Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge

A truly beautiful national park located in the middle of Denver. The the sheer amount of driving you can do here and go down many different pathways is amazing. There are so many different animals that are wild and just walking around. I love how the animals were not afraid and I was able to see deer up close and personal as well as Prairie dogs! They were running around across the road and running into their homes or eating on the side of the road. I also loved to be able to see many bison and learned that they could even walk right up to your car, I'm glad they didn't because they are bigger than they appear even from far away! I spent at least a couple hours here with my husband driving around and everything was beautiful. They also have areas that you can get out of your car and walk that have some stunning views of your surroundings.There is a little information office that has some history of the surrounding area and information on the different animals they have on the reserve. The staff was very knowledgeable and happy to answer the questions I had. Behind the building they have a little enclosed habitat that you can see some prairie dogs up close! They have a cute little giftshop with things such as keychains and shirts that are very reasonably priced. One of my favorite things was this place from my recent trip to Denver!

Wowzer, what a fun way to explore the wildlife while being in the comfort of your car :) Came here at the suggestion of a local and can't wait to revisit this park again in other seasons! For this review, visited the refuge during January and despite the dead yellow grass, relatively empty blue skies, and no magical snow, there is still plenty to do and see. Here are my highlights:1. Listen to the audio/podcast tour!! Trust me, this made the drive around the refuge much more enjoyable and you get to learn more about the history of this place and what sort of landmarks you should be seeing at certain mile markers. You can get the audio from the refugee website. 2. Bird Watchers: Bring your binoculars! During my drive here, spotted an eagle, several types of birds and if you hike out on the main trails, can definitely see more birds hidden in the tall grass. 3. Animal Sightings: saw a ton of fluffy bisons, chubby prairie dogs, shy deer, and birds. Just be patient and slow as you drive and you'll definitely see the animals. 4. Rattlesnake Hill: Towards the end of the drive and around the time you loop back, definitely worth the stop to check out Rattlesnake Hill. :) It's a super easy short trek up the hill and gives you a nice expansive view of the refuge and the city in the far off distance. Plus, there are free telescopes you could use to see the animals as well. All in all, this is a free and educational detour from the busy city /touristy activities when in Denver :)

This is a true hidden gem in Denver! Some of my travel plans changed due to unexpected rain, so after a last-minute search, I found this place on Google Maps, and I had never seen it on recommendation websites like TripAdvisor.First off, it's in close proximity to the city, and thankfully, it was near the hotel I was staying at for the night. Also, admission was free, which was a nice perk. Upon entering, I visited the visitor center to gain insight into how this place came to be. The center was neat, and the exhibits were very informative.I was a bit worried that I might not be able to see the protected animals since it was raining moderately. However, setting my worries aside, I saw prairie dogs, mule deer, and bison all up close! I entered the bison viewing area just in time to see two male bison crossing the street right in front of my car! It was such a cool and unforgettable experience.For anyone looking for something unique to do while visiting Denver and wanting some wildlife viewing that is non-profit, I highly recommend the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge.

Stopped in this morning to take my dog to a new spot for an easy walk/hike. This was my first visit. The entrance was easy to find and parking was plenty on this cold morning. Me and my dog set out on a lovely long walk. We saw lots of birds and prairie dogs. The trails we walked were clean and maintained well. I used the restroom on the way out since all my coffee caught up with me. It was relatively clean and stocked (a nice surprise.) I'll be back to walk again when it's not so cold and windy to explore other trails. It was very peaceful.

Bison, Deer, and Birds -oh my. In our search for fun activities to do in Colorado -we came upon the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. The stunning landscape served as the perfect backdrop for our wildlife adventure and photo /video opportunities, where we spotted deer, bison, and a variety of other magnificent animals. The convenience of the audio tour enriched our experience, offering insightful commentary that guided us through the reserve's natural beauty. It was a relaxing and educational outing that truly showcased the area's diverse wildlife. This tour is about an hour and is a fun way connect with nature and enjoy a day out in the fresh air.

The entrance of this wildlife refuge is so close to the housing areas, we've skeptical about the chances of us seeing any wildlife. Driving further inside the wilderness, we saw a big group of bison but they've so far away and the area was fenced. We had to zoom in our camera to capture a photo.Nothing much to see or explore, we were close enough to two deer and saw a wolf (cayote, maybe) from a distance.In and out within one hour.

I may take criticism for this review, but I didn't like my visit here at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge...wow, that's a tongue twisting introduction, lol.So you may be asking, why? What didn't I like about it? I had just explored around Colorado Springs (one of my favorite cities in America) and was on a high note from experiencing the spectacular landmarks and sceneries over there...and so coming here was like being in slow motion, or...like taking a nap. There wasn't much to see that piqued my interest. My mind started wandering early on. All I could think was...what would be my activity for tomorrow?Alright, alright, I'm not that big of a villain. I really come in peace, lol. So...at least let me give a few details about what this (let's abbreviate) RMANWR is about :)Arsenal Refuge is located 78 miles north of Colorado Springs on a straight drive along I-25. And also, it sits 10 miles northeast of downtown Denver.It's free to visit and you can stop in at the Visitor Center to get an introduction into the landscape and speak with park representatives about how to best maximize your time. The big activity/attraction is the 11-mile Wildlife Drive around the refuge. It takes about 45 minutes. Along the way you have hiking opportunities, but don't expect to arrive at some grand lookout point at the end. They're just basic trails to soak up simple nature. I thought there could be rewarding moments and reflecting back now...I should have taken my foot off the gas pedal immediately.On the 11-mile Wildlife Drive, I saw one bison grazing in the distance. I spotted two deer running alongside a fenced pathway. Nothing eventful. I believe I would have been better served finding an animal sanctuary or petting zoo. It would have made me happier. No hard feelings about that :)I walked some very short trails...- Rattlesnake Hill Trail - 1/3rd of a mile to the top of a hill which they say overlooks the refuge. Were there 360 degree panoramic views with the Rocky Mountains shining in the distance? No, there weren't. All I noticed was flat prairieland.- Lake Mary Loop Trail - 6/10th's of a mile walk passing over a boardwalk beside a marshy wetlands setting. After two and a half hours, I decided to say goodbye to RMANWR. It's a fine place to hang out, but it's more suitable to locals living in the Denver area. For an adventurer like myself, it was a snooze in the park. If you're visiting from out of town, I wouldn't suggest coming here. There are more worthwhile options out there in nature and within driving distance of Denver. Sorry for the harsh review. Hope to stay friends with everyone :)

Wow, this place is a gem for wildlife watchers! We saw so much just on the wildlife loop drive, it was incredible! If I lived in the area I'd be there all the time!The drive is 11 miles. The first couple of miles are not in the bison zone and include trails and some lakes. There are tons of trees here and we saw deer, elk, and some large birds like a sage grouse and a hawk. Once you start to go over the cattle barriers in the road you'll be in the bison zone and cannot get out of your car. Around mile 4 or 5 you cross a small creek and enter prairie dog land. You'll see hundreds of prairie dogs and then a few hundred more. We also saw a couple rabbits and some unique prairie birds, like the western meadowlark. After the second creek crossing, the trees are gone and the area is pretty bare, so you won't miss any bison that are around. We saw them around mile 8 after the final turn, which was great because that area has a view of downtown Denver. The bison were the main event for us, and we were lucky that at 6pm in June they crossed the road right in front of us! A herd of around 100 bison, including big males and babies with their moms, all crossed the road. It was an amazing sight!Even if you didn't see a lot of wildlife, the area is gorgeous and a great example of the prairie ecosystem. Bring some binoculars and your patience and you'll have a great time!

Came in twice during my visit to Colorado. Based on IG and my brother there's some opportunity to see wild life specially Bison up close and personal. Unfortunately for me that was not the case. We were able to see them pretty far away , but not nearly close at all. Either way it was a relaxing ride and I was able to see other animals like deers. This is a free park that you can drive around and not permitted to get out of your car in certain areas (don't think you can outrun a bison). I look forward to be back and try my luck again.

This is a real treasure!Stopped at the visitor center. They were very helpful!The audio tour was also great. Saw buffalo pretty close up. Also they set up twigs by the road, that brought deer within feet of the road.