Rocky Mountain Arsenal
Commerce City, CO 80022
Plan Your Visit
National wildlife refuges provide an opportunity to unplug, recharge and connect with our natural surroundings. Take a nature escape and discover all that Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge has to offer and best of all it is FREE to visit! Wildlife Drive/Trails Map, Rules and Regulations (English, Spanish)
Refuge Hours
- Fall, winter, and spring: Sunrise to Sunset
- May 1 through August 1: Sunrise to 8:00 pm
Visitor Center Hours (closed on federal holidays)
- Wednesday through Sunday
- 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Contact: 303-289-0930
What to do if you have...
- 30 Minutes: Hike the 1 mile Discovery Trail starting at the Visitor Center back patio and stop in the endangered black-footed ferret exhibit to see the ferrets, or hike Lake Mary Loop Trail (0.6 miles) with a boardwalk and piers overlooking the water.
- 45 - 60 Minutes: Take the 11-mile Wildlife Drive. Listen to the Wildlife Drive audio tour along the way.
- 1 - 1.5 Hours: Hike 0.6 mile Lake Mary Loop Trail and take the 11-mile Wildlife Drive.
- 2+ Hours: Take the 11-mile Wildlife Drive; park at one of the parking lots on 64th Avenue and hike the Lake Ladora Loop Trail or Rocky Mountain Greenway Trail.
Kids, while visiting the Refuge, earn your Junior Ranger badge. Download the booklet (English, Spanish) or stop by the Visitor Center Information Desk and pick up your Junior Ranger booklet. Complete at least 4 activity pages to earn your official Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Junior Ranger badge. Pick up your badge at the Visitor Center (sorry, we don't mail badges).
Take a virtual tour of the Visitor Center and Black-footed ferret exhibit before you arrive.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Remember to stay on the trails, no swimming or wading at Refuge lakes, only service dogs are allowed at the Refuge, bicycles and Class 1 e-bikes are permitted on the Greenway Trail and trails south of 64th Avenue, off-highway vehicles (OHVs) are not permitted on roads or trails, park in designated parking lots, and visitors must stay in their vehicle when viewing bison. Recreate responsibly, visit the Refuge Rules and Policy page.
America the Beautiful passes
By appointment Wednesday - Sunday.
Call 303-289-0930 or email rockymountainarsenal@fws.gov.
Monetary passes - exact cash or check only.
*You do not need an America the Beautiful pass to visit the Refuge.
A season fishing pass for $60 can be purchased by appointment at the Visitor Center (exact cash or check only).
From I 70
- Exit on Quebec Street.
- Turn east on Prairie Parkway.
- Turn north on Gateway Road.
- Follow Gateway Road into the Refuge.
Activities
Get Involved
National wildlife refuges provide many opportunities for you to help your community and fish and wildlife by doing what you love. Refuges partner with volunteers, youth groups and neighbors to make a lasting difference while providing rewarding experiences in conservation and outdoor leadership.
Working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
Services
At this field station we offer the following public services by appointment:
- America the Beautiful Passes
- Season fishing pass for $60
- Special Use Permit (commercial, research, or educational activities)
- Special Use Permit - Commercial Photography
Please call the Visitor Center or email rockymountainarsenal@fws.gov to schedule a pass appointment. Note the Visitor Center is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Pass sales are exact cash and check only; we cannot process debit or credit cards.
About
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is a 15,000-acre sanctuary near Denver that transitioned from farmland and a war-time manufacturing site to a thriving national wildlife refuge for more than 330 species. The Refuge protects critical wildlife such as the endangered black-footed ferret and a growing bison herd while offering extensive outdoor recreation including 20 miles of hiking trails and an 11-mile Wildlife Drive. Established in 2004, it stands as one of the largest urban refuges in the country and is free to visit.
Read more about our mission and history on the About Us page.
