Cheyenne Mountain State Park

State park photos by Ray Landis