Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge

Denver Area Hikes , Denver Colorado Parks , Denver Colorado Trails

Welcome to one of the largest urban National Wildlife Refuges in the United States, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, an oasis of wetlands, woodlands, and grasslands located about 10 minutes from downtown Denver. This is a popular field trip destination for students of schools in the Denver Area. This refuge is often called "a significant habitat island for wildlife" and "a place to renew the relationship with nature."

Refuge History: Long before the arrival of European settlers many Native Americans hunted the bison on these lands. When European settlers began arriving many farms and ranches were established. When the attack on Pearl Harbor pushed the United States into World War II the Army established a chemical weapons manufacturing facility known as the Rocky Mountain Arsenal on this land. This is how the Refuge got it's name. During the Cold War the military continued to build weapons and the Shell Chemical Company leased part of the land to produce agricultural chemicals.

In the early 1980's Shell Chemical Company and the Army began to cleanup the site and bald eagles began roosting on the land which led to the idea of establishing a National Wildlife Refuge. In the mid 1990's the Fish and Wildlife Service, Army, and Shell Chemical Company began a public-private working partnership to help restore the land to it's natural state. Cleanup is expected to finish in 2010.

Wildlife: Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge helps protect the home of numerous wild critters including bison, deer, coyotes, owls, and bald eagles. Please treat their home with respect.

For the lover of the outdoors this refuge boasts over nine miles of trails, magnificent wildlife viewing opportunities, and so much more. Come on out and explore!