List of protected areas of Colorado facts for kids
Colorado is a beautiful state with many amazing places to explore! A big part of Colorado's land is protected. This means these areas are kept safe for nature, wildlife, and people to enjoy. They are managed by different groups, like the U.S. government or the state of Colorado. Let's discover some of these special spots!
Contents
- Federal Lands: Protecting Colorado's Natural Treasures
- Federally Designated Areas: Special Recognitions
- State Lands: Colorado's Own Protected Places
- State Designated Areas: Unique Natural Spots
- Regional Trails: Exploring Colorado by Foot or Bike
- Bicycle Routes: Cycling Across Colorado
- Images for kids
- See also
Federal Lands: Protecting Colorado's Natural Treasures
The United States government owns a large part of Colorado, about 36% of the state's total land. These lands include national parks, forests, and other important areas. They are managed to protect nature and offer fun activities for everyone.
National Park System: America's Best Idea
The National Park Service looks after 23 special places in Colorado. These include famous national parks, monuments, and historic sites. They are all part of the National Park System.
National Parks: Grand Adventures Await
Colorado has four amazing National Parks. These parks are huge areas of natural beauty. They are protected for everyone to enjoy for many years to come.
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is near Montrose. It has a very deep and narrow canyon.
- Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is near Mosca. Here you can find the tallest sand dunes in North America!
- Mesa Verde National Park is near Cortez. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can see ancient cliff dwellings built by early people.
- Rocky Mountain National Park is near Estes Park and Grand Lake. It features towering mountains, clear lakes, and lots of wildlife.
-
The Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park.
.jpg)
National Monuments: Historic and Natural Wonders
.jpg)
National Monuments protect places that have special historical, natural, or scientific importance. Colorado has nine of these unique sites:
- Browns Canyon National Monument near Nathrop. It was created by President Barack Obama in 2015.
- Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument is between Red Cliff and Leadville. President Joe Biden made it a monument in 2022.
- Canyons of the Ancients National Monument near Dolores. It was established by President Bill Clinton in 2000.
- Chimney Rock National Monument near Pagosa Springs. President Barack Obama designated it in 2012.
- Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction and Fruita. President William Howard Taft created it in 1911.
- Dinosaur National Monument near Dinosaur. It was first protected by President Woodrow Wilson in 1915. More land was added later by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument near Florissant. President Richard Nixon established it in 1969.
- Hovenweep National Monument near Cortez. President Warren G. Harding made it a monument in 1923.
- Yucca House National Monument near Cortez. President Woodrow Wilson protected it in 1919.
Some National Monuments in Colorado have even become National Parks because they are so special! For example, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument and Great Sand Dunes National Monument were later made into National Parks.
National Historic Sites: Stories from the Past
These sites protect important places from American history. Colorado has three National Historic Sites:
- Amache National Historic Site near Granada.
- Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site near La Junta. This fort was an important trading post long ago.
- Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site near Chivington. This site remembers a sad event in history.
National Recreation Areas: Fun in Nature
National Recreation Areas are places where people can enjoy outdoor activities. Colorado has two of these:
- Arapaho National Recreation Area near Granby.
- Curecanti National Recreation Area near Gunnison.
National Historic Trails: Following Old Paths
These trails follow important routes from history. Four National Historic Trails cross through Colorado:
- California National Historic Trail
- Old Spanish National Historic Trail
- Pony Express National Historic Trail
- Santa Fe National Historic Trail
National Scenic Trail: A Long Walk Through Beauty
A National Scenic Trail is a very long trail that goes through beautiful natural areas. Colorado has one:
- Continental Divide National Scenic Trail follows the Continental Divide of the Americas. This is the line where rivers flow either to the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean.
National Forests: Trees, Trails, and Wildlife
The United States Forest Service manages 11 National Forests in Colorado. These forests are used for many things, like logging, recreation, and protecting wildlife.
- Arapaho National Forest
- Grand Mesa National Forest
- Gunnison National Forest
- Pike National Forest
- Rio Grande National Forest
- Roosevelt National Forest
- Routt National Forest
- San Isabel National Forest
- San Juan National Forest
- Uncompahgre National Forest
- White River National Forest
National Grasslands: Wide Open Spaces
The United States Forest Service also manages two National Grasslands in Colorado. These are large areas of open prairie.
- Comanche National Grassland in southeastern Colorado.
- Pawnee National Grassland in northeastern Colorado.
National Wildernesses: Untouched Nature
Colorado has 44 National Wildernesses. These are areas where the land is left as natural as possible. There are no roads or buildings, and people can only visit on foot or horseback. This helps protect the plants and animals that live there.
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness
- Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness
- Buffalo Peaks Wilderness
- Byers Peak Wilderness
- Cache La Poudre Wilderness
- Collegiate Peaks Wilderness
- Comanche Peak Wilderness
- Dominguez Canyon Wilderness
- Eagles Nest Wilderness
- Flat Tops Wilderness
- Fossil Ridge Wilderness
- Great Sand Dunes Wilderness
- Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness
- Gunnison Gorge Wilderness
- Hermosa Creek Wilderness
- Holy Cross Wilderness
- Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness
- Indian Peaks Wilderness
- James Peak Wilderness
- La Garita Wilderness
- Lizard Head Wilderness
- Lost Creek Wilderness
- Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness
- Mesa Verde Wilderness
- Mount Evans Wilderness
- Mount Massive Wilderness
- Mount Sneffels Wilderness
- Mount Zirkel Wilderness
- Neota Wilderness
- Never Summer Wilderness
- Platte River Wilderness
- Powderhorn Wilderness
- Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness
- Raggeds Wilderness
- Rawah Wilderness
- Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness
- Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
- Sarvis Creek Wilderness
- South San Juan Wilderness
- Spanish Peaks Wilderness
- Uncompahgre Wilderness
- Vasquez Peak Wilderness
- Weminuche Wilderness
- West Elk Wilderness
National Conservation Areas: Balancing Use and Protection
.jpg)
The Bureau of Land Management manages three National Conservation Areas in Colorado. These areas are protected for their special natural, cultural, or historical value. They also allow for some public use.
- Dominguez–Escalante National Conservation Area
- Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area
- McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area
National Wildlife Refuges: Safe Homes for Animals
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service manages eight National Wildlife Refuges in Colorado. These places are set aside to protect different kinds of wildlife and their homes.
- Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge
- Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge
- Baca National Wildlife Refuge
- Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge
- Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
- Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge
- Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
- Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge
Federally Designated Areas: Special Recognitions
Some areas in Colorado are given special titles by the National Park Service, even if they are not fully owned by the federal government. These places can be on state, county, city, or even private lands.
National Heritage Areas: Celebrating Culture and History
National Heritage Areas recognize places where natural, cultural, and historic resources come together to tell important stories about the United States. Colorado has three of these:
- Cache La Poudre River Corridor National Heritage Area
- Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area
- South Park National Heritage Area
National Historic Landmarks: Important Places in History
National Historic Landmarks are buildings, sites, or objects that have been officially recognized as having great importance to the history of the United States. Colorado has 26 of these landmarks. Some examples include:
- Bent's Old Fort
- Colorado Chautauqua
- Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
- Leadville Historic District
- Mesa Verde Administrative District
- Pikes Peak
- Red Rocks Park
- United States Air Force Academy, Cadet Area
National Natural Landmarks: Amazing Natural Features
National Natural Landmarks are places that show the best examples of America's natural history. Colorado has 16 of these special natural sites:
- Big Spring Creek
- Garden of the Gods
- Garden Park Fossil Area
- Hanging Lake
- Indian Springs Trace Fossil Site
- Lost Creek Scenic Area
- Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas
- Raton Mesa
- Roxborough State Park
- Russell Lakes
- Sand Creek
- Slumgullion Earthflow
- Spanish Peaks
- Sulphur Cave and Spring
- Summit Lake
- West Bijou Site
National Recreation Trails: Trails for Everyone
These trails are recognized for providing good outdoor recreation opportunities. Colorado has 28 federally designated National Recreation Trails. They are great for hiking, biking, and enjoying nature. Some popular ones include:
- Barr National Recreation Trail near Pikes Peak
- Grays Peak National Recreation Trail
- High Line Canal National Recreation Trail in Denver
- Mineral Belt National Recreation Trail near Leadville
- Mount Evans National Recreation Trail
- Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Recreation Trails
Wild and Scenic River: Protecting Free-Flowing Waters
.jpg)
A Wild and Scenic River is a river that is protected for its outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values. Colorado has one:
- Cache la Poudre Wild and Scenic River
State Lands: Colorado's Own Protected Places
The state of Colorado also protects many important areas. These are managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Colorado State Parks: Fun for the Whole Family
.jpg)
Colorado has 43 State Parks. These parks offer many activities like camping, fishing, hiking, and boating. They are great places for families to spend time outdoors.
- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
- Barr Lake State Park
- Boyd Lake State Park
- Castlewood Canyon State Park
- Chatfield State Park
- Cherry Creek State Park
- Cheyenne Mountain State Park
- Crawford State Park (Colorado)
- Eldorado Canyon State Park
- Eleven Mile State Park
- Elkhead State Park
- Fishers Peak State Park
- Golden Gate Canyon State Park
- Harvey Gap State Park
- Highline Lake State Park
- Jackson Lake State Park (Colorado)
- James M. Robb – Colorado River State Park
- John Martin Reservoir State Park
- Lake Pueblo State Park
- Lathrop State Park
- Lone Mesa State Park
- Lory State Park
- Mancos State Park
- Mueller State Park
- Navajo State Park
- North Sterling State Park
- Paonia State Park
- Pearl Lake State Park
- Ridgway State Park
- Rifle Falls State Park
- Rifle Gap State Park
- Roxborough State Park
- Spinney Mountain State Park
- St. Vrain State Park
- Stagecoach State Park
- State Forest State Park
- Staunton State Park
- Steamboat Lake State Park
- Sweitzer Lake State Park
- Sweetwater Lake State Park
- Sylvan Lake State Park
- Trinidad Lake State Park
- Vega State Park
- Yampa River State Park
Colorado Wildlife Areas: Homes for Animals
Colorado Parks and Wildlife also manages 307 Colorado State Wildlife Areas. These areas are mainly focused on protecting wildlife habitats and providing opportunities for hunting and fishing.
State Designated Areas: Unique Natural Spots
The Colorado Department of Natural Resources also designates special places called Colorado Natural Areas.
Colorado Natural Areas: Preserving Unique Ecosystems
.jpg)
.jpg)
Colorado has 95 Colorado Natural Areas. These places protect rare plants, animals, and special natural features. They help keep Colorado's unique ecosystems healthy.
- Aiken Canyon Natural Area
- Arikaree River Natural Area
- Castlewood Canyon Natural Area
- Dakota Hogback Natural Area (also known as Dinosaur Ridge)
- Garden Park Fossil Locality
- Mount Goliath Natural Area
- Rabbit Valley Natural Area
- Roxborough Natural Area
- Slumgullion Earthflow Natural Area
- Staunton Natural Area
- Trinidad K-T Boundary Natural Area
- Wheeler Geologic Natural Area
Regional Trails: Exploring Colorado by Foot or Bike
Colorado has many long trails that cross different parts of the state. These trails are great for hiking and mountain biking.
- American Discovery Trail: This is a very long hiking trail that crosses the entire United States.
- Colorado Trail: This trail goes across the Southern Rocky Mountains. It is maintained by the Colorado Trail Foundation.
- Kokopelli Trail: A popular mountain bike trail.
- Paradox Trail: Another great mountain bike trail.
- Tabeguache Trail: A third mountain bike trail for adventurers.
Bicycle Routes: Cycling Across Colorado
There are also special routes for bicycle touring through Colorado. These are regularly checked by the Adventure Cycling Association.
- Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
- Great Parks Bicycle Route
- TransAmerica Trail Bicycle Route
- Western Express Bicycle Route
Images for kids
-
The Royal Gorge Bridge.
-
The Blanca Wetlands ACEC.
.jpg)
.jpg)
See also
