Elk Meadow Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elk Meadow Park
Countryside in the park
Location	Evergreen, Colorado, US
Area	1,140 acres (4.6 km2)
Operated by	Jefferson County Open Space

Elk Meadow Park is a beautiful park and trail system located in Evergreen, Colorado. It's managed by a group called Jefferson County Open Space. This program started buying these old ranch areas in 1977. Their goal was to create a large protected space for everyone to enjoy. The park is even bigger because it connects to other public lands nearby.

Next to Elk Meadow Park, on its western side, is Bergen Peak Park. This area is a special "conservation/wilderness" zone and is part of the Denver Mountain Parks system. The two park groups work together, so a trail from Elk Meadow Park, called the Too Long Trail, goes all the way to Bergen Peak. This peak is very tall, reaching about 9,708 feet (2959 meters)! Another area, Noble Meadow, is next to the park but is private and not open to the public. The Bergen Peak Wildlife Area, managed by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, is also close to the park's southwest border.

Fun Activities and Trails

Elk Meadow Park is a great place for many outdoor activities. In the summer, its many miles of trails are perfect for running, walking, jogging, and mountain biking. You can also just relax and enjoy nature. Most of the park has open meadows filled with different grasses and colorful wildflowers. These are lovely for people from Jefferson County, Colorado to see.

Water Features in the Park

The park has two creeks that flow at certain times of the year: Bergen Creek and Troublesome Creek. There are also smaller springs that feed tiny creeks. Near Colorado State Highway 74, Bergen Creek turns into a swampy area. This wet ground helps plants like cattails and other water-loving grasses grow.

Trees and Plants

The lower eastern slopes of Bergen Peak are part of the park. These slopes are covered with different types of trees. You'll find tall Ponderosa Pines, Douglas Firs, and Aspen trees. There are also some small groups of Lodgepole Pines.

Starting Your Adventure

The trail system starts at a small parking area. Here, you'll find restrooms and a gazebo, which is a nice spot for picnics in the summer. Along the trails, there are also small shelters. Different groups in Evergreen, Colorado built these shelters.

Winter Fun

In winter, the snow in the park often blows from west to east. This can create very tall snowdrifts, sometimes reaching 12 feet (3.7 meters) high on Highway 74. When there's a lot of snow, you can even go cross-country skiing throughout the park. If you're adventurous, you might even try alpine skiing on Bergen Peak! The Hiwan Golf Club is next to the park's eastern side. Overall, Elk Meadow Park is a wonderful spot for a summer jog in the Colorado foothills.

Dog Park Information

In Elk Meadow Park itself, dogs must be on a leash. This rule applies to all Open Space Parks. However, there used to be a special off-leash area for dogs just across Stagecoach Boulevard. This was called the Elk Meadow Park Dog Off-Leash Area.

Recent Changes to the Dog Park

On April 4, 2017, Jefferson County Open Space closed the entire 107-acre dog park within Elk Meadow Park. This closure was made permanent. Before this, there was a plan to keep parts of the dog park open, but that plan changed.

Images for kids

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  Countryside in the park

Jeffco.us Open Space: Elk Meadow Park Homepage