Elk Meadow Park
Encyclopedia
Elk Meadow Park is a park and trail system in Evergreen, Colorado
managed by Jefferson County Open Space. This program began acquiring these ranchlands in 1977 to create the extensive protected area, which is made larger by adjacent public land
s. Contiguous to Elk Meadow Park on the west is Bergen Peak Park, a "conservation/wilderness" area that is part of the Denver Mountain Parks
system. Through a cooperative effort between the two park management entities, the Too Long Trail in Elk Meadow Park continues to Bergen Peak, at 9,708 ft (2959 m). Noble Meadow, a conservation easement adjacent to Elk Meadow Park on the northwest along Squaw Pass Road, has no public access. The Bergen Peak Wildlife Area, managed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, is next to the Park's southwestern boundary.
, and simply enjoy Mother Nature
. Most of the park is open meadows with grasses and wildflowers for the residents of Jefferson County
to see and enjoy. There are two seasonal creeks running through the park, Bergen Creek and Troublesome Creek, and several smaller springs which feed very small creeks. Bergen Creek turns into a swampy area at State Highway 74 which spurs the growth of cattails
and wet-loving grasses. The Park encompasses the lower eastern slopes of Bergen Peak, which is covered in Ponderosa Pine
s, Douglas Fir
s, Aspen
s, and some small groves of Lodgepole Pine
s.
The trail system begins at a small parking area with restrooms and a gazebo for summertime picnics. There are several small shelters along the trails erected by various organizations in Evergreen, Colorado
. During the winter, the snow that falls in the park blows west to east creating a difficult drifting problem for Highway 74 once getting to 12 feet (3.7 m) tall in the Winter of 06-07. During winters with abnormal amounts of snow, it is possible to cross-country ski throughout the park and even alpine ski
on Bergen Peak. Hiwan Golf Club
borders the Park's eastern side. Overall, the park is a nice place for a summertime jog through the foothills of Colorado
.
Evergreen, Colorado
Evergreen is a census-designated place and a U.S. Post Office in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Evergreen is roughly west of Denver. The population was 9,038 at the 2010 census...
managed by Jefferson County Open Space. This program began acquiring these ranchlands in 1977 to create the extensive protected area, which is made larger by adjacent public land
Public land
In all modern states, some land is held by central or local governments. This is called public land. The system of tenure of public land, and the terminology used, varies between countries...
s. Contiguous to Elk Meadow Park on the west is Bergen Peak Park, a "conservation/wilderness" area that is part of the Denver Mountain Parks
Denver Mountain Parks
The Denver Mountain Parks system contains more than 14,000 acres of parklands in the mountains and foothills of Jefferson, Clear Creek, Douglas,and Grand counties in Colorado, west and south of Denver....
system. Through a cooperative effort between the two park management entities, the Too Long Trail in Elk Meadow Park continues to Bergen Peak, at 9,708 ft (2959 m). Noble Meadow, a conservation easement adjacent to Elk Meadow Park on the northwest along Squaw Pass Road, has no public access. The Bergen Peak Wildlife Area, managed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, is next to the Park's southwestern boundary.
Trails and Other Activities
Elk Meadow Park is home to a number of outdoor activities. In the summertime, the many miles of trail serve as a place to run, walk, jog, mountain bikeMountain bike
A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
, and simply enjoy Mother Nature
Mother Nature
Mother Nature is a common personification of nature that focuses on the life-giving and nurturing aspects of nature by embodying it in the form of the mother. Images of women representing mother earth, and mother nature, are timeless...
. Most of the park is open meadows with grasses and wildflowers for the residents of Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Colorado
Jefferson County , whose slogan is the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains", is the fourth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Located along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Jefferson County is adjacent to the west side of the state capital, Denver....
to see and enjoy. There are two seasonal creeks running through the park, Bergen Creek and Troublesome Creek, and several smaller springs which feed very small creeks. Bergen Creek turns into a swampy area at State Highway 74 which spurs the growth of cattails
Typha
Typha is a genus of about eleven species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Typhaceae. The genus has a largely Northern Hemisphere distribution, but is essentially cosmopolitan, being found in a variety of wetland habitats...
and wet-loving grasses. The Park encompasses the lower eastern slopes of Bergen Peak, which is covered in Ponderosa Pine
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine, or Western Yellow Pine, is a widespread and variable pine native to western North America. It was first described by David Douglas in 1826, from eastern Washington near present-day Spokane...
s, Douglas Fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
s, Aspen
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
s, and some small groves of Lodgepole Pine
Lodgepole Pine
Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta, also known as Shore Pine, is a common tree in western North America. Like all pines, it is evergreen.-Subspecies:...
s.
The trail system begins at a small parking area with restrooms and a gazebo for summertime picnics. There are several small shelters along the trails erected by various organizations in Evergreen, Colorado
Evergreen, Colorado
Evergreen is a census-designated place and a U.S. Post Office in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Evergreen is roughly west of Denver. The population was 9,038 at the 2010 census...
. During the winter, the snow that falls in the park blows west to east creating a difficult drifting problem for Highway 74 once getting to 12 feet (3.7 m) tall in the Winter of 06-07. During winters with abnormal amounts of snow, it is possible to cross-country ski throughout the park and even alpine ski
Alpine Ski
Alpine Ski is an Alpine skiing arcade game, released by Taito in 1981.- Description :The player controls a skier, who can move left, right, or increase forward speed. The aim is to maneuver a skier through a downhill ski course, a slalom course, and a ski jumping competition in the shortest time...
on Bergen Peak. Hiwan Golf Club
Hiwan Golf Club
Hiwan Golf Club is an 18-hole golf course located in Evergreen, Colorado.The golf course is 7,097 yards from the back tees and is a par 70. The fairways are lined with ponderosa pines and Douglas firs and magnificent Bergen Peak provides an elegant background for nearly every hole. The greens at...
borders the Park's eastern side. Overall, the park is a nice place for a summertime jog through the foothills of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.