A free national wildlife refuge in Commerce City, just northeast of Denver, where you can see bison from your car on an 11-mile Wildlife Drive. The visitor center has exhibits, including one with live black-footed ferrets.
Know before you go. The refuge doesn't list sensory supports. Here's what it says about the drive, the bison, the trails and the rules.
Hours
Refuge: sunrise to sunset in fall, winter and spring (sunrise to 8 pm from May through July). Visitor Center: Wednesday to Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm, closed federal holidays. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day; on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, last entry is 11:30 am.
“Visitors must stay in their vehicle when viewing bison.” “Stay on trails.” “Only service dogs are allowed at the Refuge.”
“Take the 11-mile Wildlife Drive. Listen to the Wildlife Drive audio tour along the way.” The refuge suggests 45 to 60 minutes for it.
“Hike the 1 mile Discovery Trail starting at the Visitor Center back patio,” or the “Lake Mary Loop Trail (0.6 miles) with a boardwalk and piers overlooking the water.”
This fall the refuge is doing prescribed burns for several weeks, between 9 am and 4 pm, weather permitting. “Smoke may be visible for several miles beyond the refuge, and nearby communities may smell smoke.”
The Wildlife Drive lets a kid who doesn't want to walk still see the animals.
The visitor center and ferrets are closed Monday and Tuesday, so pick Wednesday to Sunday if those matter.
Call 303-289-0930More about Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
“Visiting the Refuge is FREE!” You don't need a pass.
The black-footed ferret exhibit is near the visitor center back patio and keeps visitor center hours.
Kids can earn a Junior Ranger badge by finishing at least 4 pages of the booklet (in English or Spanish) and picking up the badge at the visitor center. “Sorry, we don't mail badges.”
“Take a virtual tour of the Visitor Center and Black-footed ferret exhibit before you arrive.”
“No swimming or wading at Refuge lakes.” “Park in designated parking lots.”
Visitor Center 303-289-0930, rockymountainarsenal@fws.gov.
