Eldorado Canyon State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eldorado Canyon State Park |
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View from the climbers access trail to the Redgarden Wall a portion of which can be seen on the left. The Bastille sits across South Boulder Creek to the right.
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| Location | Boulder County, Colorado, USA |
| Nearest city | Boulder, CO |
| Area | 885 acres (3.58 km2) |
| Created | 1978 |
| Operated by | Colorado Parks and Wildlife |
Eldorado Canyon State Park is a beautiful park in Colorado. It's located in Boulder County, close to the city of Boulder. The park has two main parts: the Inner Canyon, which is more developed, and Crescent Meadows, which is wilder. The park covers about 885 acres (3.58 square kilometers). It offers many fun things to do outdoors. Eldorado Canyon is famous for its amazing rock climbing spots, which are easy to get to. The park is open only during the day, so visitors need to leave before it gets dark.
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A Look Back in Time
The Ute Indians were the first people to live in this area. The canyon walls helped protect them from the cold Colorado winters. Later, settlers came looking for gold and good land for farming. Eldorado Canyon has a very old history. Some rocks near the park's entrance are over 1.5 billion years old!
Eldorado Springs Resort
At the start of the 1900s, the town of Eldorado Springs became a popular resort. It was known for its warm artesian springs and fancy hotels. Famous people and residents from Denver enjoyed visiting this beautiful place. One hotel, the Crags Hotel, burned down in 1912.
Ivy Baldwin's Tightrope Walks
From 1906 to 1949, a man named Ivy Baldwin became famous here. He performed amazing tightrope walks across the canyon, 580 feet (177 meters) above the ground! Today, visitors still enjoy high views of the park, but usually as rock climbers, not tightrope walkers.
Fun Things to Do
The biggest reason people visit Eldorado Canyon State Park is for rock climbing. The park has over 1,000 different rock climbing routes. But even if you don't climb, there's plenty to enjoy.
Trails and Water Fun
You can hike or mountain bike on over 11 miles (18 kilometers) of scenic trails. These trails range from easy to difficult. Some trails connect to other public lands outside the park. The Rattlesnake Gulch Trail leads to where the old Crags Hotel used to be and offers great views of the Continental Divide. You can also picnic by or fish in the beautiful South Boulder Creek.
Winter Activities
In winter, Eldorado Canyon is still a great place to visit. You can go hiking, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing on the trails.
Park Location and Weather
The park entrance is just west of Eldorado Springs on State Highway 170. To the west of the park is the Roosevelt National Forest and Colorado's Front Range mountains. To the east, you'll find the busy cities of Boulder and Denver on the High Plains.
Climate
Snow and ice are common on roads and trails from mid-October through late April. Even in summer, snow can sometimes fall, but it's not common. The weather can change quickly throughout the day, all year long. Summer mornings are often sunny and beautiful, but sudden thunderstorms can happen in the afternoons.
Images for kids
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Climbers partway up a vertical wall in Eldorado Canyon
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The park's ranger station and visitors' center, with Shirttail Peak in the background.
